Rain washes out Brisbane decider as India seals T20I series 2-1 against Australia | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: India sealed a 2-1 series win over Australia after heavy rain and lightning washed out the fifth and final T20 international match at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday. The series win will strengthen Suryakumar Yadav’s side ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!Put into bat, India got off to a good start as openers Shubman Gill (29 not out from 16 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (23 not out from 13) raced to an unbeaten 52 in 4.5 overs before lightning forced players and umpires from the field. Moments later, a torrential downpour hit and after more than two hours of waiting, the game was officially abandoned.Australia had their chances early on, but two misses proved costly. Glenn Maxwell scored a single at mid-off in the opener against Ben Dwarshuis, and Dwarshuis himself knocked another over to fine leg in the fourth over when Abhishek was on 13. The left-hander made the most of his chance, bowling a flat six to mid-wicket soon after. Gill, meanwhile, took charge of the scoring, hammering four boundaries off Dwarshuis to keep India’s brisk pace going.

With this result, the series ended 2–1 in favor of India, after defeats in the first and fifth matches. Australia won the second match, but India fought back strongly – winning the third by five wickets and the fourth by 48 runs, thanks to Washington Sundar’s three wickets in five balls which turned the tide on the Gold Coast.Reflecting on the series, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team’s resilience: “The way everyone contributed and the way we came back from 0-1, it’s the credit of all the boys. The fast bowlers and spinners know their job very well. Bumrah-Arshdeep is a lethal combination, and Washi came in handy in the last match. Playing against three strong teams before the World Cup will be excellent preparation.Australian captain Mitchell Swamp congratulated India on their victory, admitting that the weather made conditions difficult. “I can’t remember the last time we played and had so many rain interruptions. India obviously won the games when it mattered – congratulations to them. There’s a lot of learning to be had, especially in a World Cup year,” Marsh said.Abhishek Sharma, named Player of the Series, was delighted with his form and opportunities. “It’s my dream come true if I can play the World Cup. The captain and coach told me to express myself, and that clarity helped me. I always dreamed of winning a World Cup for India,” he said.For Australia, the focus now shifts to the Ashes series against England starting November 21 in Perth, while India will turn their attention to a two-Test series at home against South Africa, starting November 14 in Kolkata.