Post by : Maya Rahman

The opening T20 International between India and Australia at Canberra’s Manuka Oval ended without a result as heavy rain interrupted play twice and finally forced the match to be abandoned on Wednesday. The Indian side, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, batted brilliantly before the showers ruined what promised to be an exciting contest.

Before the rain came, India had made a strong start, reaching 97 for 1 in just 9.4 overs. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 39 off 24 balls, while his deputy, Shubman Gill, was not out on 37 off 20 balls. The pair added 62 runs from only 35 deliveries, displaying both power and control. Unfortunately, their partnership was cut short by the persistent rain that left no chance for play to resume.

Suryakumar Yadav, who had struggled with form earlier in 2025, reminded everyone of his class. He looked confident from the start, hitting clean shots all around the ground. His most impressive stroke came when he picked up a Josh Hazlewood delivery and sent it sailing over the square leg fence. It was a sign that the world’s former No.1 T20 batter was returning to his best. His timing, placement, and shot selection delighted the crowd until the weather took over.

At the other end, Shubman Gill played with maturity and style. He combined caution with aggression, ensuring the scoreboard kept moving. Gill struck a brilliant slog-sweep for six off spinner Matt Kuhnemann, which showed his growing confidence in the shortest format. His ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries helped India maintain momentum despite the shortened innings.

India’s opening batter Abhishek Sharma gave the team an early push with a lively 19 off 14 balls. He began the innings aggressively, hitting three fours off Xavier Bartlett in quick succession. However, his innings ended when he mistimed a slower ball from Nathan Ellis and was caught at mid-off. Still, his positive start gave the Indian team the foundation to build on.

The match was interrupted twice by rain. After the first stoppage, officials reduced the game to 18 overs per side. When play resumed, the Indian batsmen used the opportunity well, scoring 54 runs in just 4.4 overs. However, as the rain returned stronger, the ground conditions became unplayable, forcing the umpires to call off the match. It was a disappointing end for both teams and the fans, who had come expecting an exciting clash.

India entered the T20 series with confidence after their consolation win in the final One-Day International against Australia. The team hoped to carry that form forward in the five-match T20 series. With both Suryakumar and Gill looking in great touch, the visitors appeared ready to challenge the Australian side throughout the series.

The wet outfield and damp ball made it difficult for Australian bowlers to maintain control. Nathan Ellis managed to pick up a wicket, but the rest of the attack found it hard to grip the ball properly due to the moisture. This gave Indian batters an advantage, which they capitalized on before the weather spoiled their progress.

The second T20 International between India and Australia is scheduled to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. Both teams will hope for clear skies and a full game to continue their rivalry. For India, maintaining batting form and keeping the same positive energy will be key, while Australia will look to bounce back and test the visitors with their bowling strength.

Despite the washout, India’s batting performance gave fans a glimpse of the team’s strength ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav’s confident return to form and Shubman Gill’s fluent knock were the highlights of the brief play possible in Canberra. As the rain ended the match prematurely, all eyes now turn to Melbourne, where both sides will look for redemption and results under hopefully clearer skies.

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