The Australian tour of India got off to a terrific start as the first T20I produced a nail-biting finish. Until the very ball of the match, all 3 results were possible. The capacity crown in Vizag got their money’s worth. It was Australia that kept the nerves and took a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series.

Australian captain Aaron Finch won the toss and invited India to bat first. KL Rahul looked in fine touch from the outset. But Rohit Sharma departed soon for 5. Rahul and Virat Kohli came together and stitched together a decent partnership. At that stage, it seemed as if India would cruise to a big total.

But after a stand of 55, Kohli fell to Adam Zampa for 24. His dismissal triggered a collapse and all of a sudden, India lost the way. Rishabh Pant got run out for 3. Rahul, after getting to 50, was removed by Nathan Coulter-Nile. Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya too fell in quick succession.

MS Dhoni was left to bat with the tail. The slow surface didn’t allow him to strike freely. He tried and tried and but couldn’t accelerate. After farming the strike with the tail, he managed to score 29 from 37 balls. In the end, India finished at 126/7. Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers as he took 3 wickets for 26.

The Indian bowlers applied the pressure from the beginning. They didn’t allow the opposition to break free. It resulted in wickets of Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Finch at the score of 5. But Glenn Maxwell came in and he took the attack to the opposition. D’Arcy Short too gave him good company. A stand of 84 runs put the visitors in the driver’s seat.

Bumrah’s fightback in vain

However, there was another twist in the tale. As soon as Yuzvendra Chahal accounted for the wicket of Maxwell, the Indians were at it again. They choked the runs and suddenly, the game hung in the balance. Short and Ashton Turner fell in the process and as a result, it was down to 16 from the last over.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled the penultimate over and he lived up to his tag of the death over specialist. The pacer gave away just 2 runs and removed Peter Handscomb and Coulter-Nile. With 14 in the bank, Umesh Yadav had the ball in his hand for the last over. Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins struck a boundary each to leave 2 to get from the last ball. Cummins struck the ball towards long-on and the pair scampered for 2. Australia prevailed in the end as tail-enders got them home.

Match Summary

Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first

India: 126/7 in 20 overs

KL Rahul 50 (36), MS Dhoni 29 (37)

Nathan Coulter-Nile 26/3 (4), Jason Behrendorff 16/1 (3)

Australia: 127/7 in 20 overs

Glenn Maxwell 56 (43), D’Arcy Short 37 (37)

Jasprit Bumrah 16/3 (4), Krunal Pandya 17/1 (4)

Australia won by 3 wickets

Player of the Match: Nathan Coulter-Nile

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Australia’s thrilling victory

That 19th over from Bumrah was out of this world. Tells you why he is the best. 14 was more than imagined in the bank for the last over but wasn't to be for Umesh Yadav. Shows too why 8/9 need to have some batting skills — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2019

Good effort by India to come so close to defending 126. Hopefully , they would have learnt from this experience and will be on the other side of the result ,next time in such a situation . Congratulations to Aus for holding their nerve and winning in the end. #IndvAus — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 24, 2019

Easy to target Umesh tonight. Please remember that the last white ball game he played was the tied game vs WI last year. He’s played only a handful of Tests (was MOTM in one of them) in between. Bowlers didn’t lose India this game….batsmen did. #IndvAus — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 24, 2019

Bumrah is Kohli of the Indian bowling. Or may be, he’s even more important than his skipper.

What. An. Asset. #IndvAus @StarSportsIndia — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 24, 2019

Just to give you a little perspective on Krunal Pandya as a pure spinner in T20Is.

Kuldeep – Eco- 6.72 Avg -12.97

Chahal – Eco – 7.90 Avg – 19.93

Krunal – Eco – 8.72 Avg -31.40

Krunal weakens India’s bowling.#INDvsAUS — Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 24, 2019

Australia edge India in a Vizag thriller! India fight back strong after being kept to 126/7, but Australia manage to reach the line on the final ball for a 3-wicket win!#INDvAUS scorecard ➡️ https://t.co/QNPPeLJl3x pic.twitter.com/3uxL04sP3C — ICC (@ICC) February 24, 2019

For a top batsman, it is amazing how often Aaron Finch has got out to the same ball — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1099718352031891456

With a debutant (Mayank), a man on a comeback (Umesh) and a spinner with only 10 T20i experience (Krunal), Indian bowlers did well to take the 126 run chase into the last ball of the 20th over. Must play 6 bowlers. #IndvAus — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 24, 2019

Number 7, 8 & 9 batmen tonight……

for India: 14 balls, 3 runs

for Australia: 14 balls, 18 runs#INDvAUS — Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) February 24, 2019

Jasprit Bumrah becomes the second Indian bowler to take 50-plus wickets in T20Is after Ravichandran Ashwin (52). #INDvAUS — Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 24, 2019

https://twitter.com/SushantBSinha/status/1099713552217104385

In the dressing room virat kohli waiting for #UmeshYadav be like :-#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/6vONb5BLbg — Johnny (@BaeDardi_Raja) February 24, 2019

What a bowler @Jaspritbumrah93 is – just 2 in the penultimate, with a couple of wickets thrown in, he’s the best in the world #IndvsAus — Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 24, 2019

It seemed like a one sided game but we fought hard to make a match of it. Though we lost, thoroughly enjoyed every moment as the match went down the wire. Well played Kohli’s boys! #IndvsAus — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) February 24, 2019

Everyone : We are going to win this match

Umesh yadav :#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/wil52s2TsR — Chris Cardoz (@ChrisCardoz) February 24, 2019

It was a comeback match for Umesh Yadav. He did well. Helped Australia come back in the game. #IndvAus — SAGAR (@sagarcasm) February 24, 2019

Bumrah to umesh after conceding 14 runs in last over#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/2FAA45JgGe — AKSHAY SHARMA (@akshaygoutam7) February 24, 2019

Also Read: Who will win the ODI World Cup 2019? Here are the top 5 contenders

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