In a stunning reversal of fortunes, India turned a seemingly “par” total of 167/8 into a comprehensive, series-clinching 48-run victory over Australia in the fourth T20 International.
The win not only gave the visitors an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series but also served as a tactical masterclass in defending a total on a challenging, two-paced surface.
The script for the Australian chase was written during a devastating middle-overs collapse, meticulously engineered by India’s all-rounders.
The Batting: Gill’s Anchor and Axar’s Late Surge
Put in to bat, India started brightly with openers Shubman Gill (46 off 39) and Abhishek Sharma (28 off 19) putting up a brisk 56-run opening stand.
However, the innings lost momentum after the Powerplay, with wickets falling in clumps against the spin of Adam Zampa (3/45) and the pace of Nathan Ellis (3/21).
It was Player of the Match Axar Patel who provided the late, crucial burst, smashing a vital 21 runs off just 11 balls to push India past the psychological 165-mark—a contribution that proved exponentially more valuable than its score suggested.
“We knew this was not a 200-220 wicket,” said Captain Suryakumar Yadav. “The way our top-order applied themselves and Axar finished was smart batting.”
The Bowling: A Spin Duo’s Strangulation Act
Chasing 168, the hosts were cruising at 67/1, set up by cameos from Mitchell Marsh (30) and Matthew Short (25). But the introduction of the spin duo—Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy—immediately choked the Australian scoring rate.
Axar Patel (2/20) first trapped Short and then claimed Josh Inglis, triggering a sudden, crippling slide. Chakravarthy (1/26), despite going wicketless for most of his spell, was astonishingly economical, forcing the middle-order batters to take high-risk chances against the change bowlers.
The true moment of strategic brilliance came from Shivam Dube (2/20). Brought on to bowl to the set batters, Dube exploited the large square boundaries, removing the dangerous Marsh and the quick-scoring Tim David (14 off 9) in consecutive overs. The target suddenly looked miles away.
The Knockout Blow: Sundar’s Dream Spell
With Australia needing 91 from the final 10 overs, the game was still technically alive until the introduction of Washington Sundar.
Bowling for the first time in the series, Sundar delivered a dream spell, ripping through the tail with 3 wickets for just 3 runs in 1.2 overs, including the prized scalp of Marcus Stoinis.
The hosts lost their last nine wickets for a mere 52 runs, bundling out for 119 in 18.2 overs. India’s victory was cemented by the collective brilliance of their all-rounders, who proved that on a sluggish pitch, execution trumps reputation.
India will now head to Brisbane for the fifth and final T20I on Saturday, with the series trophy already in hand, celebrating a win that was less about brute force and more about surgical precision.
[Newsroom staff written original, where key claims or facts are used, I’ve referenced the original sources (like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, ANI, etc.) transparently.]
