India vs Australia: Maxwell, Gaikwad's breathtaking tons and other takeaways from 3rd T20I

The ongoing T20I series between India and Australia is turning out to be quite the eventful affair with two out of three matches having ended in last-ball thrillers. The latest of those nail-biters took place on Tuesday at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium, where the script was largely the same as the series opener.

The team that batted first posted a 200-plus total with one of their batters going on to score a century. That effort, however, would go in vain with the chasing side recovering from a wobble to seal the pursuit on the final delivery.

While the opening game in Visakhapatnam witnessed India pull off a two-wicket victory after being set 209 to win, it was Australia’s turn to open their account on Tuesday by successfully chasing down 223 with five wickets to spare. If it was Josh Inglis’ superb 110 that would end up in a losing effort on Thursday, Ruturaj Gaikwad’ unbeaten 123 would get overshadowed by Glenn Maxwell’s 104 not out five days later.

IND vs AUS | ‘Maxwell is just wow’, Netizens reacts to all-rounder’s blistering ton

Here’s a recap of some of the key takeaways from the third T20I:

Behrendorff keeps the Indian batters in check

Left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff had been left out of Australia’s XI for the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram despite being their best bowler in the run-fest that was the series opener.

Behrendorff had conceded just 25 runs for the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav back then and was even more clinical on Tuesday after being brought back as one of Australia’s four changes. Not only did the seamer get rid of the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal to start with a wicket-maiden, he ended up conceding just 12 runs from his quota of four overs, outshining his own performance in Visakhapatnam.

Gaikwad slams his maiden international ton

At least one member of the Indian top three has contributed with a big score in each of the three matches so far. While all three scored fifties in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, it was opener and vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad who rose to the occasion after both Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan were dismissed early in the powerplay.

What a splendid way to mark his maiden T20I century! #INDvAUS #JioCinemaSports #IDFCBankT20ITrophy pic.twitter.com/T4W2w8pWJ7

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 28, 2023

Gaikwad had produced a relatively sedate innings on Sunday where he played second fiddle to both Jaiswal and Kishan and decided to take his innings deep before eventually getting dismissed. The wicketkeeper-batter had briefly adopted a similar approach after the Men in Blue were reduced to 24/2, especially during the third-wicket stand with captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Gaikwad, however, would tee off during the 141-run unbroken stand with Tilak Varma for the fourth wicket, accelerating in the back half of the innings and bringing up his maiden international century in the process. The CSK batter struck 13 fours and seven sixes to remain unbeaten on 123 off 57.

Head continues from where he left off in Ahmedabad

Opener Travis Head too was among Australia’s four changes for the must-win clash at Barsapara. And he was making his first appearance since breaking a billion hearts with his outstanding 137 in the ICC World Cup final against the same team in Ahmedabad a fortnight ago. And the manner in which the southpaw took the Indian bowlers, primarily Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh, to the cleaners durng the powerplay suggested he was batting with the same sense of authority.

Head, who had been adjudged the Player of the Match in the World Cup final, would eventually fall for 35 after getting foxed by a slower delivery from Avesh Khan.

Maxwell produces another chasing masterclass

The ‘Big Show’ has had a few memorable moments in the two-and-a-half months that he’s spent with the Australian team in India, and would sign off with another before flying back to his native Australia ahead of the home summer.

MAXWELL DOES IT AGAIN