India vs Australia: Suryakumar Yadav leads from the front, Rinku Singh the finisher and other takeaways from first T20I

The ODI World Cup may have just ended, but preparations for the next World Cup (T20) have well and truly begun. At least, for Team India and Australia. A new-look Team India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, defeated Australia in the first T20I in Vishakhapatnam on Thursday, just four days after the senior Men in Blue side had suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Pat Cummins’ Aussies in the ODI World Cup final.

While the 2024 T20 World Cup is still months away, for a team like India who have a strong bench strength, early preparation is key.

And on Thursday, the might of a young Team India was put to the test against the Aussies, and it provided mixed results despite the hosts’ win in Vizag.

So, where did India go right? Where did they fall short as a unit? Here are three key takeaways from the first India-Australia T20I:

Suryakumar Yadav, the T20 assailant is back

It was only less than a week ago when Suryakumar Yadav got to know that he would captain India in a five-match T20I series against Australia. India had just lost the World Cup at that time, and SKY being named India’s skipper for the Australia T20Is raised quite a few eyebrows.

However, captaincy apart, the obvious other aspect that was in focus was how Suryakumar Yadav would approach this series. More so, given the fact that he had endured a poor run of form in the ODI World Cup, having scored just 106 runs from seven matches.

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Witness the world no. 1️⃣ T20I batter putting on a show in the 1st #INDvAUS T20I of #IDFCFirstBankT20ITrophy, LIVE now on #Sports18, #JioCinema & #ColorsCineplex.#INDvAUS #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/aCxz9ovPvz

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 23, 2023

Of course, SKY’s contrasting form in both T20Is and ODIs would once again be a topic of interest among many, but on Thursday, even with the captaincy responsibility, Suryakumar showed that he still has got it in the format he thoroughly enjoys playing.

On Thursday, Suryakumar did Suryakumar things. So often as he does in the shortest format, be it for Mumbai Indians in the IPL or Team India in international cricket.

There was the trademark Suryakumar pull shot over fine leg off Jason Behrendorff’s ball, whereas he also attempted the paddle-scoop on a few occasions.

Suryakumar also did get a lucky reprieve. In the eighth over of India’s chase, Behrendorff had unleashed a fuller length ball that was angling away from the batter. While SKY did look to go for a drive, he ended up getting a thick outside edge off the bat, just flying past the hands of wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

In the same over, just three deliveries later, the Aussies had another chance to dismiss SKY, with the latter getting a top edge off Behrendorff’s short ball. Suryakumar was early in the pull on this occasion and mistimed it, but luckily for Surya, the ball fell just short of the hands of the deep backward square leg fielder.

SKY would continue taking the aggressive route, getting to his fifty off just 29 deliveries, getting to it with a six that was smoked over long-on.

It was a knuckle ball from Behrendorff that would get Suryakumar out. SKY was once again looking to smoke this one down the ground but ended up mistiming it towards Aaron Hardie, who came in running from mid-on to complete a diving catch.

Josh Inglis announces arrival

There seemed like a huge void to be filled for Australia with the absence of World Cup stars David Warner and Travis Head. Yes, Josh Inglis was also part of the same squad, but he hardly got the opportunity to steal the limelight during the showpiece event.

How’s the ?

Flying sir ✈️

Watch all the action from #INDvAUS 1️⃣st T20I, LIVE now on #Sports18, #JioCinema & #ColorsCineplex.#JioCinemaSports #IDFCFirstBankT20ITrophy pic.twitter.com/zEBvNEfFWm

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) November 23, 2023

As a matter of fact, he took the first T20I against India to use it as a platform to do so. Inglis came in as early as the fifth over following the dismissal of Matthew Short and introduced himself with an exquisite cover drive off Ravi Bishnoi’s ball.

He would then begin a merciless attack against the Indians, especially Ravi Bishnoi and Prasidh Krishna. Prasidh would go on to get smacked for four boundaries in the eighth over of the match. And Inglis would then go on to get to his fifty with a six over long-on off Bishnoi in the 12^th over.

There was no stopping the 28-year-old. Soon after he got to his fifty, he would continue his assault against Bishnoi, with a four and another six in the same over. The Indians had paid dearly for their costly errors and poor judgment of line and length, especially Prasidh, who would go on to give away seven fours and two sixes altogether in his four-over spell. And most of these came against Inglis.

Inglis would then go on to slam three maximums, including a slog sweep off Bishnoi in the 15^th over, before beating the slip cordon off Arshdeep Singh’s yorker in the 17^th over to get to his 47-ball ton.

Simply put, Inglis was unstoppable on his day but it was unfortunate for the Aussies that his century was overshadowed by SKY’s knock.

Rinku Singh cameo

Rinku Singh and cameos go hand in hand. The 26-year-old has had a breakout cricketing season ever since becoming synonymous with his heroics of hitting five sixes for Kolkata Knight Riders against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023.

However, on Thursday, Rinku faced a different challenge altogether. He would come onto bat in the 15^th over, at number six, following the dismissal of Tilak Varma.

Rinku would take on the challenge without nerves, ensuring that he collected regular boundaries while also keeping the run rate in check.

What A Game!

What A Finish!

What Drama!

1 run to win on the last ball and it’s a NO BALL that seals #TeamIndia‘s win in the first #INDvAUS T20I!

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/T64UnGxiJU @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/J4hvk0bWGN

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 23, 2023

Things were looking good for India even when they required 14 runs off 12 balls. In the fifth ball of the 19^th over, Rinku collected a boundary off Ellis, before retaining strike for the final over with a single.

India needed seven off the last over. Rinku would begin the 20^th over with another boundary, this time going over the point region.

India needed three off five balls now. Rinku would get a leg bye off the next ball to reduce the deficit by another run.

However, this is exactly where disaster struck. Axar Patel was caught and bowled by Sean Abbott in the third ball of the over, and to make matters interesting (Or worse, If you’re an India fan), Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh were run out, both in unceremonious fashion.

The equation was down to one run off one ball. Who would have thought? Anyway, Rinku was on strike, with Mukesh Kumar at the other end. Abbott bowled a half-volley to Rinku. Half-volleys are not among the best deliveries you would bowl under pressure, but on this occasion, Rinku took full opportunity, to launch it over long-on for six. But, just then, Abbott had overstepped, and while it wasn’t a six for Rinku, an extra was all that India needed to complete their highest-ever chase in T20Is.

SKY may have bounced back to form, but for Rinku Singh, it was about proving that anything was possible under pressure.