Rain Plays Spoilsport in Canberra: First India-Australia T20I Abandoned After Promising Start
No result in the first game of the T20I series in Canberra, after rain interrupted what was shaping as a captivating contest.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 29: The first T20I at Canberra was abandoned, with no result. A disappointing end to the match, with Suryakumar Yadav being a major player in not more than 9.4 overs being possible on the day. India was batting first at the Manuka Oval as Australia won a fourth toss in a row on this tour and decided to field.
India Off to Bright Start
Gill and Suryakumar did not let the foot of the pedal slip though and they went on to play their strokes. The match resumed in Canberra at 8.30pm local time and 3:00pm IST. The match was shifted to a 18-over-a-side game and both captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill were looking to take things from where they were left. The match was called off after rain disrupted the game again.
The only batsman to fall was Abhishek Sharma, who made 19 from 14 balls before he chipped Nathan Ellis to Tim David at mid-off in the fourth over. Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood went for 24 runs from three overs and Ellis’ 1.4 overs cost him 25, Yadav hitting two fours and a six off his final over.
Manuka Oval Records
Manuka Oval, Canberra has hosted 22 T20I matches till date and the average score at this ground is 150 runs. There have been 10 instances of team batting first winning the match and Team chasing down 9. The highest team total at the venue is 196.
The five-game encounter will feature two teams that will each call themselves favourites for next year’s T20I World Cup — to which, let it be noted, India will come not just as hosts but also as defending champions.
Series Moves to Melbourne
The second match of the five-match series is on Friday in Melbourne with both teams continuing to finetune preparations for next year’s T20 World Cup, to be held in India.
India and Australia have played 32 T20 Internationals in between them. India have been the dominant force in the rivalry over that time frame, with this being the only format where they hold sway against the Aussies. And it is not really very close: from 32 previous meetings, India has won 20 and Australia just 11.
Playing XI of both teams
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood
