India vs Australia

Rohit, the leading run-scorer in T20Is, went past New Zealand opener Martin Guptill's tally of sixes to go to the top of the six hitters' chart in T20Is. The India captain, who smashed two sixes in the first over from Josh Hazlewood in a run chase of 91 in eight overs, now has 176 sixes to his name in this format. Guptill with 172 sixes and Chris Gayle with 124 sixes follow him.

With India chasing a target of 91 in a match delayed by two hours and 30 minutes, Rohit came out with aggressive intent and blasted Josh Hazelwood for two back-to-back sixes in the first over. He continued in the same vein as he ended with 46 runs off 20 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes.

Wade, who had guided Australia to victory in the company of Tim David in the first match at Mohali, then took matters into his hands as he blasted four boundaries and three sixes for a 20-ball unbeaten 43 that lifted Australia to a competitive total. He shored up the Australian innings by hitting Harshal Patel for three sixes in the eighth and final over of the ball.

The match, which was delayed by around 2 hours and 30 minutes, will be an 8-overs-a-side affair and a bowler can bowl a maximum of two overs. India made two changes to the side that lost to Australia in the first match at Mohali, bringing in pacer Jasprit Bumrah for Umesh Yadav and Rishabh Pant in place of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.

The two umpires, K.N Ananthapadmanabhan and Nitin Menon along with fourth umpire Anil Chaudhary inspected the ground at 7 pm but were not happy with the ground conditions. They decided to have a second inspection at 8 pm and take a call about the start of the match. If they decide to start the match after 8.30, the match could be reduced to 15 overs per side.

Because of his familiarity with the Indian conditions and having played against most of the Indian players in the IPL, Tim David did not feel much pressure as he along with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade guided Australia to a four-wicket win against India at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.

However, on the eve of the second T20I of the three-match series that will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Jamtha near here on Friday, middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav came out in support of the bowlers. He denied that opposition batters are easily picking Harshal Patel's off-cutters and claimed seasoned pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was as deceptive and effective as ever.

Though the batters did well, especially Hardik Pandya (71 not out), who made a late charge with three sixes off the last three deliveries of the innings, which helped the host reach 208/6 in 20 overs -- their highest score in a T20 against Australia. But the visitors chased the target easily, thanks to Cameron Green (61 off 30), a 35 of 24 by Steve Smith and a 45 not out by Matthew Wade as they reached 211/6 in 19.2 overs.

Brilliant fifties by Hardik Pandya and K.L Rahul and a vital knock by Suryakumar Yadav powered India to 208/6 in 20 overs. While India lost the wickets of Rohit and Kohli inside the first six overs, there was a great show of intent by Hardik (71 not out off 30), KL Rahul (55 off 35) and Suryakumar (46 off 25).

KL Rahul struck a 35-ball 55, hitting four boundaries and three sixes after Australia skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to field. In the process, the 30-year-old from Karnataka completed his 2000 runs in T20I cricket in his 58th innings. Before this match, Rahul had scored 1963 runs from 57 innings of 61 matches in T20Is.