The opening T20 International between India and Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra was ultimately washed out due to relentless rain on October 29.
Rain plays spoilsport in IND vs AUS 1st T20I
The match, which had already been reduced to an 18-overs-a-side contest after an earlier rain delay, was stopped for a second time by steady drizzle in the tenth over of the Indian innings, with the score reading 97 for 1. Despite the shortened play, India showcased aggressive batting before the weather had the final say.
Suryakumar and Gill's robust start
India's strong start was primarily powered by a blistering second-wicket partnership between captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy, Shubman Gill. The pair added a rapid 62 runs off just 35 balls before the final stoppage. Suryakumar was in typically explosive form, smashing his way to an unbeaten 39 off 24 deliveries, which included three fours and two sixes. Gill, looking equally good, contributed 37 runs from 20 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six off Matthew Kuhnemann.
India's innings had begun with a promising start from opener Abhishek Sharma, who hit four boundaries before being dismissed for 19. Abhishek fell to Nathan Ellis, failing to clear the mid-off fielder when the score was 43 for 1 after five overs. The subsequent partnership between Suryakumar and Gill not only rebuilt the innings but accelerated it sharply; Suryakumar had just launched two fours and a six in the first four balls of Nathan Ellis's over when the persistent rain returned, forcing the players off the field and leading to the eventual abandonment of the match.
Meanwhile, the second T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 31.
Suryakumar, who finally found his mojo back after patchy run in the Asia Cup 2025, cracked two maximums in his blistering knock and thus became only the second Indian batter after Rohit Sharma to tonk 150 sixes in T20Is.
Not just this, he also eclipsed legendary MS Dhoni on the list of India's most successful batters against Australia in T20Is. While Dhoni has 313 runs, Suryakumar went past him and has 329 runs at a healthy average of 36.55 and a strike rate of 171.35 against Australia in the format.