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India have won the T20 international series against Australia 2-1 after the fifth and final match was washed out at the Gabba. The sold-out crowd will receive a full refund as the fixture did not reach the stipulated cut-off of six overs.
Lightning in the vicinity of the ground initially forced the players off after India made the most of shocking fielding by Australia to race to 0-52 in the opening 4.5 overs. A storm then rolled in, accompanied by steady rain, to ensure there was no further play.
Shubman Gill, with 29 off 13 deliveries, and Abhishek Sharma, with 23 off 13, tore into the Australia attack. Abhishek, who made 163 runs across the five matches, was dropped twice and rode his luck.
“I’ve been waiting for this tournament,” Abhishek said. “We had a plan and we executed it really well.”
It was the second washed-out match of the series with the opening game in Canberra abandoned after India had scored 1-97 in 9.4 overs.
The Australia captain, Mitch Marsh, said: “I can’t remember the last time we had so many rain interruptions but it was a great series with two really good teams going at it. India won the games when it mattered, so congratulations to them.
“There were a lot of learnings, a lot of positives. The adaptability and the flexibility of our group, and the squad that we’re trying to build in a World Cup year has been amazing.”
Gill was a man on a mission before the players left the field. His timing for six boundaries was immaculate.
The unlucky Ben Dwarshuis had a sense of deja vu in the opening over when Abhishek was dropped at mid-off by the usually reliable Glenn Maxwell. Abhishek had also been dropped in the first over, off the same bowler, two days earlier on the Gold Coast, when India secured a 48-run win.
Dwarshuis then spilled a sitter himself at fine leg when Abhishek had made 12, this time off the bowling of Nathan Ellis. The world’s No 1-ranked T20 batter then dispatched Ellis for six over midwicket.
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Both teams found out more about their best combinations with the T20 World Cup to be held in February and March. Ellis confirmed his burgeoning credentials in the series with his subtle changes of pace and wicket-taking abilities. He finished as the leading wicket taker, with his nine scalps coming at an average of 12.77.
India won game four on Thursday night after Australia collapsed against a three-pronged spin attack at Carrara. They can expect plenty more of it in India and Sri Lanka, where the pitches will no doubt be conducive to turn.
The hosts did not field their strongest side in the latter stages of the tournament with Josh Hazlewood playing just the first two matches and Travis Head the opening three.
