Electing to bat first, Australia seemed to have read the conditions well by maximising the powerplay. But despite getting into double figures barring Steve Smith falling for a two-ball duck, none of the batters could make a big score.
Starc, who had picked a three-fer in the first ODI in Mumbai, produced yet another stunning exhibition of early swing bowling to scythe through the top order and then took out Mohammed Siraj to finish with 5-53. Sean Abbott was excellent in his 3-23 while Nathan Ellis provided great support through 2-13.
Starc, who had picked a three-fer in the first ODI in Mumbai, produced yet another stunning exhibition of early swing bowling to scythe through the top order and then took out Mohammed Siraj to finish with 5/53.
With more than an hour left on the clock for the game to end, both teams called for the match to end, as it reached the inevitable result of draw, as India pocketed their 16th consecutive series win at home. Also, it is the fourth straight series between India and Australia that has ended at 2-1 scoreline.
If Shubman Gill was the talk of the town with his sparkling 128 on Saturday, it was Kohli's turn to be in the spotlight on Sunday to break his drought of Test century which lasted 1025 days through his determined 364-ball stay at the crease, hitting 15 boundaries and enthralling a sizeable Sunday crowd.
ESPN took to Twitter and wrote, “The wait is over, the drought has ended. Virat Kohli has his first Test century since November 2019. #INDvAUS.”
On a pitch which still hasn't shown signs of a sharp turn, Ashwin single-handedly got India back in the match. After picking three wickets in the second session, Ashwin took three more to get his six-fer and wrap Australia's innings at 167.2 overs.
The high-voltage final match will be played in Cape Town on Sunday.
Meanwhile, India thrashed Australia to secure a thumping win by an innings and 132 runs in the first test at Nagpur.
Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has come out in support of the spinner and silenced those questioning Jadeja and his brilliant form.
In another tweet, BCCI wrote, “Rohit Sharma leads from the front with a magnificent century. This is his 9th century in Test Cricket.”
The explosive batsman is making a strong statement for India’s Test team as well.
To counter Ashwin’s threat in the Test series, Australian batters have been practicing against the off-spinner’s duplicate Maheesh Pithiya as a net bowler.
Virat Kohli (63) and Suryakumar Yadav (69) struck brilliant half-centuries and figured in a century partnership as India defeated Australia by six wickets with one ball to spare in the 3rd T20I at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday to clinch the three-match series 2-1.
The video begins with both of them, dead-serious in shades, syncing their steps to the beat, before Kohli breaks into a smile and peels off.
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