India produced a clinical, modern T20 pursuit to beat Australia by five wickets in the 3rd T20I at Bellerive Oval, Hobart, leveling the five‑match series 1‑1 with nine balls in hand. Chasing 187, India stayed ahead of the asking rate throughout and closed with cool-headed intent, powered by Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 49 off 23 and smart cameos up top and in the middle.
First Innings: Australia Post 186/6
- Australia recovered from an early double-strike to reach a competitive 186, thanks to a muscular 74 from Tim David and a forceful 64 from Marcus Stoinis that rebuilt momentum through the middle overs.
- India’s new-ball burst from Arshdeep Singh set the tone, removing Travis Head and Josh Inglis inside the powerplay before Varun Chakravarthy’s twin strikes halted an Aussie surge.
India’s Chase: Always Ahead of the Tate
- The reply was built on intent: Abhishek Sharma’s 25 off 16 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 24 off 11 kept the tempo brisk even as wickets fell, ensuring the run rate never ballooned.
- Tilak Varma’s stabilizing 29 anchored the middle while Axar Patel added a quick 17, setting the stage for a measured finish.
- Washington Sundar finished the job with a blistering 49* off 23, launching four sixes and picking gaps with maturity; Jitesh Sharma’s 22* off 13 provided the perfect foil.
Key Moments and Turning Points
- Arshdeep’s powerplay double gave India early control, blunting Australia’s top-order platform and keeping a lid on the surge until Tim David exploded.
- Varun’s two-in-two in the ninth over flipped momentum back to India, curbing Australia’s acceleration and protecting the death-overs equation.
- India’s “always ahead” chase template—striking early boundaries each over, rotating strike, and avoiding dot clusters—prevented scoreboard pressure.
- The finishing pair’s shot selection was model: target the shorter side, punish pace-on errors, and resist low-percentage swings early in the over.
Top Performers
- Washington Sundar: 49* off 23, the game’s decisive hand, matching power with placement.
- Tim David: 74 off 37, the innings that lifted Australia to par-plus before India’s squeeze.
- Arshdeep Singh: Two new-ball wickets that reshaped the first six overs and set up India’s defense of the chase equation.
- Jitesh Sharma: 22* off 13, a finishing cameo full of intent and clarity.
Tactical Takeaways
- India’s split roles were clear: explosive starters, stabilizer in the middle, and power finishers—each phase owned by the right profiles.
- Bowling plans emphasized wicket-taking over containment at key junctures—new-ball aggression and a mid-innings strike spell trumped pure run-saving.
- Australia’s middle-order firepower remains elite, but controlling India’s boundary pattern early in overs will be central in the remaining games.
What it Means for the Series
- With the series level, both sides carry clear blueprints into the next venues: Australia will seek tighter powerplay control and sharper middle-over matchups; India will back the same proactive template—intent up top, anchors in the middle, and fearless finishers.
