Credit should go to Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, and Ishan Kishan, but Mukesh Kumar's bowling was also a major factor in India's victory in the first Twenty20 international match against Australia.
Please remember the cricket players and supporters from Australia and India! They had just four days to transition to T20 cricket, a different format where the dynamics change with every ball, plans go for a toss frequently, boundaries outnumber dot balls, and the gap between bat and ball is wider than ever, following nearly two months of 50-over cricket in the World Cup and a heartbreaking final.
The fresh ball while batting under the night sky or the sluggish pitch during the middle overs when batting first was the challenge that hitters faced until November 19. The bowlers were involved in the match, but by Thursday, it was just one-way play—see the ball, hit the ball.
The first Twenty20 International between Australia and India in Visakhapatnam did not alter that opinion. There was little room for error for bowlers on the quiet field, and the batting teams were engaged in a struggle for territory. India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after defeating Australia by two wickets in that encounter.
It makes sense that the hitters would be the centre of attention on a day when 417 runs were scored in 40 overs of cricket and 53 fours and 20 sixes were blasted. For Australia, it was Jos Inglis.
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, who was promoted to play at No. 3, blasted eight sixes to smash his first T20I century and end with an incredible 110 off 50 balls. Mostly because of his valiant efforts and a fifty-score from Steve Smith, Australia managed to score 208 when they batted first.
India lost their openers early in the chase but Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav got stuck into the Aussie bowlers. The duo put on a 111-run stand for the third wicket. Kishan fell for 58 off 39 while captain Surya smashed 80 off 42. In the end, it was young Rinku Singh with the finishing touches with an ice-cool 22* off 14 balls as India pulled off their highest successful run-chase in T20Is.
The majority of the credit should rightfully go to Surya, Kishan, and Rinku, but Mukesh Kumar also deserves recognition for his work with the ball. It was Mukesh who gave India some respite when Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel were being taken to the cleaners by Smith and Inglis.
The Bengal right-arm bowler kept the Australian batsmen honest on this wonderful track by landing his yorkers beautifully and alternating between short and slower deliveries.
He was the reason Australia was unable to surpass 220. In the last over, Mukesh struck five yorkers in a row while conceding just five runs.
Captain Suryakumar made sure to emphasize how crucial Mukesh's spell was to India's victory. Regarding Mukesh, the captain remarked, "It was huge." After 16 overs, the three quick bowlers helped us get back into the game. Amazing accomplishment." Surya admitted that although chasing may have been difficult in the absence of dew, it wasn't.
"I had anticipated seeing some dew, but none was there. It's a little field, so I expected hitting to become simple. Though they may score between 230 and 235, the bowlers performed very well," the captain appeared happy.
Aakash Chopra, a former opener for India, praised Mukesh Kumar's work.
"Mukesh Kumar gave an amazing last over. In that over, he only allowed five runs to be scored, and he also gave up a free hit and a no-ball. However, the batters were held down by the accuracy with which he delivered all of the yorkers. In JioCinema's daily sports show "#AAKASHVANI," he stated, "If he had given up something like 15 runs in that over, India would have been chasing anything close to 220 runs, and that would have made things even more difficult for the side."
