hardik: Hardik, Rahul power India to 208/6 in first T20I

Audacious strokeplay from KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya helped India post 208 for six in the first T20 International against Australia here on Tuesday. As a check on his strike rate, Rahul made a high-quality statement of 55 off 35 balls before Hardik smashed an unbeaten 71 off 30 balls, which included five sixes.

Suryakumar Yadav also played an innings of 46 runs in 25 balls.

Hoping for dew, Australia opted to bowl and made his debut for Tim David. Jasprit Bumrah, who was picked for the series after recovering from a back injury, was not surprisingly picked for the series opener. Dinesh Karthik was selected ahead of Rishabh Pant.

Umesh Yadav got a game after more than three years, while Deepak Chahar, who is in the scheme of things for the World Cup, sat on the sidelines.

Rahul and Suryakumar shared a 42-ball 68-run partnership after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fell cheaply. It was raining sixes when they were in the middle.

His intention was clear as Rahul walked across the stumps to send Josh Hazlewood to cow corner before he smashed Cameron Green for a six at deep square leg.

Suryakumar’s playing style is often awe-inspiring and the Mohali crowd saw him in his deadly form.

Out of his four sixes, his SWAT at fine leg off a good length delivery from Cummins stood out.

India were able to maintain their momentum in the middle overs as Suryakumar picked leggie Adam Zampa for two consecutive sixes at long on and deep midwicket.

After this Hardik took over and pushed India past 200. He was quick to cut anything short of the fast bowlers and his pick-up shot from Cummins in the 18th over was the highlight of his entertaining innings.

He hit three consecutive sixes off Green in the 20th over, including a flat in the mid-wicket area. 67 runs came off the last five overs.

Originally published at Pen 18