IND vs AUS 2023, 4th T20I: Who won yesterday’s India vs Australia match?

India Australia Cricket — India won the Raipur T20I to clinch the five-match series. (Pic: AP)

India beat Australia by 20 runs in yesterday’s T20I game at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Sent into bat after losing the toss, the Men in Blue scored 174-9 before restricting the Aussies to 154-7. With the win, India took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-game series.

India got off to an impressive start, scoring 50 in six overs, as Yashasvi Jaiswal (37 off 28) took on the Australian bowlers. He struck six fours and a six before miscuing a pull off Aaron Hardie. Playing his first game of the series, Shreyas Iyer (8) did not last long, holing out to long-on off Tanveer Sangha.

India found themselves in a spot of bother at 63-3 when captain Suryakumar Yadav (1) nicked Ben Dwarshuis behind the wicket. At the other end, Ruturaj Gaikwad fell for 32 off 28, chipping a simple catch off Sangha.

The in-form Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma, though, featured in a defining fifth-wicket stand of 56. Rinku once again showed his class, smashing four fours and two sixes in his 46 off 29 - one of his maximums being a switch-hit.

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Jitesh also showed why he's rated so highly in the T20 format, slamming three sixes and a four in his debut knock of 35 off 19.

Axar Patel stars with the ball

Chasing 175, Australia got off to a rapid start. Deepak Chahar was taken apart by Travis Head and went for 22 in the third over as the visitors raced to 40-0. Ravi Bishnoi (1-17) broke the partnership with his first delivery as Josh Philippe (8) was cleaned up attempting a premeditated sweep.

Axar Patel (3-16) then got the big wicket of Head (31 off 16) when the left-hander mistimed a slog sweep. The accurate left-arm spinner also knocked over Hardie (8) before cleaning up Ben McDermott (19) when the Australian batter attempted a big hit.

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Chahar came back well after the early punishment to claim the wickets of Tim David (19) and Matthew Short (22). Australian captain Matthew Wade remained unbeaten on 36 off 23, but the visitors fell well short.

Who was Player of the Match in yesterday’s India vs Australia T20I?

Rinku and Jitesh played brilliant knocks for India. With the ball, Axar was outstanding with his three-fer, while Bishnoi kept things extremely tight.

For Australia, Sangha (2-30), Jason Behrendorff (2-32) and Dwarshuis (3-40) were among the wickets. Wade and Head contributed 30s in the chase.

Axar, though, was named the Player of the Match for his excellent spell of 3-16 from four overs.