Australia vs India 2018 : Top 4 performers of the T20I series

India kicked off their long Australian tour with the three-match T20I series. While the Men in Blue were the favourites heading into the series, the Aussies gave them a run for their money with the rain factor also running in their favour.

Aaron Finch's men won the first T20I at the Gabba with the help of D/L method while the second T20I was washed out due to heavy rains in Melbourne. India were under severe pressure to save the series in Sydney and Virat Kohli's men did not disappoint as an all-round performance by the team helped them level the series.

This was the second consecutive series between India and Australia which ended with a 1-1 scoreline. The last time when Australia toured India for a T20I series, the 3-match series also yielded the same result.

This series saw the rise of Khaleel Ahmed and Krunal Pandya but also exposed the weaknesses of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as both the batsmen failed once again.

Here are the top 4 performers of the T20I series:

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#1 Most Runs - Shikhar Dhawan (117)

Australia v India - T20

India's opener Shikhar Dhawan was all guns blazing as he performed fantastically in both the innings he got an opportunity to bat. Chasing a big total in Brisbane, Dhawan scored a quick-fire 76 off 42 balls, a knock which included 10 fours and 2 sixes. But his best efforts could not help India win the match.

The left-hander once again played a phenomenal T20 knock in the third match as he smashed 41 runs in no time to help India get off to a flyer chasing a target of 165. Shikhar Dhawan had a blistering strike rate of 182.81 in the two innings.

#2 Best Batting Average - Virat Kohli (65.00)

Australia v India - T20

Indian skipper Virat Kohli marked his return to the T20I team with a lukewarm innings in the first T20. The Delhite could only accumulate 4 runs from 8 balls before being dismissed by Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

Kohli did not get a chance to bat in the second match at Melbourne but played a fine knock of 61 runs in the third match to take India home.

Kohli who recently turned 30, scored runs at a mind-boggling average of 65. He remained unbeaten on 61 and hit 4 fours and 2 sixes in his well-paced 41 balls knock.

He took the calm approach in the last over of the innings as in spite of playing 2 dot balls, the RCB player hit boundaries on the next 2 balls to seal the deal for India. He amassed runs at a strike-rate of 132.65.

#3 Most Wickets - Krunal Pandya (5)

Australia v India - T20

The Indian team management was criticized for selecting Krunal Pandya ahead of young leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the first T20I. The elder brother of Hardik Pandya was taken to the cleaners at Brisbane as he leaked 55 runs in his 4 wicket-less overs. He could not contribute much with the bat as well.

Krunal bowled well in the rain-affected second T20I and cleaned up Glenn Maxwell with a tweaker. The left-arm spinner bowled the best spell of his life in the third T20I as he accounted for 4 Australian wickets in his 4 overs.

The senior Pandya dismissed Darcy Short, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott and wicket-keeper Alex Carey to complete his maiden 4-wicket haul in T20Is along with registering the best figures by a spinner in Australia. Pandya grabbed 5 wickets in 3 matches at an expensive economy rate of 9.75.

#4 Best Economy Rate - Kuldeep Yadav and Adam Zampa (5.5)

Australia v India - T20

Both the wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Adam Zampa leaked runs at a miserly rate as the batsmen found it difficult to score big hits on the big grounds of Australia. Kuldeep Yadav conceded only 66 runs in his 12 overs and picked up 4 wickets at an average of 16.50.

For the home side, Adam Zampa was the lone bright spot in the bowling attack. The former Rising Pune Supergiant player gave away only 44 runs in the 8 overs he bowled. He also scalped 3 Indian wickets at an average of 14.66.

With the T20I series ending in a tie, which team do you think will have the upper hand in the Test series? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.