India vs Australia 2017, 1st T20I: 5 reasons why India got the better of the Aussies at Ranchi

The India-Australia T20I series began in remarkable fashion as India won a rain-hit match at Ranchi by 9 wickets with three balls to spare. Australia were without Steve Smith and batted first. With the exception of Aaron Finch, the Aussie batting disappointed and from a run-rate of 7.7 in the 10th over, Australia’s run-rate went down to just above 6 during the 19th over.

At this point, rain stepped in and India were handed a target of only 48 in 6 overs. They lost Rohit Sharma early but Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan batted sensibly to take India past the finishing line in the final over.

Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why India were able to register their 7th successive T20I win over Australia.

#5. Brilliant bowling by Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal

Yadav and Chahal once again shone with the ball

Once again, India’s new spin-bowling duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal impressed for the Men in Blue. Both spinners bowled exceptionally well and they were the paramount reason behind Australia’s downfall.

First, Chahal dismissed the dangerous Glenn Maxwell for the fourth time in as many games before Yadav bowled out the dangerous Aaron Finch for 42 with a baffling quick delivery which Finch couldn’t quite judge. Then, Yadav took his second wicket by bowling Moises Henriques with a pitched up slow delivery.

While Kuldeep ended with 2/23 from his four overs, Chahal was more economical with 1/16 from his four. Looking at the way these two have been bowling throughout the series, there is a very good chance that India may have found the ideal successors to Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

#4. The dismissal of David Warner

Warner's early dismissal was the main reason why Australia did not get to a stronger powerplay total

Australia could have ended their powerplay overs on a very strong note had their powerplay specialist David Warner not been dismissed early after starting well.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper smashed his fellow SRH teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar for two back-to-back boundaries on the off-side in the third and fourth deliveries and was looking to go for another shot on the off-side in the fifth delivery only for Bhuvi’s length delivery to get the inside edge and hit the stumps.

Following Warner’s dismissal, two of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell were joined hands but they could not smash boundaries consistently, leaving Australia at 49/1 at the end of the powerplay.

Judging by the way Warner began, had he not misjudged that delivery, Australia could have ended their powerplay with a good 10-15 runs more on the board.

#3. The composure shown by Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan during the run-chase

Dhawan and Kohli's composure helped India chase down the target

India were given a target of 48 to chase down in 36 deliveries, quite simple indeed. They began well with Rohit Sharma smashing a four and a six. However, Sharma was dismissed during the second over and Australia still had some hope.

At this point, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan joined hands at the crease and both batsmen took calculated risks. Kohli and Dhawan did not play any rash shots and held their nerve to take India home.

#2. The inability of the Australian bowlers to cash in on an early dismissal

Coulter-Nile was pretty expensive despite taking the early wicket of Rohit Sharma

Australia were at a disadvantage, having been given only 48 runs to defend in 6 overs. However, they began well by getting the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma.

However, the Aussie bowlers could not create much pressure on the Indian batsmen despite the early wicket as Coulter-Nile conceded a boundary off the final delivery of his over. In the following over, Andrew Tye made things worse as he conceded 10 runs.

Coulter-Nile’s second over was decent but marred by the boundary he conceded and this brought India’s required run-rate below six. Adam Zampa bowled a decent penultimate over but the match was almost over by then and India finished things off with Virat Kohli smashing a boundary off Dan Christian in the final over.

#1. Rain

Rain lowered the target for India

One of the biggest reasons behind India’s win has to be Lord Indra’s showers during the 19th over. Australia were already struggling at 118/8 with Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye at the crease but who knows, they may have accumulated some runs, possibly taking Australia close to 130.

However, Australia could not resume their innings after the rain stopped and India were handed a target of 48 to chase. Had rain not interfered, the visitors would have definitely had something to defend. However, that didn’t happen.