Hardik Pandya’s sensational knock of 71 went in vain as India went down to Australia in the first T20 international in Mohali on Tuesday.
After being asked to bat first by Australia skipper Aaron Finch, India got off to bad start, losing skipper Rohit Sharma (11) and Virat Kohli (2) in the power play.
The pair of KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the ship with a 68 run stand for the third wicket before the former holed out to deep square leg boundary by Nathan Ellis off Josh Hazlewood for a well made 55.
Suryakumar looked dangerous in his knock of 46, before being caught behind the stumps off Cameron Green.
All rounder Hardik Pandya raced to his half century in just 25 balls with a late cut off Ellis.
In the end Pandya (71)* smashed Green for three consecutive sixes in the final over to take The Men in Blue to a mammoth score of 208/6 in their 20 overs. His knock came off just 30 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes.
Chasing 209, Australia opening pair of Aaron Finch and Cameron Green got their side off to a steady start. The duo added 39 runs for the opening wicket before the former was bowled by Axar Patel for 22.
The 23 year old Green smashed 61 off 30 balls before miscuing a slog off Axar Patel to Virat Kohli at long on. His innings comprised off 8 fours and 4 sixes.
Umesh Yadav brought the hosts back into the contest by claiming wickets of Steve Smith (35) and Glenn Maxwell (1) in quick succession.
Josh Inglis was then bowled around the legs by Axar for 17.
With 55 requiring off 24 balls, Matthew Wade scored an unbeaten 21 ball-45 to take Australia to a four wicket win with 4 balls to spare.
For India, Axar Patel was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/17.
Green was adjudged the Player of the Match for his fantastic knock.