Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli scored fine half centuries as India pulled off an impressive win by defeating Australia by 6 wickets in the third and the final T20 international at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
After being asked to bat first by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, Cameron Green got Australia off to a brisk start by smashing the Indian bowlers right from the word go. The all rounder reached his half century in just 19 balls.
However Axar Patel broke the stand by dismissing Aaron Finch caught at mid on by Hardik Pandya for 7.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar then got into the act by claiming the dangerous looking Green for a magnificent 21 ball-52.
The Indian bowlers pegged the Aussies back with wickets of Glenn Maxwell (6) and Steven Smith (9) as the visitors were reduced to 84/4.
The pair of Josh Inglis and Tim David added 31 runs for the fifth wicket before Axar struck twice- first by dismissing Inglis (24) and then the in form Matthew Wade (1).
The Singapore Australian cricketer David notched up his maiden half century in just 25 balls by smashing Harshal Patel for a maximum. However he was dismissed in the final over by a slower delivery from Harshal as the visitors ended up with 186/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing 187, India got off to a bad start as KL Rahul (1) top edged a slog off Daniel Sams and was caught brilliantly by Wade.
Rohit Sharma (17) looked impressive for a brief while before he miscued a pull to Daniel Sams at backward square leg.
Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav added 104 runs for the third wicket before Josh Hazlewood provided the much needed breakthrough by dismissing the later caught at long on by Finch for an entertaining 69. His knock came off 36 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes.
With 11 needed off 6 balls, Kohli smacked Sams for a maximum over wide long on. However the left arm pace hit back by dismissing the former skipper for 63.
Hardik Pandya (25)* held his nerves and hit the winning runs off the thick outside edge for a boundary to take The Men in Blue to a thrilling win. With this the hosts clinched the three match series 2-1.
Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged the Player of the Match.