India Clinch T20I Series with 5th match washed out , Australia Left Searching for Answers

 

India sealed the five-match T20I series against Australia 2–1 after the final game in Brisbane was washed out — a result that reflected India’s overall dominance, particularly with the ball.

Such scenes are rarely witnessed in Australia — rain interruptions like those seen in England, accompanied this time by thunder and lightning. The fifth T20I at the Gabba was eventually abandoned due to the weather, handing India a 2–1 series victory. With this, India took sweet revenge for their ODI series defeat. The opening T20I of the series had also been washed out.

The match in Brisbane began on schedule. India once again lost the toss, and Australia opted to field first. The visitors made one change — Rinku Singh replaced Tilak Varma, who was rested. Apart from that, the team remained unchanged. Batting first, India got off to a flying start. When rain stopped play after 4.5 overs, India had already reached 52 without loss.

Initially, there was no rain — only frequent lightning strikes accompanied by loud thunder. For the safety of the players, the match had to be halted. Stadium authorities were equally concerned about the spectators’ safety. Fans seated in the lower, uncovered stands were moved to the upper sections, and no one was allowed to remain close to the field. After the game was stopped, a warning flashed on the giant screen: “We are experiencing dangerous weather. Please take shelter in a safe area.” Soon after, rain began to pour, and despite a few temporary breaks, play could not resume.

In this rain-hit series, Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Tournament. He also crossed a personal milestone, completing 1,000 runs in T20 internationals — achieving it in just 28 innings. He became the second-fastest Indian to reach the mark, behind Virat Kohli, who did so in 27 innings.

Throughout the series, India’s bowlers set the tone. The spinners consistently strangled Australia in the middle overs, forcing mistakes and drying up boundaries. Varun Chakravarty, Axar Patel & Washington Sundar  were particularly effective, varying their pace and trajectory to frustrate the Australian batters. The pacers, too, played a key role — striking at crucial moments to break partnerships and maintain pressure. Arshdeep Singh and Bumrah ’s control stood out , showing India’s depth in their bowling arsenal.

However, India’s batting order saw a bit too much experimentation. Frequent shuffling of positions seemed unnecessary at times, preventing some players from settling into defined roles like Tilak Varma . The top order fired in patches &  the middle order did their bit across the series with largely cameo knocks .

For Australia, the series exposed some  weaknesses — the absence of left-handers in the middle order, their struggle against spin in home conditions and the missing firepower of their “big three” bowlers, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Without them, the attack looked toothless in phases, unable to contain India’s aggressive batting approach. Hazlewood leaving midway in the series for Ashes preparation made a big difference. 

Overall, India’s disciplined bowling and flexibility under pressure proved decisive, while Australia will need to address both balance and experience issues ahead of their next white-ball assignment.