India produced a commanding all-round display to crush Australia by 48 runs in the fourth T20I at Carrara Oval on Thursday night, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. On a pitch offering extra grip and bounce, India’s spinners and seamers combined brilliantly to bowl Australia out for just 119 after posting 167/8.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav hailed his side’s composure and adaptability, crediting both the batting and bowling units for executing the team’s plans to perfection.
Suryakumar said after the match,
“I feel credit goes to all the batters. The way Shubman (Gill) and Abhishek (Sharma) started, they knew this was not a 200-220 wicket. They batted very smartly. It was a complete team effort.”
India’s openers Gill (46 off 39) and Abhishek Sharma (28 off 21) showed patience and maturity through a cautious start, scoring 49 in the powerplay. Middle-order contributions from Shivam Dube (22 off 18) and Axar Patel (21 off 11)* helped India reach a competitive 167/8.
Despite dew later in the evening, India’s bowlers maintained discipline. Suryakumar credited head coach Gautam Gambhir for providing clear direction and empowering players to trust their instincts.
“The message is clear. Me and Gauti bhai are on the same page. There was a little dew but the bowlers adapted quickly,” the skipper said.
“Always good to have bowlers give you 2-3 overs. This combination suits us — people chipping in, raising their hands, bailing their side is great.”
The star of the night was Washington Sundar, who delivered a stunning spell of 3 wickets for just 3 runs, dismantling Australia’s lower order and sealing the victory.
Supported by Axar Patel (2/20) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/19), Sundar’s precision spin stifled Australia’s scoring rate and dismantled their resistance.
Australia’s chase never found rhythm after early breakthroughs. Despite Mitchell Marsh’s 30 and Matthew Short’s 25, they collapsed from 59/2 to 119 all out in 18.2 overs.
All-rounder Shivam Dube, filling in for the injured Hardik Pandya, struck two crucial blows — dismissing Marsh and big-hitter Tim David in quick succession. Dube revealed how the management’s backing under Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel gave him confidence to bowl with freedom.
“Yes, it was very important for me. When I got the chance, I knew I wanted to bowl,” Dube said.
“Gauti bhai backed me a lot. He told me to do bindas bowling — ‘We are here for you, just express yourself.’ Morne has also helped me fine-tune small things that made my bowling better.”
Asked about his dismissal of Tim David immediately after being hit for six, Dube smiled:
“When he got me for a six, I just thought, that’s a good shot. I should focus on my next ball.”
Since Gautam Gambhir took charge as India’s head coach last year, the team has blended youth and experience with a fearless approach. The Carrara win marked India’s fifth consecutive unbeaten T20I series.
- July 2024: Clean sweep 3-0 vs Sri Lanka
- October 2024: 3-0 whitewash vs Bangladesh at home
- December 2024: 3-1 series win vs South Africa away
- January 2025: 4-1 triumph over England in India
- November 2025: Now lead 2-1 vs Australia
India’s resurgence in the shortest format under Gambhir has been defined by tactical discipline, fearless execution, and all-round balance — elements that were on full display in Carrara.
Match summary
India: 167/8 (Shubman Gill 46, Abhishek Sharma 28; Nathan Ellis 3/21, Adam Zampa 3/45)
Australia: 119 all out (Mitchell Marsh 30, Matthew Short 25; Washington Sundar 3/3, Axar Patel 2/20, Shivam Dube 2/18)
Result: India won by 48 runs
Series: India lead 3–1 with one match remaining
Suryakumar’s men now head into the final T20I with momentum firmly in their favour, one win away from another landmark series triumph in the Gambhir era.
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