Twitter Reactions: Chadeja and Natarajan show Aussies 'IPL flavour' in Canberra T20I

After the three-match ODI series between the two superior cricketing nations, the capital-city Canberra witnessed some chaotic action between India and Australia in the format we have seen in plenty of late. Donning a gorgeous, eye-catching indigenous kit, the Australian skipper won the toss and invited the visitors to set a target.

Both the teams had made quite a few changes as India decided to rest Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal, thereby giving the recent sensation T Natarajan his maiden cap. Moreover, India opted for Manish Pandey at No.4 ahead of Shreyas Iyer and raised a few eyebrows by including Sanju Samson in the ranks.

On the other hand, the Aussies, who were without the services of David Warner and Pat Cummins, involved D’Arcy Short, whereas Mitchell Swepson filled in for the injured Ashton Agar.

India’s watchful start

Openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan looked circumspect and committed in the first two overs as Australian bowlers gave no freebies. Despite all the awareness, a peach of a delivery from Mitchell Starc, which swung late from the middle-stump line rattled Dhawan’s off stump and gave the hosts an early break through. At 3, Virat Kohli attempted to shuffle the strike alongside KL Rahul, who looked flowy.

However, almost immediately after the powerplay, Kohli (9) lobbed an edge straight into the hands of Swepson in what turned out to be a disappointing, soft dismissal. Sanju Samson, the new man in, showed some promise with the bat before he squandered his start as he hit a slower ball straight into the hands of extra cover. As KL Rahul, who raced to a mature half-century of just 37 balls, continued to hold one end up, as wickets kept falling around him.

A mini-collapse before Jadeja’s cameo 

Manish Pandey had a forgettable outing – he scored 2 from 8 – and top-edged a bouncy leg spinner of Zampa straight to short third man, where Hazlewood grabbed a low catch to reduce India to 90 for 4. India lost 3 wickets in a space of 17 balls as half-centurion KL Rahul (51 from 40), who was trying to break free, failed to get enough power on Moises Henriques’ length delivery and holed it straight to Sean Abbott.

Hardik Pandya did materialize his outing with the bat as he managed only 16 runs and became the third prey of Henriques. Although, India’s talisman Ravindra Jadeja, who took a blow on his helmet and was concussed, used his sword with all his might and his 23-ball 44 powered India to 161.

A rollicking start and muddled middle-overs

Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short quite ran away with the game as Aussies added 53 in the Powerplay without losing a wicket. Smacking 5 fours and a six in his 35-run knock, Finch was undone by a sensational catch of Hardik Pandya in the deep against Yuzvendra Chahal, who was roped in as Jadeja’s concussion substitute.

Despite the quick start, Australia was pushed to the back foot when two quicks wickets fell – Steve Smith (9 from 12) fell first courtesy of a marvellous catch from Sanju Samson off Chahal, whereas Glenn Maxwell was trapped leg before by T Natarajan – in the 9th and 10th over respectively.

Indians bowlers made a brilliant turnaround and pushed Australia in a spot of bother as the well-set Short (34 from 38) was hunted by T Natarajan, and the concussion-substitute-turned-blessing Chahal got his third wicket in the form of Matthew Wade in the last over of his spell.

The visitors’ grip over the match was further loosened as Moises Henriques, in an attempt to work Deepak Chahar on the leg side got trapped lbw. Needing 27 from the last 6, Shami did the rest as India took a 1-0 lead winning the match by 11 runs.

Here is how the Twitter reacted: