Suryakumar Yadav, usually calm and composed on the cricket field, had a rare moment of visible frustration during India’s fourth T20I against Australia.
The match at Carrara Oval, Queensland, was intense, but India emerged with a crucial 48-run victory in a must-win game.
The incident unfolded on the final ball of the 12th over of Australia’s innings. The hosts were steadily chasing 168 when Shivam Dube dismissed Tim David, giving India a slight advantage. Dube then bowled two dot balls to new batter Marcus Stoinis in the same over.
However, the last delivery drew Suryakumar’s ire. Dube delivered a short ball wide outside off-stump, which Stoinis smashed over backward point for a boundary. The four runs eased the pressure on Stoinis, and Suryakumar expressed his frustration at Dube for the loose delivery.
Washington Sundar played a key role, taking three wickets in five deliveries, helping India secure the 48-run win.
India’s spin attack accounted for six wickets in total, triggering an Australian collapse from 91 for 4 in 11.3 overs to 119 all out in 18.2 overs. Australia lost seven wickets for just 28 runs across 41 balls, posting their second-lowest T20 total on home soil after 111 versus New Zealand in Sydney in 2022.
With this win, India now hold an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series, which concludes Saturday in Brisbane.
Individually, Sundar finished with 3-3 from 1.2 overs, left-arm spinner Axar Patel picked up 2-20 in four overs, and Varun Chakravarthy returned 1-26. Axar’s wickets and his quick 21 not out off 11 balls, which helped India surpass 150, earned him the Player of the Match award.
"I got a chance to bat at No. 7 and it helped me understand the wicket," Axar said. "The ball was not coming on and there was unexpected bounce. I tried bowling wicket to wicket. If I have an impact for my team it's the best game for me."
Shubman Gill scored 46 off 39 balls as India posted 167-8 after being sent in, while Australia’s wrist spinner Adam Zampa finished with 3-45 in four overs.