IND vs AUS 3rd T20: Virat Kohli & Suryakumar Yadav star as India clinch series 2-1

All-rounder Hardik Pandya held his nerves in the last over as India edged out Australia by 6 wickets in the third and final T20 International in Hyderabad on Sunday. With the win, the Men In Blue clinched the three-match series 2-1.

Chasing a daunting 187-run target, India lost both their openers early. Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli came together for the hosts, stitching a counter-attacking 104-run stand for the third wicket. During the stand, Suryakumar displayed some brilliant power-hitting skills before his innings were cut short by Josh Hazlewood on 69 off 36 balls.

The Kangaroos came back in the game for a brief moment after that. But with wickets in hand and hitters left, India crossed the finish line.

With 11 needed in the final over, Kohli smashed the first ball for six before hitting the next straight to the fielder. Kohli scored 63 runs off 48 balls. But it was Hardik who held his nerves and hit the winning runs. Victory helped India achieve its 21st win in T20 in 2022, the most by any team in a calendar year.

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Asked to bat first, Australian opener Cameron Green came out all guns blazing and blasted a 19-ball fifty. At 62-1, Bhuvneshwar ended Green's power-packed knock for 52.

Maxwell and Steve Smith struggled in the middle overs, allowing the hosts to make a comeback. Smith got stumped off Chahal as he tried to break the shackles while Axar's brilliant throw from the deep ended Maxwell's 6-run innings.

Axar Patel, then, broke the back of the visitors in the 14th over, getting rid of Josh Inglis and Matthew Wade in the same over.

But Tim David and Daniel Sams ensured that the visitors had a strong finish.

David registered his maiden fifty for Australia and got to the landmark off just 25 deliveries. Bhuvi and Bumrah were punished as the senior bowlers conceded a total of 39 runs in the last 2 overs. But Harshal conceded only six runs in the last over as the visitors were restricted to 186/7.