India vs Australia 1st T20I: Team India batsman KL Rahul, who won the Orange Cap in IPL 2020, continued his superb form in T20 cricket as he smashed a sublime half-century to rescue the Men in Blue in the opening T20I against Australia on Friday in Canberra.
CHECK: IND vs AUS 1st T20 Live Score
Rahul, who came out to open after India were put to bat first, anchored India’s innings as he failed to find support from the other end. The 28-year-old hit 51 off 40 balls, which included five fours and a six.
The Karnataka batsman was removed by Moises Henriques in the 14th over.
Notably, Rahul, who captained Kings XI Punjab in the recently concluded IPL 2020 in UAE, bagged the Orange Cap in the tournament for scoring 670 runs that he amassed at a superb average of 55.83, while striking at 129.34. He also smashed 5 fifty-plus scores and a hundred in IPL 13.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja (44*) and Sanju Samson (23) also chipped in with the willow to help India post 161/7 in the first T20I. Jadeja took the charge in the death overs and dealt in boundaries to guide the visitors to the respectable target. He smashed five fours and a six during his unbeaten 23-balls stay in the middle.
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Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and co. are eyeing revenge in the three-match T20I series after suffering 2-1 loss in the ODI series.
On the other hand, Australia have a golden chance to regain the World No.1 spot as the Men Down Under are just a win away to return to the top of the ICC T20 Team Rankings list.
Currently England holds the No.1 spot in the shortest format of the game with 275 rating points in 25 matches. Australia too have the same rating points in 22 games but aer behind in the total points. While the Three Lions have 6,877 points, the Kangaroos have 6,047 points.
Notably, India too have a chance to climb up in rankings.
Team India are currently at No.3 with 266 rating points in 35 games. If the Virat Kohl-men want to become No.2, they will have to clean sweep the three-match T20 series.
Editors pick
