Melbourne washout big setback for India: Sourav Ganguly

India had a great opportunity to win three bilateral overseas T20I series this year had they won the three-match series against Australia. However, it was not to be as the rain gods interfered and the match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Stadium remained inconclusive which means India can now best draw the series with the final match scheduled in Sydney on Sunday.

Virat Kohli’s men trail the three-match series 0-1 after they lost the first game in Brisbane by only four runs courtesy of the DLS Method. India defeated South Africa 2-1 in a three-match away T20I series earlier this year and backed it up with a 2-0 win over Ireland on their soil and a 2-1 victory over England in their den. They also won a triangular series in Sri Lanka in between which featured the hosts and Bangladesh.

The last time India did not win a T20I series was at home against Australia last year as it ended 1-1. The last time India failed to win a bilateral T20I series abroad featuring more than one game was against Zimbabwe in 2015 (it finished 1-1) while the last time India lost a bilateral T20I series overseas featuring more than one game was against the Windies in 2016 (they lost 0-1).

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly considered the inconclusive second game was a “big setback” for India as he felt the visitors were in a good position to win the game and square the series and then go for the kill in the remaining match.

‘India could win the match’

Speaking to IndiaTV during ‘Cricket Ki Baat’ show, Ganguly said: “It’s a big setback for India as they could have won the match. India were in a good position to win the match but we can’t do anything about the weather. We don’t have any control over the rain.” The former India captain though was impressed with the performance of the Indian bowlers in the second match. The game in Melbourne could not proceed any further after rain intervened during Australia’s batting.

The hosts, who were asked to bat by Kohli who won the toss, scored 132 for 7 in 19 overs when the skies opened up. India’s initial target in the match was 137 in 19 overs and then it was brought down to 90 runs from 11 overs and eventually to 46 in five overs. But the weather continued to be bad and the game was eventually called off at 10.02 pm local time.

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