Twitter Reactions: Dominant India put up good all-round show to beat Australia by 8 wickets

The Indian side beat Australia with 8 wickets and 13 balls to spare in their second warm-up match ahead of the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. India were set a target of 153, and the Indian openers, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma gave an excellent start for the ‘Men in Blue’ at the top of the order.

The Rohit-Rahul duo put on a partnership of 68 runs for the opening wicket off 9.2 overs. KL Rahul was scalped by Ashton Agar in the 10th over of the innings, but Suryakumar Yadav and the ‘Hitman’ continued to inflict misery on the Aussies. Yadav and Sharma put on a partnership of 59 runs for the second wicket.

After Rohit Sharma was ‘retired hurt’, Hardik Pandya walked in and applied the finishing touches alongside Suryakumar Yadav, as India cantered past the target with ease. Ashton Agar was the only bowler who was amongst the wickets with the ball for Australia.

Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis help Australia to 152/5

Wielding the willow first, the Australian side experienced a disastrous start with the bat. The Aussies were reduced to 11/3 inside the first 4 overs, and the Indian bowlers were all over the Australian batsmen.

But then, Steve Smith stepped up for the kangaroos with the willow. The right-hander scored a sedate 48-ball 57 and played the role of sheet anchor to perfection. Smith was ably supported by Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.

While Maxwell scored a 28-ball 37, Stoinis scored a blazing 41* at a superb strike-rate of 164.00. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers with the ball for India. The right-arm off-spinner scalped 2 wickets in the 2 overs that he bowled, and gave away only 8 runs as well. Apart from Ashwin, the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rahul Chahar also picked up a wicket each as well.

Here are some of the reactions from Twitter

India chase down 153 runs from just 17.5 overs against Australia with Rohit 60(41), Rahul 39(31), Sky 38*(27) & Hardik 14*(8) – preparation done, 2 in 2, now into the T20 World Cup from 24th.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 20, 2021

Team #India have been clinically ruthless in the warm up games. The opportunity to make it count has brought the best out of the batters today. Happy headache for the selectors ahead of the game vs Pakistan #T20WorldCup #INDvAUS

— Stay Home – Stay Safe – Get Vaccinated 🙏 (@hemangkbadani) October 20, 2021

Most questions were answered during these two practise exams! #sky #bhuvi #hardik

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 20, 2021

SKY and Hardik next two batters whenever the wickets fall… #IndvAus #WarmUpMatch #T20WorldCup

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 20, 2021

Can we please have the Orange Cap in the #T20WorldCup? #AskingForRahul

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 20, 2021

Waiting for Hardik Pandya the bowler: #IndvAus #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/gu8GwSfesU

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 20, 2021

Morgan and Pandya went for a walk.

And decided to keep walking.

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) October 20, 2021

Some of the shots SKY plays are just unbelievable.

— Ankit Mishra (@editedidea) October 20, 2021