AUS vs IND, T20 2025: Axar Patel spins India to 2

The Indian cricket team went 2-1 up in the five-match India vs Australia T20 2025 series by winning the fourth game at the Carrara Oval in Gold Coast by 48 runs on Thursday.

India had levelled the series in Hobart earlier this week after losing by four wickets in Melbourne. The opening match in Canberra was abandoned due to rain last week.

Shubman Gill (46 off 39) and Abhishek Sharma (28 off 21) gave India a steady opening before cameos from Suryakumar Yadav (20 off 10) and Axar Patel (21 off 11) lifted T20 World Cup champions and world No. 1 India to 167/8.

In reply, Australia were bowled out for 119 in 18.2 overs. Washington Sundar cleaned up the lower order and finished with figures of 3/3 in 1.2 overs. Axar Patel was India’s most economical bowler, going for 2/20 from four overs. Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh top-scored for the home team with 30 off 24 balls.

After being put in to bat, India got off to a steady start with a 56-run opening stand between Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. They reached 75/1 at the halfway mark.

World No.1 T20I batter Abhishek, who boasts a career strike rate of over 190, was relatively restrained on the day. After being dropped in the opening over, he managed 28 off 21 balls at a strike rate of 133.33 before heading back to the pavilion.

India were 90/2 after 12 overs with the run rate under eight. Suryakumar Yadav then provided a timely boost, smashing 20 off 10 balls, including back-to-back sixes off Adam Zampa in the 13th over to push the scoring rate past eight.

With 121/2 after 14 overs and looked well set for a total of around 180. However, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals and could add only 46 runs in the final six overs, including 14 off the last.

Axar Patel’s brisk 21 off 11 balls helped India finish on a competitive note. In the final over, he struck Marcus Stoinis for a six and a four to help India collect 14 runs.

Australia also began their innings steadily with skipper Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short taking the scores to 35/0 in four overs. Axar Patel, however, provided India with a breakthrough by trapping Short LBW in front of the wicket in the next over.

Along with Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel choked the flow of runs and then clean bowled Josh Inglis in the ninth over.

Shivam Dube also chipped in with a wicket of the Australian captain in the next over as Australia reached 77/3 at the halfway stage.

However, Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav rotated his bowlers to perfection in the back 10 as the hosts were bundled out inside 19 overs.

All six bowlers used by India found themselves among the wickets. Fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy picked up a wicket each while Axar Patel and Shivam Dube picked up two.

Washington Sundar picked up three of the last four wickets to finish with figures of 3/3 in 1.2 overs. All six top batters of Australia scored in double digits but could not make the most of their starts.

The India vs Australia T20 series will now move to Brisbane Cricket Ground for the fifth T20I on Saturday.

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