India thrashed Australia by six wickets in the second T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
After the Matthew Wade-led side posted a challenging 194/5 on the scoreboard in their stipulated 20 overs, the Men in Blue chased down the target with the help of Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 42 off just 22 balls.
Shikhar Dhawan (52 off 36) and Virat Kohli (40 off 24) also made valuable contributions with the bat.
The 27-year-old Hardik was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his decisive knock that was laced with three fours and two sixes.
“I like to look at the scoreboard and play so that I know which bowlers to target,” Pandya said at the post-match interview.
“I have been in these situations many times and I have learnt from my mistakes in the past. My game is always around the confidence which I carry, it has that fine line where I back myself and not become overconfident. I always remember all those times when we chased big totals and it helps,” he added.
Earlier, India won the toss and elected to bowl first. Stand-in-skipper Wade hit his second T20I half-century to help Australia set up a 195-run target. Steve Smith (46), Glenn Maxwell (22) and Moises Henriques (26) also added to their team’s imposing total. T Natarajan was the pick of the bowlers for India, grabbing two wickets for 20 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
What a performance 🔥🇮🇳👊#AUSvsIND
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) December 6, 2020
What a win. What a finish from @hardikpandya7 Well done Team India. Congrats on the series win. #INDVAUSt20
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 6, 2020
What a finisher @hardikpandya7 is! Big power hitting, under pressure is just another day at the office for Hardik.
Series win is a great birthday gift @ShreyasIyer15 🙂 Well played! So happy to watch @Natarajan_91 do well.Let’s go for the test series win now!#AUSvsIND
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) December 6, 2020
Hardik ‘Hard-Hitting’ Pandya 🥳😇
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 6, 2020
Hardik pandya is one of the most calm cool and clean hitter of the ball top class @hardikpandya7 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) December 6, 2020
Congratulations to #TeamIndia on winning the T20I series. Defending 161 in the 1st game and chasing 195 in the 2nd showed what a comprehensive performance this has been. Well done!@BCCI #AUSvIND
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 6, 2020
Rock star 🌟 pic.twitter.com/bY4U2b69YK
— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 6, 2020
Love how @hardikpandya7 plays 🏏 Serious intent and self belief
— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya !!! 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀🏏👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 #AUSvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 6, 2020
Zabardast hitting by @hardikpandya7 .
Wonderful start from @SDhawan25 and @klrahul11 , @imVkohli and a sensational bowling spell from @Natarajan_91 . And India seal the T20 series with a game to go. Maza aa gaya. pic.twitter.com/VDgb6CwT33— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 6, 2020
Pandya and that wonder bat. What a beast. 🏏
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 6, 2020
Oh damn 😳 Pandya. That’s some hitting… crazy match! #AUSvIND
— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt) December 6, 2020
Winning it in style with a six @hardikpandya7 what an inn.. well done team @BCCI for leading the series by 2-0 .. Go for 3-0 👏👍
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya you did not just do that? 😱😍😍😍 #AUSvIND
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) December 6, 2020
That’s Hardik for you, always cool under pressure!! @hardikpandya7 👏👏Congratulations team India for winning the t-20 series. @BCCI #AUSvsIND
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) December 6, 2020
Well done team india for winning the T20 series in style. Well done @hardikpandya7 & @imVkohli for taking india through to take 2-0 lead. #indvsausT20
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35) December 6, 2020
@hardikpandya7 you beauty! What a finish, fantastic chase by the #IndianCricketTeam , supporting knocks by @SDhawan25 & @imVkohli ! Overall an amazing win to seal the t20 series! Time for people to 🤫on @imVkohli captaincy! Hes just made it 10 out of 10 in t20s! #indvsausT20
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) December 6, 2020
Hardik Pandya you beauty!
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 6, 2020
Most 190+ chase in T20Is:
7 India
5 England
4 Australia
3 West Indies
2 South Africa— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 6, 2020
Sydney, 2016: Raina and Yuvraj get 17 off the final over 👏
Sydney, 2020: Hardik and Iyer get 14 off the final over 👏#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AUSvIND
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 6, 2020
VICTORYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
WHAT. A. FINISH.
Hardik Pandya sends it sailing over the ropes for a six! 🔥🔥
🇮🇳 – 195/4 (19.4)#AUSvIND #OrangeArmy #KeepRising #SRH
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 6, 2020
What a sensational victory by #TeamIndia to win the T20I series ! Complete team effort and what a show put by all the batsmen – @hardikpandya7 @imVkohli @SDhawan25 & @klrahul11 and new bowling sensation @Natarajan_91 #AusvInd @SGanguly99 @ThakurArunS
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) December 6, 2020
Played, @hardikpandya7 🙌🏻🙌🏻
A 🔥 42 from him makes sure #TeamIndia win the 2nd T20I and the series 2-0 🤩#SaddaPunjab #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/WiW43Qs6j1
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) December 6, 2020
India have not lost an away T20I since February 2019.
They have now won 1️⃣0️⃣ T20Is on the trot, including two Super Overs 👏 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/B4ZW1MQUdx
— ICC (@ICC) December 6, 2020