Rain ended hopes of a result in the first T20I between India and Australia at Manuka Oval, Canberra. Persistent showers twice stopped play, leaving India at 97 for 1 in 9.4 overs when officials called off the game.
Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh chose to bowl first under dark skies. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill started brightly, adding 35 runs before Nathan Ellis removed Abhishek. Suryakumar Yadav joined Gill and hit his 150th T20I six with a stylish flick over square leg.
Rain stopped the match for 40 minutes after five overs, cutting it to 18 overs per side. When play resumed, Suryakumar and Gill attacked quickly, adding 62 runs from 35 balls. Their partnership looked set for a big score before another downpour ended the contest. At the stoppage, Suryakumar was on 39 and Gill on 37.
BCCI later confirmed that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will miss the first three T20Is. He is recovering from a quadriceps injury and neck spasms suffered during the Adelaide ODI.
