NEW DELHI: Team India, under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, routed Australia 3-0 in the three-match Twenty20 International series in 2016 in Australia. Two years down the line, India will aim for an encore under Virat Kohli, who will be leading India in a full series for the first time in Australia.
In the three-match T20I series in 2016, Kohli scored a belligerent 90 off 55 balls to guide India to a 37-run win against Aaron Finch’s Australia in the opening encounter.
The 30-year-old then scored an unbeaten 59 to give India a 7-wicket win in the second T20I. Kohli was adjudged Man-of-the-Match in the first two T20Is against the Aussies.
In the third T20I, Kohli notched up yet another half-century and helped India whitewash Australia in their own den.
Kohli in fact is on top of the highest run-getter list between the two teams in T20 internationals. He has scored 423 runs against Australia at an average of 60.42.
In 2008, under MS Dhoni’s captaincy India suffered a nine-wicket loss at the hands of Aussies in a one-off T20I match.
In 2012, India, under the captaincy of Dhoni, drew the two-match T20 series 1-1.
The year 2016 belonged to Dhoni’s men, as they whitewashed Australia 3-0.
Overall India have played 16 T20 Matches against Australia, winning 10, losing 5. One T20I was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Ahead of the three-match T20I series, let’s have a look at some of the records between the two teams:
MOST RUNS:
Virat Kohli: The Indian skipper’s love affair with Australia is known to everyone. When it comes to runs scored in T20Is between the two teams, Kohli’s name is on the top of the tally. Kohli has played 11 T20Is against Australia, scoring 423 runs at an average of 60.42. He has four T20 half-centuries to his name while playing against Australia.
Aaron Finch: Finch has played 8 T20Is against India and scored 342 runs at an average of 42.75, including two fifties.
Shane Watson: The Australian all-rounder Watson is third on the tally. Watson has played 8 T20Is against India and has 302 runs under his belt at an average of 50.33. He has one century and two half-centuries to his name.
Yuvraj Singh: Indian veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has featured in 10 T20Is against Australia and smashed 283 runs at an average of 56.60. He also has three half-centuries to his name while playing against the Yellow brigade. He has hit 19 sixes against the Aussies in T20Is.
Rohit Sharma: The Indian opening batsman Rohit has played 15 T20Is against Australia and has 283 runs at an average of 25.72, including three fifties.
| PLAYER | RUNS |
| Virat Kohli | 423 runs in 11 matches |
| Aaron Finch | 342 runs in 8 matches |
| Shane Watson | 302 runs in 8 matches |
| Yuvraj Singh | 283 runs in 10 matches |
| Rohit Sharma | 283 runs in 15 matches |
MOST WICKETS:
Jasprit Bumrah: India’s unorthodox fast bowler Bumrah has played 6 T20Is against Australia and claimed 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.23.
Shane Watson: Apart from his 302 runs, Watson also has 10 Indian T20 scalps to his name. In 8 matches against India, Watson has an economy of 7.55.
Ravichandran Ashwin: India’s premier off-spinner Ashwin has played 9 T20Is against Australia, bagging 10 wickets at an economy of 8.43. He also has one four-wicket haul to his name against the Aussies.
Ravindra Jadeja: Indian left-arm spinner Jadeja has featured in 9 T20I games against Australia and bagged 8 wickets at an economy of 7.96.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Indian medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made his T20I debut in 2012 against Pakistan, has so far taken six Australian T20 scalps in 4 matches at an economy of 5.78 to his name.
| PLAYER | WICKETS |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 10 wickets in 6 matches |
| Shane Watson | 10 wickets in 8 matches |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 10 wickets in 9 matches |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 8 wickets in 9 matches |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 6 wickets in 4 matches |
Source : timesofindia
