India’s much-anticipated T20I series against Australia started at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. However, persistent rain became the player of the match, as it washed out the first T20I of India vs Australia. Despite the interruption, Suryakumar Yadav made the headlines for his on-field performance and a light-hearted gesture that won over fans.
Earlier, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out for the first three matches due to a neck spasm. However, the pace-bowling all-rounder had also been recovering from a quadriceps injury. Now, he was replaced by an extra spinner in India’s lineup.
The board said in the official statement, “Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out for the first three T20Is… The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress.” Now, the lineup has three spinners, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy, and two pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana. However, this decision has surprised many due to the pace-friendly Australian conditions.
Suryakumar Yadav Shines with His 150th T20I Six
As we mentioned above, the rain has destroyed the rain. Still, Suryakumar Yadav provided a moment of celebration of brilliance for Indian fans. Moreover, the flamboyant right-hander has become the fifth batter in the world to hit 150 T20I sixes and the second Indian after Rohit Sharma to achieve this milestone. Plus, the following is the list of players who hit the most sixes in T20Is:
- Rohit Sharma – 205 sixes
- Suryakumar Yadav – 150+ sixes
- Hardik Pandya – 85 sixes
As we told you, he now sits fifth on the all-time list globally behind England’s Jos Buttler (172 sixes). However, his efficiency is one of those things that stand out. Moreover, he hit sixes on every 11 balls, which makes him the most efficient six-hitter for India in T20Is.
Nathan Ellis bowled short at the stumps on the third delivery of the 10th over of the match. Here, Suryakumar launched it over mid-wicket for a massive six – his 150th in T20Is. Hence, his consistency and growing strike rate highlight his importance in the middle order of India to keep scoring high even on tricky surfaces.
Heartwarming Moment: Surya Protects His Bat from Rain
During one of the rain interruptions, Surya displayed humorous and endearing moments that quickly went viral. The India captain was spotted covering his bat inside his jersey to keep it dry.
Fans and commentators could not help but smile at the sight to appreciate his love for the game and attention to detail. The image captures the personality of Surya perfectly, which is a mix of professionalism, playfulness, and passion.
Cricket lovers on social media praised the gestures. In addition, they call him “the most relatable captain” and “the face of modern Indian cricket’s spirit.”
Arshdeep Singh’s Omission Sparks Debate
On the other hand, the absence of Arshdeep Singh also raised eyebrows throughout the globe. He is one of the top T20I bowlers of India. Now, the decision led to widespread disagreement among fans and former players.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his surprise on X (formerly Twitter), simply posting “Arshdeep Singh” without any context, which is an understated yet powerful reaction that resonated with many.
Cricket fans also echoed the sentiment, which suggests that the left-arm pace and death-over skills of Arshdeep could have given India an edge on the bouncy Canberra surface.
Looking Ahead
The first T20I ended with no result. Now, both teams are going to aim for the second match. India will look to continue their strong run under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership. On the other side, Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, will seek to capitalise on home conditions.
This series is important for both teams as they test different combinations and fine-tune their strategies because the T20I World Cup is coming closer.
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