11:05 pm: That’s it from Ranchi. We’ll wrap this up with quotes from the post-match presentation. (As an aside: Thanking all those brands and associations, but couldn’t thank the groundsmen for their work eh, Sanjay Manjrekar?)\
Virat Kohli: “After winning the toss and bowling first, that effort was required from the bowlers. We don’t really understand the Duckword Lewis method. After getting them down to 118, we thought it would only be 40 or something. 48 was tricky.”
David Warner: “We had a good partnership up top with Finchy and myself, but then there was a collapse again in the middle order. We have to go back to the drawing board and figure that out.”
Man of the match: Kuldeep Yadav for 4-0-16-2
Some post-match reaction and stats after India’s 9-wicket win:
It’s all over! India win by 9 wickets and 3 balls to spare: Dhawan and Kohli take India home.
5.1: 1 run
5.2: 2 runs, super shot by Kohli, better fielding from Coulter-Nile.
5.3: 4 runs, lofted over mid-off and Kohli finishes off in style in Dhoni-land.
India need 6 runs from 6 balls: Not bad from Zampa, not bad at all. Just 6 runs from his over after a boundary off the first ball from a rank short ball that Kohli put away. Good comeback.
India need 12 runs from 12 balls: Nine runs from Coulter-Nile’s second over thanks to one boundary from Dhawan - stylishly pulled towards long leg. India cruising.
After 3 overs, India 27/1, 21 needed from 18 balls: If there were to be any nerves after that Rohit Sharma dismissal, it’s gone now. Kohli starts AJ Tye’s over with an exquisite lofted off drive and Dhawan follows that up with a pull towards square leg.
Wicket: SIX AND OUT! Rohit Sharma is gone. He starts the over with a nonchalant flick over fine leg for six but Nathan Coulter-Nile comes back in style in the next ball, getting a tad bit of late swing – Rohit is bowled. Dhawan finishes the over with a boundary. India 16/1 after 2 overs
After 1 over, India 5/0: Debutant Jason Beherendorff starts off for Australia and it’s a good over despite the first ball getting hit for a four through midwicket by Rohit. Excellent comeback, with just 5 runs in the over. Some nice swing and carry.
10:12 pm: The players are making their out to the middle. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will take the pitch for India. Here are the revised playing conditions:
10:08 pm: Alright then! We have good news. Play set to resume (just a minute or two before the cutoff time) India need 48 runs in 6 overs.
09:40 pm: Covers reportedly coming off, but too little too late? Inspection set to take place at 10:05 pm.
09:35 pm: Good news? Maybe? Seems like the groundsmen are getting ready to take the covers off as well, according to ESPNCricinfo.
09:10 pm: Some update, but not really good news
09:00 pm: No update yet, covers are still on. In the meantime, we made some nice graphs to try and understand, Ashish Nehra’s bizarre yet incredible India career. More graphs here:
08:50 pm: Update from Ranchi is that Australia won’t bat again, India’s target to be revised by DLS IF we have anymore play. Cut off time for match to restart will be 2220 IST. India could be looking at a target of 41 in five over.
08:33 pm: Not looking good in Ranchi, folks:
Rain stops play: Virat Kohli was right at the toss when he said weather is going to play a role today but in the situation Australia find themselves in, it shouldn’t impact India too much. The covers are on with the score reading 118/8 after 18.4 overs.
Time for us to take a breather after all those fall of wickets.
WICKET! Brilliance from Virat Kohli, a direct hit from long on. The stumps have been busy today. Six Australian batsmen were already bowled and now Dan Christian is run out. Australia 118/8 in the 19th over and the covers are on.
WICKETS FOR BUMRAH! Tim Paine’s chance-filled innings just costs one six over fine leg for India. Bumrah comes back for the death in the 18th over and goes away with two Aussie wickets. First Paine, the ball skids on. Then Nathan Coulter-Nile is yorked. Bumrah is having fun. After 18 overs, Australia 113/7
After 16 overs, Australia 99/5: A very eventful 15th over from Chahal. Tim Paine had three lives! First ball, he puts down a tough return catch. Then – INCREDIBLY – Dhoni misses a stumping (albeit a tough one as he was blinded by the batsman going for the sweep). Off the last ball Kuldeep puts down a sitter at midwicket! Poor Chahal.
WICKET! Travis Head loses his.. errr.. head. He had to steady Australia and take them to a good score but misreads a slower ball and plays it on his stumps. Soft dismissal. Hardik Pandya will finish with a wicket after all. After 14 overs, Australia 92/5.
WICKET! Kuldeep Yadav again. This is not smart cricket by the Australians. Moises Henriques dances down the track way too early, Kuldeep spots it, shortens his length and the ball keeps low as well. Clean bowled. Pandya came back from the other end and concedes just 6 from his over. Australia 88/4 after 13 overs.
WICKET! And it’s the big one for India. Kuldeep Yadav removes Aaron Finch. After bowling a series of good length balls, Kuldeep pushes one through, full, faster and right under Finch’s eyeline – he is yorked! Smart cricket. Finch goes for 42. Chahal from the other end and he concedes just 3. After 11 overs, Australia 80/3.
After 9 overs, Australia 72/2: Chahal has made Maxwell his bunny and he sure enjoyed that wicket – as did Kohli. Kuldeep from the other starts his spell with a 5-run over. Finch meanwhile is still going strong. Hits a big six over midwicket off Chahal. HE holds the key for the Aussies.
WICKET! Chahal and Maxwell. You know what that means. A wry smile from Chahal as he gets his man yet again. Short ball, bad ball, hit straight to Bumrah at midwicket. Oh dear. After 7 overs, Australia 57/2
After 6 overs, Australia 49/1: Australia can be happy with that powerplay. Pandya is struggling a bit and might not complete his quota. Finch takes him on again, 13 from that over. Bhuvi, as always, keeps it nice and tight.
After 4 overs, Australia 28/1: Pandya goes for runs in his first over. Finch hits a couple of boundaries off the last two balls, takes 10 from that over. Meanwhile, Maxwell from the other end is...
After 2 overs, Australia 15/1: Bhuvi and Bumrah start off for India. Warner started off in fine fashion with two boundaries but Bhuvi had the last laugh. Bumrah from the other end and Finch takes the attack to him, lofting over mid off for four. Maxwell is the new man in. Pandya to bowl the third.
Wicket in the first over: David Warner is gone! Delight for Bhuvi. His IPL captain and today’s Australia captain is dismissed in the very first over – played on after two boundaries. Big wicket for India. Warner walks back with a wry smile on his face.
07:00 pm: All in readiness in Dhoni-land for the match to start.
06:30 pm: Virat Kohli wins the toss and elects to bowl first, with a bit of rain around. Weather the biggest factor in his decision he says. Dhawan replaces Rahane, Kuldeep in for Axar from the last ODI lineup.
06:25 pm: Hello all, welcome to the live blog of the first of the three T20 internationals between India and Australia in Dhoni-land - Ranchi.