Concussion sub Yuzvendra Chahal delivers controversial win for India in Canberra T20I vs Australia

In the last over, Ravindra Jadeja was hit by a Mitchell Starc shot ball on the helmet and he received treatment. After the end of the innings, after Ravindra Jadeja rescued India, Yuzvendra Chahal came on as a concussion substitute. Justin Langer, the Australian coach was furious and had an argument with ICC match referee David Boon. Yuzvendra Chahal only made the mood of the Australian grimmer by taking three wickets. Aided by T Natarajan’s three-wicket haul and aided by the blitz of Ravindra Jadeja that resulted in 46 runs in the final three overs, India managed to get out of jail with a 11-run win at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Ravindra Jadeja’s hitting and the 46 runs in the last three overs proved to be crucial for India as they continue their resurgence following their win in the third and final ODI at the same venue on December 2. But, for Australia, the Yuzvendra Chahal substitution clearly distracted them and they paid the price for a poor batting and death overs bowling exhibition. For India, this was their 12^th win in 21 T20I encounters against Australia.

Rahul’s fifty continues IPL form

Australia won the toss and chose to bowl and they immediately got the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. In IPL 2020, KL Rahul was the Orange Cap winner with over 600 runs for Kings XI Punjab in what was a hear-breaking campaign for them. In Canberra, KL Rahul was in his elements as he smashed an aggressive fifty. His stroke-making continued his form from the UAE all the way Down Under

Collapse of the day, 6/3 in 3 overs

India were struggling to get off the blocks against a disciplined bowling attack. There was a period in the middle overs where they lost Sanju Samson, Manish Pandey and KL Rahul in a three-over burst. It was a sensational collapse.

Jadeja blazes in the death overs

When Hardik Pandya was dismissed by Moises Henriques, it seemed India would land up with a small total. However, Ravindra Jadeja pounced on Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc’s waywardness. Hazlewood was hit for two fours and a six in the 19^th over which went for 23 runs. In the final over, Jadeja hit two fours off Mitchell Starc and India had slammed 46 runs in three overs.

But, controversy of the day

However, in that same over, Jadeja received a blow on the helmet and was getting treatment in addition to his hamstring injury. When India ended on 161/7, Yuzvendra Chahal was appointed as the concussion substitute and this did not go down well with Australia. Justin Langer argued with ICC match referee David Boon but all in vain. This clearly distracted Australia.

Fast start but they flounder

It just had to be providence that the one factor that caused them distraction would go on to wreck their chances. After scoring 52 runs in the powerplay, Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Aaron Finch and Steve Smith. He could have gotten a third but Glenn Maxwell’s shot landed safe.

T Natarajan delivers and the appeal that wasn’t

T Natarajan sent back Glenn Maxwell and was almost on a hat-trick. However, such was Australia’s misery that when Moises Henriques was trapped LBW by Deepak Chahar, only KL Rahul appealed and umpire Rod Tucker gave it out. The replays show that had Rahul not appealed, India would not have gotten Moises Henriques wicket. With no boundaries hit in the final few overs, it was only a matter of time before India won the match.