India clinch T20I series 2-1 in Australia as rain washes out Brisbane finale; Abhishek Sharma named Player of the Series
PTC Web Desk: India continued their remarkable unbeaten streak in T20I series played in Australia, sealing the five-match contest 2-1 after the series decider at the Gabba was abandoned due to heavy rain on Saturday.
Only 4.5 overs of play were possible in the final match as persistent showers forced officials to call off the game. Before rain intervened, India had raced to 52 without loss, with openers Shubman Gill (29*) and Abhishek Sharma (23*) looking in fine touch on a lively pitch that offered good bounce for batting.
Australia had opted to bowl first after winning the toss, but their bowlers found little success as Gill quickly set the tone with aggressive stroke play. The right-hander struck four boundaries in one over off Ben Dwarshuis, displaying intent and rhythm right from the start.
Abhishek, however, had a shaky beginning and was dropped twice—first on 4 by Glenn Maxwell and again on 11 by Dwarshuis. Just as he started to find his timing, the weather worsened, forcing players off the field. Despite waiting for a possible restart, the match was officially abandoned around 8:55 pm local time (4:25 pm IST), disappointing thousands of Indian supporters in attendance.
With this result, India wrapped up the series 2-1, extending their 13-year unbeaten run in bilateral T20I series on Australian soil. Since losing a one-off T20I in 2008, India have now won all T20I series Down Under — 3-0 in 2016, 2-1 in 2020, and 2-1 in 2025. The first match of the current series in Canberra and the final in Brisbane were both washed out.
Abhishek Sharma wins Player of the Series
Despite his brief innings in the final game, Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Series for his consistent performances throughout the tour. The young opener amassed 163 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 161.38, including a half-century.
“I had been waiting for this tour and was excited from the moment it was announced. The pitches here are batting-friendly. We could’ve posted even bigger totals, but I’m happy with how the team performed,” said Abhishek after receiving the award.
Top Run-Scorers in the Series – India vs Australia (T20I 2025)
Abhishek Sharma – 163 runs in 4 innings (Strike Rate: 161.38)
Shubman Gill – 132 runs in 5 innings (Strike Rate: 136.08)
Tim David – 89 runs in 3 innings (Strike Rate: 181.63)
India made full use of the series to test their bench strength, fielding 15 out of 16 players in the squad. Only all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy did not get a game. Rinku Singh, who was included for the final match, remained unbeaten as rain denied him a chance to bat.
In the bowling department, Varun Chakravarthy led the attack with five wickets, while Arshdeep Singh, playing only two matches, impressed with four scalps.
India’s next T20I challenge will come in December when they host South Africa for a five-match series scheduled between December 9 and 19 in Cuttack, Mullanpur, Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad.
- With inputs from agencies
