Persistent rain in Canberra brought a premature end to the opening T20I of the five-match series between Australia and India, denying a result and halting a promising knock from captain Suryakumar Yadav, who had begun to rediscover his IPL touch. India managed to face nearly 10 overs before the weather intervened again, forcing the match to be abandoned.
India gets a decent start before rain forces a washout
India signaled their aggressive approach right from the start as Abhishek Sharma, playing his first game against Australia, advanced down the track to Josh Hazlewood’s very first delivery. He continued in the same vein, finishing the over by stepping out again and slicing one through point. Shubman Gill had an early scare on 11 when a slower delivery from Nathan Ellis struck him on the pads. Australia reviewed the umpire’s not-out call, but replays showed the ball was clipping the top of the stumps. Abhishek’s bright start, however, came to an end when he lofted a simple catch to Tim David at mid-off, giving Ellis a wicket in his first over.
The fifth over produced an engaging duel between Suryakumar Yadav and Hazlewood, who was playing only the first two matches before turning his attention to Ashes preparations. Hazlewood began the face-off with a sharp bouncer that whistled past Suryakumar, followed by a seaming delivery that beat him comprehensively. Undeterred, Suryakumar countered with a superb flick over deep square leg for six, then closed the over with a composed single after a couple of dot balls.
Suryakumar looked to have found his rhythm as he targeted Ellis’ next over, smashing two boundaries and a six. He had his share of luck too, dropped by Josh Philippe on 18 after a tough running chance at mid-on. That reprieve allowed him to post only his second score beyond 20 in his past 15 T20I innings, showing glimpses of the form that made him such a dominant force in the IPL earlier this year.
Gill also batted fluently amid the interruptions, mixing timing with aggression. Just before the final rain stoppage, he dispatched Matt Kuhnemann with a strong slog-sweep over midwicket. Together, Suryakumar and Gill had guided India to 97 for 1 in the 10th over of a contest already shortened to 18 overs per side due to an earlier rain delay. Unfortunately, heavier rain returned shortly before 10 p.m., leaving the umpires with no choice but to abandon the match.
Scorecard: India 97/1 in 9.4 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 39*, Shubman Gill 37*) vs Australia – No Result
Shreyas Iyer undergoes surgery after having rib cage injury in the 3rd ODI
Shreyas Iyer’s condition is currently stable, though he continues to be under close medical supervision after his accident in the final ODI against Australia at the SCG. The BCCI confirmed that he sustained an impact injury to his left lower rib cage while attempting a catch and subsequent scans showed a laceration to his spleen. He was moved out of the ICU and remains under observation in a Sydney hospital, where the team doctor, Dr. Rizwan Khan, is monitoring his recovery daily alongside specialists from India and Australia. Friends have been visiting him, and a family member is expected to arrive soon from Mumbai once visa procedures are completed.
While Iyer is now out of danger, reports suggest minor internal bleeding occurred due to the force of the fall. The BCCI and team management are prioritizing his long-term health, making it clear that he will not be rushed back into action. He is likely to stay in Sydney for a few more days until doctors deem him fit for travel. His next scheduled appearance for India is the ODI series against South Africa starting November 30, but his participation will depend on whether he achieves full recovery in time.
As of Tuesday, Iyer has been taking phone calls, eating home-cooked meals arranged by local friends, and even managing his routine chores on his own. An update on his condition was also shared by Suryakumar Yadav.
“We spoke to him at least on the first day when we got to know that he had an injury. I called him first. Then I found out that he did not have a phone. So I called the physio, Kamlesh. He told me that he is stable. On the first day, I don’t know how, but he was looking good. We have been talking for two days now. He has been replying. If he is replying on the phone, it means he is stable.
“There is also a doctor there, so it is looking good. I mean, he is good. He is talking. Everything is normal. He said that he will take care of himself for a few more days. But he has been replying, talking to everyone, so it is good,” the India T20 skipper, currently in Canberra, said.
Later on Tuesday evening, the BCCI stating that Iyer’s injury was ‘promptly identified, and the bleeding was immediately arrested’ while confirming that his condition is stable. “A repeat scan done on Tuesday, 28th October, has shown significant improvement, and Shreyas is on the road to recovery. The BCCI Medical Team, in consultation with specialists in Sydney and India, will continue to monitor his progress,” the BCCI further added.