Australia’s skipper, Matthew Wade, admitted that his team struggled against spinners in their 20-run loss to India in the fourth T20I in Raipur. With this defeat, Australia lost the series 3-1 as India put up a strong performance with both bat and ball. Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi proved to be a challenge for the Australian batsmen, taking four wickets between them. Australia also struggled to find boundaries consistently during the middle overs, leading to their downfall. Reflecting on their performance, Wade acknowledged their failure to play spin well and the loss of crucial wickets in the middle. Despite the efforts of some players, the team was unable to chase down the target. Wade emphasized the importance of learning from established players and building squad depth, especially with the T20 World Cup approaching.
In the match, India’s Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma played explosive innings, helping their team reach a total of 174/9. In response, Australia’s opening pair, Travis Head and Josh Philippe, started well with a 40-run partnership. However, Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Philippe in the fourth over, and Axar Patel removed Head in the fifth over after he scored 31 runs. Australia then lost wickets in quick succession, similar to India’s first innings. The Indian bowlers maintained pressure on the Australian batsmen, resulting in a 20-run victory for the Men in Blue.
As the T20 World Cup is on the horizon, Wade emphasized the need to learn from experienced players and have depth in the squad. The team will aim to improve their performance against spinners and build a strong batting lineup for future matches.
