India may have experienced heartbreak in the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, but they bounced back just four days later against the same rivals, albeit in a different format. After an underwhelming run in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav began his India captaincy stint in style, leading the home team to a thrilling two-wicket win over Australia in Visakhapatnam, in the first T20I of the five-match series between the two cricketing powerhouses. (As It Happened | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
The flamboyant right-handed batter Surya top-scored with 80 off just 42 balls as India recorded their biggest-ever run chase in T20Is. Riding on Surya and Ishan Kishan (58 off 39 balls)'s half-centuries, the hosts gunned down a daunting target of 209 with one ball to spare. This was the fifth instance of India chasing down a 200-plus target in T20Is.
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Sequence Of Events
After the Aussies posted a strong total of 208/3 in 20 overs – thanks to Josh Inglis' sparkling maiden international century – Surya and Kishan took India close to the finishing line in response. But the duo's departure brought Australia back into the game, and a tight penultimate over from Nathan Ellis, in which he gave just six runs, made the match exciting right at the end.
The equation was still loaded in India's favour, with the team needing seven off the last over. Dashing southpaw Rinku Singh smashed a four off the first ball from Sean Abbott to take the equation down to three runs off five balls. Rinku failed to connect on the second ball but still ran a bye as wicket-keeper Matthew Wade fumbled in his collection.
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With two more runs needed off four balls, left-hander Axar Patel swung his bat at a length delivery but could only manage a top edge. Abbott kept his cool and took a simple catch off his own bowling to dismiss Axar, bringing spinner Ravi Bishnoi on strike.
Bishnoi went for a hook off the third ball but missed it altogether. Nevertheless, an alert Rinku sprinted across to the other end and regained the strike, even though it meant that Bishnoi was run out at the non-striker's end.
With left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh at the other end, Rinku smashed the penultimate ball towards deep midwicket. The batter returned for a second but Arshdeep fell short of his ground at the bowler's end, resulting in India losing their third wicket in as many deliveries. But Rinku, much to the dugout's relief, was on strike for the final ball.
What Happened Off The Last Ball
The record books will show that India's victory came about with one ball to spare. However, those who watched the match know that the hosts needed one run to win off the final ball, and Rinku deposited Abbott's length delivery into the stands over long-on for a big six.
Why Rinku Singh's Six Didn't Count
So what explains this seeming contradiction? A no-ball. Abbott overstepped for the last delivery of the 20th over, which means that technically, India achieved their target even before the ball reached Rinku. A no-ball is not a legal delivery, and hence the last ball would have been bowled again, had India not got the runs they needed. This is why Rinku's spectacular six won't be counted in the score, even though Indian fans will remember it for a long time.
