India won the toss and opted to field in the third T20I against Australia at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval. Early on, Varun Chakaravarthy and Arshdeep Singh struck crucial blows, but Australia bounced back strongly.
Tim David powered Australia’s innings with a blistering 23-ball fifty, continuing his attack until he was dismissed for 74 off 38 deliveries. His innings featured clean striking and precise timing.
Shivam Dube eventually removed David, who lofted a full delivery to Tilak Varma at long-off, providing India with a much-needed breakthrough.
Marcus Stoinis also contributed significantly, reaching his half-century by hitting three boundaries off Arshdeep Singh in quick succession. He survived an earlier scare when a low catch by Rinku Singh was overturned by the third umpire after replays showed the ball had touched the ground.
Earlier in the innings, Matthew Short added important runs, including a boundary that narrowly evaded Arshdeep Singh at the rope.
Varun Chakaravarthy delivered an impressive spell, taking two wickets in one over. He first dismissed Mitchell Marsh for 11, caught by Tilak Varma at long-off, then bowled Mitchell Owen for a golden duck on the next ball.
Former player Srikkanth and others have criticized India’s batting order, urging more consistency and aggression after the recent collapse in Melbourne.
With Australia leading the five-match series 1–0, this match was vital for India to stay in contention. The team’s performance in Hobart would determine whether they could level the series or lose the chance to claim it.
Author’s summary: Tim David’s explosive 74 powered Australia’s innings, putting pressure on India’s inconsistent batting lineup and raising questions about their strategy in the T20I series.