IND vs AUS: Captain Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 46 helps India beat Australia to level series 1-1

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma smashed an unbeaten 46 runs knock in just 20 balls to help the hosts beat Australia in an 8-over per side contest. The second T20I between India and Australia in Nagpur had been delayed due to the outfield being wet because of rain. 

Despite the fact that overs were lost in a must-win match, the Men in Blue remained upbeat, as they levelled the series 1-1, and now all the attention turns to Hyderabad, where the series decider will be played on September 25. 

READ| IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma overtakes Martin Guptill, becomes leading six hitter in T20I history

Captain @ImRo45 led #TeamIndia's charge with the bat in the chase & was our top performer from the second innings of the 2nd #INDvAUS T20I.

Here's a summary of his batting display pic.twitter.com/L3sO3ZCztA — BCCI (@BCCI) September 23, 2022

The India skipper smashed four sixes and as many fours as he single-handedly helped India chase down a target of 91 with four balls to spare in a match which was reduced to eight-overs-a-side due to a wet outfield.

READ| 6,4: Dinesh Karthik finishes off in style, smacks big hits to win 2nd T20I for Team India; watch video

Earlier, Matthew Wade smacked an unbeaten 20-ball 43 to fire Australia to 90 for five.

Wade hit four boundaries and three towering sixes -- all maximums in the final over off Harshal Patel (0/32) -- while skipper Aaron Finch hit 31 off 15 after Rohit invited Australia to bat in a match that was delayed by two-and-half hours.

Chasing the target, Rohit made his intention clear as he went on a six-hitting spree, unleashing three monstrous hits off Josh Hazlewood in the opening over to give India's chase a flying start.

READ| "No 19th over no Bhuvi": Fans react as Team India pick seven batters for a rain-shortened T20 game against Australia

The India opener then deposited Pat Cummins' (1/23 in 2 overs) slower delivery into the stands before lifting Adam Zampa (3/16 in 2 overs) over long-off for another maximum.

For his match-winning knock in the chase in the second #INDvAUS T20I, #TeamIndia captain @ImRo45 bags the Player of the Match award.

Scorecard https://t.co/LyNJTtl5L3 pic.twitter.com/xihAY6wCA3

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 23, 2022

But the spinner came back to disturb the stumps of KL Rahul (10), who looked to go for a slog-sweep.

Virat Kohli (11) then picked up a boundary off Daniel Sams, before smacking one over Zampa's head for another four.

READ| IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma overtakes Martin Guptill, becomes leading six hitter in T20I history

However, the spinner won the battle of wits as his quicker delivery beat the Indian and dislodged the stumps.

Zampa dealt a double blow as he trapped Suryakumar Yadav (0) in the very next ball as India slipped to 55 for 3 in 4.3 overs.

Captain @ImRo45's reaction

Crowd's joy@DineshKarthik's grin
 Relive the mood as #TeamIndia sealed a series-levelling win in Nagpur #INDvAUS | @mastercardindia

Scorecard https://t.co/LyNJTtl5L3 pic.twitter.com/bkiJmUCSeu — BCCI (@BCCI) September 23, 2022

Unfazed by the fall of wickets, Rohit continued to go strong as he chipped one over cover and then pulled one wide of short fine as Sean Abbott conceded 11 runs.

READ| IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah castles Aaron Finch with yorker, Australian skipper applauds pacer

Hardik Pandya scored a four off Cummins but he couldn't stay long as he holed out to Finch in the seventh over.

Designated finisher Dinesh Karthik then played his part to perfection, knocking off the remaining runs with a six and a four off Sams.

With inputs from PTI