After India established a 2-0 lead in the second Twenty20 International of a five-match series on Sunday, November 26 in Thiruvananthapuram, defeating Australia by 44 runs, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Axar Patel engaged in a lighthearted conversation.
Axar challenged Ruturaj Gaikwad, India’s vice-captain for the series, to provide a match report in sixty seconds in a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But before he spoke, the left-arm spinner gave his colleague a warning, saying he would try his hardest to divert the little batter’s attention. Axar did everything in his power to create distractions, so the first batter accepted the challenge. Throughout the 60 seconds, Axar urged Ruturaj to be exact with his calculations and even offered him water and oranges. The resulting film was both endearing and humorous.
Ruturaj Gaikwad faces the race against time ⏳
60 seconds in hand to deliver a Match Report and a distractor in the name of Axar Patel 😃
WATCH 🎥🔽 – By @28anand | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/S9dDeXPrRj
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 27, 2023
Australia captain Matthew Wade invited India to bat after winning the toss earlier in the day. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s exciting 53 off 25 balls was a major factor in the home team’s explosive start. After coming out, Ishan Kishan quickly reached fifty runs. From the opposite end, Gaikwad led the innings till he was out for 58 off 43 balls. With the ‘Men in Yellow’ needing to score 236 runs, Rinku Singh produced an incredible cameo, scoring 31 runs off just nine balls.
Because Ruturaj Gaikwad, his opening partner, was a more measured batsman, the two combined for 77 runs in the first six overs.
Steve Smith and Matthew Short, in response, had promising starts but were unable to build on them. Josh Inglis also left the game early after scoring a century in the previous one. Even though Glenn Maxwell appeared to be in fantastic shape, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to outshine Axar. Tim David and Marcus Stoinis shared a fantastic 81 runs for the fifth wicket to give Australia a chance, but once they left in successive overs, the opposition was unable to rally. Australia concluded on 191/9, thanks to a barrage of boundaries struck by Wade in the last overs. Player of the Match went to Jaiswal.
This Tuesday, November 28, in Guwahati, is the third Twenty20 International. For Australia to remain in the series, they will need to win that game.
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