India’s white-ball tour of Australia ended on a damp note as persistent rain washed out the final T20 International at Canberra on Saturday. With the fifth and final game abandoned without a result, India clinched the five-match series 2–1 — taking sweet revenge for their ODI series defeat by the same margin earlier on the tour.
Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast skies. India got off to a flying start, reaching 52 for no loss in just five overs, with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma striking the ball beautifully before lightning and heavy rain forced the umpires to stop play. Continuous showers made resumption impossible, and the match was eventually called off, sealing the series in India’s favour.
The series began with the first T20I in Adelaide, which was washed out due to rain. Australia won the second T20I by four wickets at Sydney, taking an early 1–0 lead in the series. India bounced back strongly, winning the third T20I by five wickets in Brisbane to draw level, and then dominated the fourth T20I in Hobart, registering a 48-run victory to take an unassailable 2–1 lead before rain spoiled the final encounter in Canberra.
Abhishek Sharma was named Player of the Series for his consistent showing with the bat. “I enjoyed playing in Australia — the pitches suit my game — and I was told to play freely in the Powerplay. Representing India in the upcoming T20 World Cup would be a dream come true,” he said.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team’s all-round performance. “Everyone knows their roles well — our pacers were lethal, and the spinners brought great variation. It’s a good headache to have so many players in form before the World Cup,” he said.
Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh congratulated India and reflected on his team’s positives. “It was a great series overall, and India won when it mattered most. We’ll now shift focus to the Ashes and the Big Bash,” he said, confirming he would continue as T20I captain even after Pat Cummins’ return.
With the tour concluded, India will return home to prepare for their all-format series against South Africa, while Australia gear up for the Ashes and their busy home season.
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