Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar help India level series against Australia

The Indian cricket team levelled the five-match India vs Australia T20 2025 series with a five-wicket win over the hosts at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Sunday.

The win helped India level the series after losing by four wickets in Melbourne on Friday. The opening match in Canberra on Wednesday was abandoned due to rain.

Washington Sundar top-scored for T20 World Cup champions and world No. 1 India with a 23-ball 49 that included three fours and four sixes. Sundar’s knock helped India chase down the target in 18.3 overs. Nathan Ellis (3/36) was the pick of the bowlers for world No. 2 Australia.

Earlier in the day, Arshdeep Singh, who finished with figures of 3/35, helped India restrict Australia to 186/6 on a good batting wicket. Tim David and Marcus Stoinis scored fifties for the Australian cricket team.

After India chose to field first, Arshdeep Singh struck twice inside the first three overs, removing Travis Head and Josh Inglis to reduce Australia to 14/2.

However, Tim David changed the tempo with a counterattacking knock in the middle overs, racing to his fifty in only 23 deliveries. He dominated the Indian spinners and smashed eight fours and five sixes in a blistering 74 off just 38 balls.

Once David fell, Marcus Stoinis took charge, pacing his innings smartly before finishing with a fiery 64 off 39 balls. He added crucial runs at the death, hitting three boundaries in the 18th over off Arshdeep to eventually help lift Australia beyond 180.

While Arshdeep was the standout bowler, Varun Chakravarthy also contributed well by picking up two wickets for 33 runs.

Chasing 187 for a win, India lost Abhishek Sharma (25) and Shubman Gill (15) in the powerplay and Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav’s exit (24) meant India were at 76/3 in the eighth over. The runs, though, came at a brisk rate.

At the halfway mark, they were comfortably placed at 105/3, with Tilak Varma and Axar Patel keeping the scoreboard ticking through a 35-run stand before Axar’s dismissal in the 12th over.

Tilak then combined with Washington Sundar for a brisk 34-run partnership off just 19 balls to bring India within striking distance.

India needed only 42 runs from the final six overs. Although Tilak fell in the 15th over while attempting a big shot, Washington and Jitesh Sharma ensured there were no hiccups, maintaining the tempo and sealing the chase with nine balls to spare.

The India vs Australia T20 series will now move to Gold Coast for the fourth T20I on Thursday.

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