Rain had the final say in Canberra as the opening of the five-match India vs Australia T20 2025 series was called off after multiple interruptions on an overcast Wednesday evening.
Put in to bat, the Indian cricket team had raced to 97/1 in 9.4 overs when play was halted for the final time.
Openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma (19 off 14) gave India a brisk start before the latter fell to Nathan Ellis in the fourth over with the score on 35.
From there, Gill (37 not out in 20 balls) and Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav (39 not out in 24 balls) began to build momentum with a partnership that featured seven fours and three sixes. However, persistent rain meant the match could not continue.
Ahead of the match, T20 World Cup champions India were dealt a setback as Nitish Kumar Reddy, a replacement for the injured Hardik Pandya, was ruled out of the first three T20Is due to injury.
Nitish sustained an injury to his left quadricep during the second ODI in Adelaide on Thursday and also complained of neck spasms ahead of the T20I series opener.
The series will now move to Melbourne for the second T20I on Friday.
AUS vs IND T20 2025, 1st match brief scores: India 97/1 in 9.4 overs (Shubman Gill 37 not out, Suryakumar Yadav 39 not out; Nathan Ellis 1/25). Australia (did not bat). Match abandoned.
