Ruturaj Gaikwad and Axar patel. (Photo Source: X(Twitter/BCCI)
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Axar Patel had a fun interaction after India defeated Australia by 44 runs on Sunday, November 26 in Thiruvananthapuram, in the second T20I of a five-match series, and took a 2-0 lead.
In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Axar asked India’s vice-captain of the series Ruturaj to give a match report in 60 seconds. However, the left-arm spinner warned his teammate that he would do his best to distract the young batter while he spoke. The opening batter took the challenge as Axar left no stone unturned in causing distractions. Axar asked Ruturaj to be precise with his numbers and even offered him water and oranges during the 60 seconds and the video was hilarious as well as heartwarming at the same time.
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
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 27, 2023
Earlier in the day, Australia captain Matthew Wade won the toss and invited India to have a bat. The home side got off to a blistering start, primarily thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored an entertaining 53 off 25 balls. His opening partner Ruturaj was more calculated in his approach and the duo put together a 77-run partnership inside the first six overs. Ishan Kishan came out and also scored a brisk half-century. Gaikwad anchored the innings from the other end and, eventually departed for 58 off 43 balls. Rinku Singh played a breathtaking cameo of 31 runs from nine balls as India set a target of 236 for the ‘Men in Yellow’.
In reply, Matthew Short and Steve Smith showed good intent at the top but they couldn’t capitalize on their starts. Josh Inglis, who scored a century in the previous game, also departed early. Glenn Maxwell looked in good touch but he also perished while trying to hit Axar out of the park. An excellent 81-run fifth-wicket partnership between Marcus Stoinis and Tim David gave Australia a sniff but once they departed in consecutive overs, there was no coming back for the away side. Wade hit a flurry of boundaries in the death overs as Australia finished on 191/9. Jaiswal was awarded Player of the Match.
The third T20I will be played in Guwahati on Tuesday, November 28. Australia will have to win that game to stay afloat in the series.