The Gold Coast, better known for its sun-drenched beaches and surf breaks, became the unlikely setting for a T20 masterclass in subcontinental deception. What began as a mildly concerning, “slightly light” total of 167 for India transformed into a mountain too steep for Australia to climb at Carrara Oval on Thursday. Led by an inspired spin attack and two stunning breakthroughs from the unlikeliest source of their bowling unit, Shivam Dube, India dismantled the Australian chase, securing a handsome 48-run win and, crucially, an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Australia’s chase began with promise. Matthew Short, back in his preferred opening role, looked fluent early on. But Axar Patel, who had been underused in the series so far, came roaring back. His left-arm darts were hard to pick, and he struck twice — first trapping Short leg before on review, then beating Josh Inglis in flight as he charged down the track and got his middle stump pegged back. Axar’s spell of 4-0-20-2, including 12 dot balls, was suffocating. Varun Chakravarthy added to the spin stranglehold, and his final delivery — a googly that Glenn Maxwell completely misread — was symbolic of Australia’s unravelling. The defining story of the chase belonged to Shivam Dube and a moment of powerful redemption. He first sent Aussie captain Mitchell Marsh back to the pavilion and then backed it up with the vital wicket of big-hitter Tim David. Marsh, who was just beginning to shift gears, pulled a slower short ball straight to Arshdeep Singh at deep square leg. The duel between David and Dube was another highlight of the match. The burly Australian launched Dube for a massive six that soared close to the overhanging roof. The revenge was dished out the very next ball. Banging the delivery in short, Dube hurried David into a pull shot, only for the top edge to spoon up safely into the covers fielder Suryakumar Yadav’s bucket hands. It was a turning point, as Dube’s double strike broke the back of Australia’s middle order. Josh Philippe’s tame dismissal to short midwicket off Arshdeep’s bowling added to the chaos, and from there, it was a procession. The final nail in the coffin was delivered by Chakravarthy. Maxwell, returning from a broken wrist and under pressure to replicate his epochal rescue acts, failed completely to pick the googly, the ball sliding through to extinguish Australia’s last hope. In the end, Australia collapsed in a heap, losing an alarming seven wickets for 28. The collective dominance of the Indian spinners was not just a win — it was a tactical warning ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Put into bat, India’s innings was a narrative of explosive potential ultimately stifled by strategic brilliance. The visitors started with a characteristic flourish, riding the initial wave after Abhishek Sharma, living dangerously, was dropped second ball by Xavier Bartlett. Sharma and Shubman Gill capitalised, racing to 56 for no loss in the seventh over, with Abhishek even launching Adam Zampa’s return ball — post the birth of his second child — straight down the ground for six. But Zampa quickly sought revenge, delivering a googly that lured Abhishek to repeat the shot, only to be held safely by Tim David at long-on. The foundation was laid, but the finishing was lacking. Suryakumar Yadav briefly threatened to kickstart a late surge, smoking Zampa for two majestic sixes over deep midwicket in the 13th over. However, just when the accelerator seemed pressed, Surya picked out David in the deep with a fantastic fingertip catch — a huge moment that shifted the momentum.
