India vs Australia | Rain plays spoilsport as first T20 at Canberra is called off due to rain

India, who were put in to bat, were 97 for one in 9.1 overs when rain intervened.

The first T20 of the five-match series between India and Australia at Canberra was abandoned due to persistent rain.

India, who were put in to bat, were 97 for one in 9.1 in overs (in the match which was reduced to 18-overs-a-side) when rain intervened.

The big takeaway for India from the washed out match was that skipper Suryakumar Yadav was back in his elements.

With his deputy Shubman Gill (37 not out off 20 balls) also in good nick, Suryakumar unleashed a flurry of attractive strokes en route his unbeaten 39 off 24 balls. The duo added 62 runs off 35 balls for the second wicket and both looked good for big scores before rain had the final say.

There were two breaks across the 9.4 overs that India had to endure and after the first break, next 4.4 overs turned out to be very productive for the visitors with 54 runs coming during that phase. The rain also meant that the ball was getting wet and Australian bowlers found it difficult to grip.

Earlier, Abhishek Sharma (19 off 14 balls), who started the onslaught with three fours off Xavier Bartlett, could not gauge Ellis' back-of-the-hand slower delivery which was pouched by the mid-off fielder after the southpaw failed to get the required elevation.

The second match of the five-match series will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday (October 31).

India had lost the preceding three-match ODI series 1-2.

(with inputs from agencies)