India win T20 series against Australia after being bowled out in the fifth match | Cricket news

The final T20 of the five-match series was abandoned after 4.5 overs as a thunderstorm and rain forced the players off the pitch in Brisbane.

India cruised to a 2-1 victory in the five-match T20 series against Australia after the final match was abandoned due to rain after just 4.5 overs in Brisbane.

After losing the toss and being sent to field on Saturday, Indian openers Abhishek Sharma (23) and Shubman Gill (29) took the score to 52 not out before a thunderstorm swept through the Gabba cricket ground, forcing the players off the field.

Gill took the lead early on and hit six fours in his 29 not out. Abhishek was dropped by Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dwarshuis on his way to an unbeaten 23.

The sell-out crowd at the Gabba hung around optimistically, waiting for play to resume, but the stormy weather continued and the match was abandoned about two and a half hours after kick-off.

The first match of the series in Canberra was also altered before Australia won the second in Melbourne by four wickets on the back of paceman Josh Hazlewood's bowling.

Australia withdrew Hazlewood and some other players named in the Ashes squad to prepare to face red-ball England, and India won the third T20 by five wickets in Hobart and the fourth at the Gold Coast by 48 runs.

Abhishek was named Player of the Series for his 163 runs at an average of 40.75.

“The way everyone pitched in every game and we came back from one game down, I think the credit goes to all the guys; a complete team effort,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.

India, who top the ICC rankings in the shortest format, will return home with confidence and plenty of player options, hoping to defend their T20 World Cup title on home soil early next year.

“I thought overall it was a good series, two teams really nailed it,” Australia captain Mitch Marsh said.

“India won the games when it mattered, so congratulations to them.”