The opening match of the Twenty20 International series for India & Australia on October 29, 2025, at Manuka Oval, Canberra, was abandoned due to persistent rains and an unusual floodlight curfew. Before the weather took over, Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, captains for this match, built spectacular half-century partnerships and propelled India to 97 for 1 in just 9.4 overs, leaving fans disappointed due to an unfinished contest.
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Match Abandoned After Multiple Rain Interruptions
The series opener at Manuka Oval was supposed to be exciting, but weather delays caused it to be abandoned. Once Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and decided to field, India came out aggressively. Then, after five overs, the game was interrupted when Australia was at 43/1. After 40 minutes, the rain delay was over and the game was adjusted to 18 overs for each side. Due to the residence located near the stadium, the city of Canberra has a strict 11:00 p.m. floodlight curfew.
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch talked about the floodlight restrictions and that the officials reducing the overs was unreasonable. The staff at Manuka Oval have to turn off the floodlight at 11:00 p.m. and won’t have any time to finish the match. After the interruption, India still came out aggressively, and Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill made a powerful partnership.
But in the 10th over the game was interrupted again and after 50 minutes, umpires saw that the match had to be abandoned. It was very frustrating for a sold out crowd and Canberra had a lot of people out that day when a large number of people came to watch Canberra’s only men’s international of the season.
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Suryakumar Yadav Rediscovers Form with Explosive 39*
India captain Suryakumar Yadav gave the critics something to think about as he played an explosive innings of 39 not out off just 24 balls including three fours and two sixes. The innings represented a brilliant return to form from the 35-year-old captain who has struggled with the bat in recent months, averaging just 10.50 in his last 14 T20 hundred run-in international matches before this one.
Having recently come to the crease following the fall of Abhishek Sharma’s wicket, Suryakumar was immediately greeted to a brilliant delivery by Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood that looked to have him stamped out but left him upright and split second late. Instead of being rattled he responded in typical fashion backing himself as he picked up the next delivery – a back of a length ball – over the square leg fence for a maximum, powered by exquisite backside rotatory speed and excellent hand-eye coordination, which is a signature trolley shot of the Indian captain.
After a short rain interruption further reducing the perusals played out an early burst of conditions, Suryakumar sat back with stepchecks dramatically to the delivery but was accelerated back to testing level of reality and pace as he closed out the scorecard with a classic pace, batting back again in the Nathan Ellis over for 15 runs off the first completion of a ball, from four deliveries made in a row giving Ausralia’s bowler no credit for that out-turned controlling wicket. An aggressive intent had been confirmed on Suryakumar’s part leading into the likes of captain’s over scheming for another occasion, another declaration.
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Shubman Gill Matches Captain’s Aggression
At the other end, Shubman Gill – the vice-captain – was equally impressive, unbeaten on 37 off 20 deliveries with four fours and a six. Gill’s innings was full of elegant strokeplay and sheer power, epitomised by a mammoth slog-sweep over deep mid-wicket for six off left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.
The 25-year-old mixed exquisite placement with impeccable timing, going through the gears not long after the first rain break. Gill and Suryakumar added 62 runs in just 35 balls – taking the game well and truly away from Australia. The duo struck seven fours and three sixes, confirming India’s status as the number one ranked T20I side in the world, after some big hitting.
Right from the off it was clear Gill was on the attack – striking three boundaries in his first nine balls before the rain break. After the interruption, he picked up right where he left off, and battered Marcus Stoinis’ first over, targeting the off-side but still finding room to glide the ball through the so-called “V.”
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Abhishek Sharma’s Quick-Fire Start Ends Prematurely
In the opening offensive, Abhishek Sharma got India off to a good start, scoring 19 off 14 balls, with four fours before being the only wicket to fall. The left-hander was in his aggressive mode from the beginning and smashed two boundaries in a row from a ball from Xavier Bartlett in the second over.
Sharma fell in the fourth over, chipping to Tim David at mid-off from Nathan Ellis after mis-hitting a slower ball. While his knock was short, his intent was clear, and he was instrumental in having the visitors at 35/1 in 3.5 overs before falling.
The world number one T20I batter was expected to play an important role in the series, and the furious start suggested he is in good form even though he departed early on a rain-affected match.
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Australia’s Bowling Efforts Cut Short
The Australian pace attack had types of opportunity to bowl impact due to due rain interruptions. Josh Hazlewood only bowled three economical overs for 24 runs – putting pressure on the Indian batsmen as he looked to outsmart them with swing and movement. Nathan Ellis, who took the only wicket of the innings but took a hit for 25 runs from a total of 1.4 overs that included an over to Suryakumar where he was smashed for four boundaries.
Xavier Bartlett and Matthew Kuhnemann also bowled but suffered the same fate as other pacers in not being able to stop the barnstorming Indian batsmen. Kuhnemann conceded 22 runs in total from the two overs he bowled, with both Indian batsmen using minimum contact for boundaries and a six.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh called heads to win his 18th toss in a row in T20I cricket before opting to bowl first. Marsh expressed confidence in “being aggressive” from the start in today’s match. This match is a precursor for Australia, who has been building towards the T20 World Cup in India next year – defending champions and wanting to test themselves against India, who is currently the world champions.
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Injury Blow for India: Nitish Kumar Reddy Ruled Out
Before their match commenced, India was dealt an unfortunate blow as pace-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out for the first three T20Is of the series due to injury. The 22-year-old all-rounder was recuperating from an injury to his left quadricep sustained in the second ODI in Adelaide on October 23, but while he was recovering from that injury, he developed neck spasms, which slowed his recovery and mobility.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Reddy is being monitored by their medical staff. His absence affects India’s team balance as he offers all-round skills with bat and ball. In his T20I career overall, Reddy has made 90 with a high of 74 at an average of 18.00, and 3 wickets to date.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted the challenge of picking the team and commented that there was also not enough room for players like Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma, and Arshdeep Singh. “It’s a big headache, but a good headache to have,” Suryakumar said at the toss, indicating that India was a well-stocked squad.
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Series Context and What’s Next
The washout left the five-match T20I series at 0-0 going into the second match on October 31, at the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. The series is important for both teams to prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
India entered the T20I series as the reigning T20 World Cup champions, having defeated South Africa in the final in Barbados in June 2024. They also won the Asia Cup 2025 under Suryakumar’s captaincy. Alas, India was short on success in Australia and hoping to turn that around.
Australia, currently second in T20I cricket, just finished a 2-1 ODI series victory over India and were all confidence having just played in the shorter format. The hosts have plenty of firepower with Mitchell Marsh leading the way with Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell returning for the final three matches.
The second T20I match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground drew a crowd of 82,438 where Australia won by 4 wickets going ahead 1-0 in the series, with matches remaining in Hobart (Nov 2), Gold Coast (Nov 6) and Brisbane (Nov 8).
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Manuka Oval’s Infrastructure Challenges
The abandoned match exposed infrastructure issues at Manuka Oval, and both experts and fans have raised questions about the absence of any proper equipment to cope with the drizzle. The venue reportedly did not have the number of super soppers and other drainage systems in place that could have dried the entire surface in time to start after the rain breaks had taken place.
The abovementioned equipment issues, on top of a strict 11:00 p.m. floodlight curfew, left officials next to no options to consider. The curfew has been an ongoing discussion point in the past where the management at Manuka Oval has made frequent requests to amend their current Environmental Protection Act, yet the rule remains on the playing field, as requested by residential neighbors.
Nonetheless, the venue is still popular with fans and players alike, for the beautiful batting surface and the more intimate ground atmosphere, being able to draw consistently larger crowds to the international matches. Cricket Australia had sold out the venue for this marquee series between two of the best T20 teams in the world.
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Expert Reactions and Fan Disappointment
Rain ultimately brought a halt to play, leaving a number of disappointed fans and cricket pundits attempting to salvage a cancelled day of entertainment from it all; particularly given the exciting cricket being played before the rain intervened. A number of ex-players and commentators praised the aggressive batting style of both Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill, and the aggressive intent meant that India seemed to be well on the way to making a respectable total.
Cricket Australia officials to satisfied maintaining the safety of the players and ground conditions in these type of situations are of the utmost importance. The abandonment of the game was a decision made between both captains and the umpires and match referees.
Fans who have purchased tickets only for Canberra’s men’s international fixture will have expressed their frustration on social media even though most understood the circumstances were out of anyones control. This has reignited the debate on the scheduling of matches during months when inclement conditions can occur in and at venues with strict curfews.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why was the India vs Australia 1st T20I abandoned?
Persistent rain caused the abandonment of the game at Manuka Oval in Canberra, with distractions by rain and a strict 11:00 p.m. floodlight curfew at the ground, the officials were unable to complete the game. India were 97/1 in 9.4 overs when play was abandoned.
Q2: How did Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill perform in the 1st T20I?
Before the rain, both Indian batsman were in magnificent form. The Captain scored an unbeaten 39 off 24 (3 fours, 2 sixes), and vice-captain Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 37 from 20 (4 fours, 1 six) runs respectively. The pair scored 62 runs in a mere 35 balls.
Q3: When and where is the next India vs Australia T20I match?
The second T20I was played between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), starting at 1:45 PM IST (7:15 PM local time) on October 31, 2025. Australia won the match by four wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The third T20I is scheduled for November 2, 2025, at Bellerive Oval Hobart.
Q4: Why was Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of the first three T20Is?
Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out as a result of neck spasms hampering his recovery from a left quadriceps injury that he suffered before during the second ODI in Adelaide. The BCCI medical team is monitoring, and he will miss the first three matches of the five-match series.
