<p>Guwahati: Ruturaj Gaikwad displayed brute power and wonderful technique in equal measure with a maiden hundred that propelled India to a commanding 222 for 3 against Australia in the third T20 International here on Tuesday.</p><p>Gaikwad slammed a career-best 123 not out off just 57 balls with 13 fours and seven sixes, a first ton by an Indian batter against Australia in T20 Internationals.</p><p>The 30 runs that Gaikwad took off Glenn Maxwell in the 20th over could prove to be a game-changer. Skipper Matthew Wade's decision to give a part-time off-spinner 20th over of the innings backfired big-time.</p><p>On a wicket that had some extra bounce and swing, India had a shaky start losing their both their in-form batters Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) cheaply after Matthew Wade opted to bowl to make use of the dewy conditions.</p>.Ravi Shastri says India is a serious challenger for 2024 T20 World Cup title.<p>Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (39; 29b) looked set for a big knock with two sixes and five boundaries before debutant pacer Aaron Hardie dismissed him with a short ball just after the halfway mark.</p><p>With run-rate not an issue -- eight per over -- they needed someone to anchor their innings, and the Indian vice-captain Gaikwad played the role to perfection.</p><p>From 13 off 15 balls, the right-hander with orthodox technique, who often drew flak for his slow starts, switched gears after Surya's dismissal, displaying the wide array of shots in his repertoire.</p><p>His knock was not just about classical drives in the V but also a testament to his brute power. He packed a lot of punch in his pulls and an inside-out maximums. It was a different Gaikwad on display during last six overs.</p><p>Once he got his furst 50 off 32 balls, he then went berserk, taking another 20 to bring up his maiden triple digit score in the last over of Maxwell.</p><p>Gaikwad muscled Maxwell over wide long to to bring up his century with a six as he smashed two more in the same over that yielded 30 runs as India amassed 200-plus totals in each of the three T20Is so far.</p>
<p>Guwahati: Ruturaj Gaikwad displayed brute power and wonderful technique in equal measure with a maiden hundred that propelled India to a commanding 222 for 3 against Australia in the third T20 International here on Tuesday.</p><p>Gaikwad slammed a career-best 123 not out off just 57 balls with 13 fours and seven sixes, a first ton by an Indian batter against Australia in T20 Internationals.</p><p>The 30 runs that Gaikwad took off Glenn Maxwell in the 20th over could prove to be a game-changer. Skipper Matthew Wade's decision to give a part-time off-spinner 20th over of the innings backfired big-time.</p><p>On a wicket that had some extra bounce and swing, India had a shaky start losing their both their in-form batters Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) cheaply after Matthew Wade opted to bowl to make use of the dewy conditions.</p>.Ravi Shastri says India is a serious challenger for 2024 T20 World Cup title.<p>Skipper Suryakumar Yadav (39; 29b) looked set for a big knock with two sixes and five boundaries before debutant pacer Aaron Hardie dismissed him with a short ball just after the halfway mark.</p><p>With run-rate not an issue -- eight per over -- they needed someone to anchor their innings, and the Indian vice-captain Gaikwad played the role to perfection.</p><p>From 13 off 15 balls, the right-hander with orthodox technique, who often drew flak for his slow starts, switched gears after Surya's dismissal, displaying the wide array of shots in his repertoire.</p><p>His knock was not just about classical drives in the V but also a testament to his brute power. He packed a lot of punch in his pulls and an inside-out maximums. It was a different Gaikwad on display during last six overs.</p><p>Once he got his furst 50 off 32 balls, he then went berserk, taking another 20 to bring up his maiden triple digit score in the last over of Maxwell.</p><p>Gaikwad muscled Maxwell over wide long to to bring up his century with a six as he smashed two more in the same over that yielded 30 runs as India amassed 200-plus totals in each of the three T20Is so far.</p>