Shane Watson: 124* at Sydney (2016)
In an exhibition of pure hitting, Shane Watson put up a masterclass in the 3rd T20I against India on January 31, 2016 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Smashing six sixes and ten fours, Watson reduced the Indian fielders to mere spectators with some lusty shots. Opening the innings, Watson raced to his 50 off 37 balls and reached the three-figure mark off the next 23 deliveries as Australia notched up 197/5 in their 20 overs. But Watson ended up on the losing side as India won the match by 7 wickets on the last ball of the thrilling encounter and with it the series 3-0.
Virat Kohli: 90* at Adelaide (2016)
Virat Kohli was in ominous form in this series. And when the opponents are the Aussies, India’s batting mainstay tends to raise his game a couple of notches. It wasn’t any different on that night of January 26, 2016 in the first T20I in Adelaide. Put into bat, Kohli plundered the Australian attack to all parts of the Adelaide Oval with a magnificent unbeaten knock of 90 off just 55 balls with the help of two sixes and nine hits to the fence. Having reached his fifty off 32 balls, Kohli accelerated for his next 40 runs, which came off just 23 balls to guide India to 188/3 in their 20 overs. Man of the match Kohli also took two catches in the field as India won by 37 runs.
Aaron Finch: 74 at Melbourne (2016)
This was the second match of the 2016 T20I series in Australia and the Aussies were chasing a 185-run target. Captain Aaron Finch led from the front at the magnificent Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 29, 2016. Opening the batting, Finch’s brutal assault came off 48 balls and was studded with two sixes and eight boundaries. Finch alone threatened to take the Aussies to victory but he was run out in the 16th over and the home team lost its way after his dismissal, losing the match by 27 runs as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Matthew Wade: 72 at Sydney (2012)
With the Australian selectors looking beyond Brad Haddin and with Tim Paine injured, an opportunity was given to Matthew Wade to prove his credentials. And Wade grabbed the opportunity with both hands in the 1st T20I on February 1, 2012 in Sydney. Opening the batting with David Warner, Wade reached his fifty off 32 deliveries to outshine his more illustrious batting partner with a 43-ball 72. He hit three sixes and had five hits to the fence. Wade’s knock powered Australia to 171/4 in their 20 overs. India lost the match by 31 runs as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Rohit Sharma: 60 at Melbourne (2016)
If it’s Rohit Sharma, then it has to be pure class. In a display of sublime hitting, 60 runs flowed from the willow of the stylish opener in the 2nd T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 29, 2016. Rohit reached his half-century off 37 balls, caressing five fours and smashing two sixes in his knock. He added 97 runs for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan and 46 runs for the second wicket with Virat Kohli before being run out. Making excellent use of the pace and bounce of the wicket, Rohit laid the platform for Kohli’s fireworks (59*) and India’s 27-run victory.
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