Though it was billed as a warm-up game, both India and Australia sides were trying to work themselves into some good form before the World Cup.
Australia won the toss and bowled first at The Gabba in Brisbane on Monday.
Indian opening batsman KL Rahul took up the challenge and smashed blistering 57 from 33 deliveries.
Rahul has been in decent form in the past, with four T20 international half-centuries in his previous six games.
Suryakumar Yadav (50 off 33) one again proved why he is the amongst the top two T20 batters in the game, with a brilliant 50 off 33 balls.
Rohit Sharma scored 15(14), while Virat Kohli managed 19(13).
Hardik Pandya was a disappointment scoring just 2, while Dinesh justified his place with a vital 20.
Eventually, India piled up a mammoth 186/7.
Kane Richardson (4-30) was Australia’s best bowler.
Josh Hazlewood, the world’s No. 1 T20 pacer was rested.
Despite Richardson’s performance, he is not expected to play many games during the World Cup unless there is an injury to Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins.
Australia start strongly
In reply, Aaron Finch and Mitch Marsh got Australia off to a strong start, which is an encouraging sign.
They touched the 50 run mark in less than 5 overs, before Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Mitchell Marsh for 35.
The most positive news for Australia was Aaron Finch’s return to form.
Finch, who hasn’t scored in his four previous T20 internationals blasted 76 off 54 balls, an innings studded with muscular pulls and elegant cover drives.
At 171 for 4, Australia were surely in the driver’s seat when Virat Kohli and Shami turned up and dramatically swung the match in India’s favour.
First, Finch was was bowled by Harshal Patel in the 19th over.
Next, Virat Kohli ran out Tim David with a direct hit to leave the hosts needing 11 runs off the final over to win.
Even better, Kohli took a one-handed catch on the long-on to get rid of Pat Cummins.
Ashton Agar was run out off before Mohammad Shami dismissed Cummins, Josh Inglis and Kane Richardson in the 3rd, 5th and 6th balls of the 20th over.
The narrow 6 run win is a huge morale-booster for the Indian team as it came against one of the top T20 teams in the world.
India 186 for 7 (Rahul 57, Suryakumar 50, Richardson 4-30) beat Australia 180 (Finch 76, Marsh 35, Shami 3-4, Bhuvneshwar 2-20) by six runs
