VIDEO | “India India” chants swallow SCG as Rohit-Dhawan bludgeons Australian bowlers

Apart from the obvious absence of David Warner and Steve Smith from the tour, India had totally discounted one advantage while making preparations – the unwavering support they were to get down under. Australia has been home to many Indians and given the bitter-sweet cricketing relations the two nations have shared over the years, the Indian crowd had all the incentive to come out in numbers and support their nation.

Australia’s once glorious home support has also dwindled of late following the sandpaper gate and to further compound things, the increasing Indian numbers on the stands have had such an impact that Virat Kohli even expressed his delight upon noticing that Sydney was a full house with 85% Indian support. Not only Kohli, but Australia pacer Jason Behrendorff had also admitted to the reporters. “It’s been quite strange. We’ve almost played an away series so far.”

India had clearly been the better side in the T20I series despite results not going their way in the first and second match. The wave was flowing similarly on Sunday as well with India’s opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan started with all guns blazing while chasing 165 runs. The momentous occasion took place in the fourth over when Rohit and Dhawan were seen taking Nathan Coulter-Nile to the stands twice in the over with a ball remaining.

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was rocking with chants of “India India” and it seemingly fired the southpaw who punched the last ball for a four and took a whopping 22 runs in the very next over with two boundaries and two sixes.