Australia and India denied by rain after Suryakumar big hitting

The rain in Canberra caused the tourists to bat for less than half of their total overs, putting them up for 97 for one in the first Twenty20 match between Australia and India.

When the first of a five-match series was stopped for the second and final time on Wednesday after 9.4 overs, Shubman Gill was 37 not out and Suryakumar Yadav was 39.

When the rain finally ended play for the first time, and India opener Abhishek Sharma was left 18 overs, the match was reduced to a toe-toe-end of a Nathan Ellis delivery to Tim David mid-off for 19 when drizzle brought the match to an end.

Before the rain reappears over the Australian capital once more, Gill and Yadav at least provided some entertainment for the Manuka Oval crowd by smashing 54 runs in 4.4 overs.

After posting a consolation win in the final game of the one-day international series on Saturday, India were hoping to keep the momentum going.

On Friday, Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the second T20 match of the series.

After recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained in the ODI series, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was forced out of the first three T20s after suffering neck spasms.