Australia’s early grip on the five-match T20I series loosened rapidly in Hobart on Sunday as Washington Sundar delivered a composed late flourish and India’s bowlers applied sustained pressure to complete a five-wicket victory and restore parity at 1-1. The response came less than 48 hours after the visitors slipped in the opening contest, where a spirited Australian chase overturned India’s competitive total and exposed early-season inconsistencies in the touring side.

Determined to avoid consecutive defeats, India displayed markedly sharper intent across disciplines. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy spearheaded a disciplined bowling effort that restricted Australia to 186 for 6, a total that initially seemed imposing on a surface encouraging stroke-play. Tim David’s 74 from 38 deliveries and Marcus Stoinis’s 64 from 39 ensured Australia maintained momentum through the middle overs, yet both batters repeatedly found themselves checked by India’s improved death-overs execution.

Arshdeep finished with 3 for 35, regularly unsettling the Australian top order with fuller lengths and late swing, while Chakravarthy’s 2 for 33 reminded the hosts of the hazards of misreading his variations. Shivam Dube’s solitary wicket helped keep the scoring in check at crucial junctures.

India’s chase, though brisk at the outset, never quite settled into smooth rhythm. Wickets fell at intervals that prevented their batters from controlling the tempo. Abhishek Sharma’s 25 and Tilak Varma’s steady 29 suggested structure without consolidation, and Australia sensed an opening when Nathan Ellis (3 for 36) produced a sharp burst.

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The turning point arrived in the latter stages, when Washington Sundar assumed responsibility with a clarity that belied the pressure of the occasion. His unbeaten 49 from 23 balls, struck with clean timing and calm footwork, anchored India through a tense period. Jitesh Sharma’s 22 from 13 balls injected urgency and helped the visitors break free of a brief scoring stall.

Washington pressed decisively in the final overs, manoeuvring gaps and countering Australia’s short-ball plan with authority. India crossed the line with nine deliveries remaining, the chase having shifted shape from a contest of control to a demonstration of targeted aggression.

The win not only resets the series but also injects confidence into a side still searching for early stability in its combinations. The third match, scheduled midweek, now assumes greater significance as both teams attempt to seize momentum before the final stretch.