India were 126/4 in the 14th over when a well-set Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed. The team was striking at over nine runs per over and a 200+ target was very much a possibility. 

Axar Patel was sent out to bat over wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik. The bowling all-rounder, who had 153 T20I runs under his belt before this match, scored six runs in five balls with the help of one boundary. 

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Patel was dismissed off a back of the hand slower ball. He was outfoxed and miscued a lofted hit towards long-off. Cameron Green took the catch. India were reduced to 146/5 in the 16th over. 

Axar Patel’s wicket brought India’s designated finisher Dinesh Karthik in the middle. The 37-year-old, with 598 T20I runs against his name, was chosen for the first T20I over Rishabh Pant. However, he was pushed down the order, leaving fans disappointed. 

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“I don’t understand the logic of Axar Patel batting ahead of Dinesh Karthik. #INDvsAUS,” a Twitter user said. 

“Sending Axar Patel ahead of Dinesh Karthik, just when 6 overs left. Gosh! Why on earth DK took that flight to Mohali, being the finisher of the game! Talk about Captaincy!” another one added. 

“If Dinesh Karthik has been picked as a front line batsman then why is Axar Patel being sent before him to bat,” a third one said.

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Karthik was dismissed for six runs in five balls. He was found leg before wicket off Nathan Ellis. 

Dinesh Karthik returned to the Indian side after IPL 2022. The wicketkeeper, who represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore, finished the season with 330 runs in 16 innings at a whopping strike rate of 183.33. The 37-year-old also scored a quickfire 41 off 19 balls against West Indies. 

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Meanwhile, in the first T20I vs Australia, Hardik Pandya scored a half-century in 25 balls. KL Rahul made 55 runs and Suryakumar Yadav 46. 

India scored 208/6 after 20 overs.