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India in seventh heaven as Australia crumble in Ranchi

India recorded a seventh straight win over Australia in the Twenty20 format as they eased to a nine-wicket triumph in a rain-hit series opener in Ranchi.
Captain Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 22 as he combined with Shikhar Dhawan, who finished on 15 not out, to steer the hosts to a revised target of 48 with three balls to spare.
The DLS method was required after Australia's innings was cut short by bad weather, the tourists having lurched to 118-8 by the time rain stopped play during the 19th over.
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Having been put into bat, Australia lost stand-in skipper David Warner – filling in for the injured Steve Smith – for just eight, but some aggressive batting from Aaron Finch briefly put India on the back foot.
However, having reached 76-2 in the 10th over, the visitors struggled to up the ante on a slow, low pitch once opener Finch was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav for 42.
Kuldeep also dismissed Moises Henriques (8) to finish with 2-16 from four overs, as he and fellow spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (1-23) put the skids under Australia's progress.
Paceman Jasprit Bumrah (2-17) returned to bowl Tim Paine (17) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (1) in the closing stages, meaning Australia had lost six wickets for 38 runs.
India had few problems in a run chase reduced to six overs, Rohit Sharma the only wicket to fall as he was bowled by Coulter-Nile for 11.
The teams now move on to Guwahati for the second match on Tuesday, with the series finale taking place at Hyderabad on October 13.
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