Match overview

India Cricket beat Australia Cricket by 5 wickets in a T20I at Bellerive Oval on 2 November 2025. Australia batted first after losing the toss, posting 186/6. India overhauled the target with 188/5, guided in large part by a dominant powerplay that produced 64 runs for 2 wickets. Arshdeep Singh was named Player of the Match, reflecting his bowling contribution in a game that India controlled for most of the chase. At a venue where chasing teams win only 44 per cent of the time across 112 matches, the result represents a significant performance from the touring side.

Australia's innings was built steadily rather than explosively. They managed 43 runs in the powerplay but lost 2 wickets early, which put pressure on the middle order to accelerate. The middle overs produced 87 runs at the cost of 3 more wickets, and a late flourish of 56 from the death overs pushed them to a total that, on paper, looked competitive. India's response was more assured. Their 64-run powerplay was 22 runs clear of the venue's historical average of 42, and they navigated a mid-innings wobble of 3 wickets to finish without losing another in the death, scoring the required 36 from the final phase with no dismissals.

Venue and conditions

Bellerive Oval's numbers across 112 T20 matches tell a consistent story: first-innings teams average 194 runs, while chasing teams average 171. That 23-run gap is among the more pronounced in Australian domestic and international T20 cricket, suggesting the pitch tends to offer more to bowlers as the game progresses. Dew can be a factor in evening matches here, which typically benefits the side batting second in terms of conditions, though the data suggests the advantage is not as decisive as at some other grounds.

Phase-by-phase, the ground's averages are revealing. The powerplay averages 42 runs, the death overs average 36 runs. India matched the death-overs average precisely in this match but outperformed the powerplay average by a considerable margin. For Australia, their powerplay of 43 was broadly in line with expectation, but the 3 wickets lost in the middle overs at a cost of 87 runs left them relying on the tail to push the total past 180. Teams batting first have historically set totals between 170 and 200 at Bellerive Oval; Australia's 186 sits comfortably in that range.

The toss has historically leaned towards fielding at Bellerive Oval, with 54 per cent of toss winners opting to bowl first. India followed that pattern here, and it paid off. The chasing success rate of 44 per cent means electing to field is a marginal call rather than a guaranteed advantage, but India's execution made it look straightforward.

How to watch

Australia vs India T20I matches are broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket as part of Sky's international cricket coverage. Streaming access is available through Sky Go for existing subscribers or via a NOW TV Sports Day or Month membership for those without a full Sky package. Given the time difference between the UK and Australian Eastern Standard Time, most matches in this series will be shown live in the early hours of the morning in Britain, with repeat broadcasts and highlights available on demand throughout the following day.

UK fans following the series on the move can use the Sky Sports app for live streaming on mobile and tablet. For commentary, BBC Radio's Test Match Special occasionally covers major bilateral T20I series; check BBC Sounds for scheduling closer to each fixture.

Recent form

Australia's recent form coming into this match read three wins, one no-result, and one loss from their last five matches, all of which came against India in 2025. That record suggests Australia have been the more consistent side across the series, though the head-to-head data paints a slightly different picture over the longer term. India's recent form showed two losses, one no-result, and two wins from their last five, also entirely against Australia.

The 2025 series between these two sides has been spread across several Australian venues. India won by 48 runs at Carrara Oval and by 9 wickets at the SCG, while Australia took the MCG fixture by 4 wickets. Two other matches produced no official result. This Bellerive Oval result adds another India win to a series that, despite Australia's form advantage heading in, now looks evenly contested. Both sides will likely face each other again before the calendar turns, and the overall head-to-head of 75 wins to 73 in India's favour suggests neither can claim any meaningful long-term edge.