The build-up to any ICC tournament is packed with high-stakes preparation, but the lead-up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in October 2022 felt uniquely intense. For the Indian Cricket Team, the stakes were incredibly high. Having exited the previous year's edition early and suffering a crucial blow with the injury of premium spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma’s Men in Blue arrived in Australia with plenty of questions to answer.
To acclimate to the bouncy, fast tracks Down Under, India scheduled a series of crucial preparatory fixtures. The centerpiece of this preparation was the highly anticipated ind vs aus warm up match 2022 played at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane, alongside earlier training fixtures in Perth.
In this comprehensive retrospective, we take a deep dive into the ind vs aus 2022 warm up match, breaking down the sensational batting performances, analyzing the historic final over by Mohammed Shami, and looking back at the preparatory matches against Western Australia. Whether you are looking to relive the magic or analyze the tactical shifts, here is the complete story of India's pre-World Cup campaign in Australia.
The Brisbane Blockbuster: India vs Australia Warm-Up Match 2022
The official ICC T20 World Cup warm-up phase brought together two giants of the game on October 17, 2022. The ind vs aus warm up match date 2022 was marked on every cricket fan's calendar as a preview of a potential tournament final. Played under the bright Brisbane sun at the Gabba, the match lived up to its billing, delivering an absolute classic that was decided on the very final ball.
India’s Innings: Explosive Starts and Suryakumar’s Magic
Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that promised true bounce and plenty of carry. India's opening pair, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, walked out with a clear license to attack. KL Rahul was in sensational touch from the first delivery. He targeted the premium Australian pace attack of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, playing pick-up whips over deep square leg and trademark elegant cover drives. Rahul smashed a blazing 57 runs off just 33 balls, featuring 6 boundaries and 3 towering sixes. His explosive start set the tone, ensuring India capitalized on the powerplay.
Rohit Sharma played a more measured supporting role, scoring 15 off 14 balls before falling to Glenn Maxwell's off-spin. Following Rohit's dismissal, Virat Kohli walked in at number 3, playing a brisk cameo of 19 off 13 balls. His running between the wickets was electric, signaling his physical readiness for the grueling tournament ahead. Kohli was dismissed by a sharp short delivery from Mitchell Starc, catching an edge to Mitchell Marsh.
Suryakumar Yadav's entry to the crease shifted the momentum back to India. Playing with an audacity that defied the quick Brisbane track, the world-class batsman manipulated the fields with ease. He played his trademark ramp shots over fine leg and slashed through point. His 50 off 33 balls was filled with highlight-reel moments, showing that his subcontinental success would translate perfectly to Australian soil.
While India looked set for a 200+ total, the middle order struggled to accelerate against the variations of Kane Richardson. Hardik Pandya fell cheap for 2, and Dinesh Karthik contributed a quick 20 off 14 balls. Richardson was the standout bowler for Australia, picking up 4 wickets for 30 runs in his 4 overs, keeping India to 186/7.
| India Batting Scorecard | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | c Agar b Richardson | 57 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 172.72 |
| Rohit Sharma | c Agar b Maxwell | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 107.14 |
| Virat Kohli | c Marsh b Starc | 19 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 146.15 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | c & b Richardson | 50 | 33 | 6 | 1 | 151.51 |
| Hardik Pandya | c Marsh b Richardson | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Dinesh Karthik | c Maxwell b Richardson | 20 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 142.85 |
| Axar Patel | c sub b Starc | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| R Ashwin | not out | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 300.00 |
| Harshal Patel | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
Australia's Chase: Aaron Finch Leads from the Front
Australia's pursuit of 187 runs began explosively. Mitchell Marsh smashed a quickfire 35 off just 18 balls before being bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Aaron Finch, who had been under pressure regarding his form, anchored the chase brilliantly. He scored a magnificent 76 off 54 deliveries, featuring 7 fours and 3 sixes. He looked completely in control, steering Australia towards what seemed like a comfortable victory.
Despite Finch's efforts, the Indian bowlers chipped away at the other end. Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Steven Smith for 11, and Harshal Patel eventually got the massive breakthrough by clean bowling Finch in the 19th over. With 11 runs required off the final 6 balls, the match was poised for a grandstand finish. This is where Rohit Sharma made a tactical move that would define the ind vs aus warm up match highlights 2022.
The Mohammed Shami Final Over: 4 Wickets in 4 Balls
The absolute climax of the warm up match ind vs aus 2022 was the final over. Mohammed Shami had not played competitive T20 cricket for India since the 2021 T20 World Cup, nearly a year prior. He had just arrived in Australia as a late replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah. Up to this point in the match, Shami had not bowled a single over. Rohit Sharma saved him specifically for the 20th over to test his nerves and death-bowling execution.
Here is the ball-by-ball breakdown of that legendary over with Australia needing 11 to win:
- Ball 1 (19.1): Shami bowls a length ball to Pat Cummins. Cummins drives it down to long-on. Harshal Patel fields, but the batsmen run hard to complete a couple. (9 needed off 5 balls).
- Ball 2 (19.2): Shami goes slightly shorter. Cummins pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. Another double is taken. (7 needed off 4 balls).
- Ball 3 (19.3) - The Kohli Magic: Shami bowls a full delivery on off-stump. Cummins lofts it high and hard towards the long-on boundary. It looks destined for a six. Out of nowhere, Virat Kohli leaps high at the boundary rope, stretches his right hand, grabs the ball out of mid-air, and lands safely inside the boundary. An unbelievable one-handed catch! Cummins is out. (7 needed off 3 balls).
- Ball 4 (19.4) - The Run Out: Shami delivers a low full toss to Ashton Agar. Agar misses the swing and tries to steal a bye. Dinesh Karthik collects the ball cleanly behind the stumps and under-arms it to Shami, who whips the bails off to catch Agar well short of his crease. Another wicket! (7 needed off 2 balls).
- Ball 5 (19.5) - Clean Bowled!: Shami bowls a pin-point, lightning-fast yorker aiming at the base of the stumps. Josh Inglis swings across the line but misses entirely. The ball crashes into the woodwork! Josh Inglis is clean bowled. (7 needed off 1 ball).
- Ball 6 (19.6) - Back-to-Back Castles!: Shami delivers another perfect, searing yorker at the stumps. Kane Richardson tries to swing but is completely beaten by the pace and accuracy. The stumps are shattered once more!
With that final wicket, India secured an improbable 6-run victory, bowling Australia out for 180. Shami's final over read: 2, 2, W, W, W, W (including one run-out). This single over of pure death-bowling magic instantly proved Shami was ready to lead the Indian pace attack in Bumrah's absence.
Perth Preparations: The Western Australia Practice Series
While the clash at the Gabba was the official ICC warm-up, India’s preparation had actually started a week earlier in Western Australia. To get accustomed to the pace and bounce of Australian pitches, India chose to have a week-long camp in Perth before moving to Brisbane. They played two crucial practice T20 matches against a Western Australia XI.
These matches are often searched as the ind vs west aus warm up match 2022 or ind vs western aus warm up match 2022, and they provided the team management with invaluable data.
Match 1: October 10, 2022 – WACA, Perth
In the first match of the ind vs aus warm up matches 2022 cycle in Perth, India rested KL Rahul and Virat Kohli to try different combinations. Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first.
- India's Innings: Rishabh Pant opened with Rohit Sharma but struggled significantly against the left-arm angle of Jason Behrendorff, scoring 9 off 17 balls. Rohit was dismissed for just 3. However, Suryakumar Yadav rescued the innings with a brilliant 52 off 35 balls. Contributions from Hardik Pandya (27) and Deepak Hooda (22) pushed India to a competitive 158/6 in 20 overs.
- Western Australia's Innings: Defending 159, India's young sensation Arshdeep Singh bowled a legendary spell. He dismantled the WA XI top order, taking 3 wickets for just 6 runs in his 4 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal (2/15) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/26) spun a web as Western Australia XI could only muster 145/8, despite Sam Fanning’s fighting 59.
- Result: India won by 13 runs, giving the team an ideal start to their Australian tour.
Match 2: October 13, 2022 – WACA, Perth
For the second practice match, India rested Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. KL Rahul captained the side, while Rohit Sharma played but chose not to bat, allowing other players more time in the middle.
- Western Australia's Innings: Western Australia XI batted first and posted a challenging 168/8 in their 20 overs. Nick Hobson scored a blistering 64 and D'Arcy Short smashed 52. Ravichandran Ashwin was the standout bowler for India, picking up 3 wickets in a single over to finish with figures of 3/38. Harshal Patel also showed signs of rhythm with 2/27.
- India's Innings: Chasing 169, India's batting line-up collapsed under the bounce of the Perth wicket and the pace of Lance Morris (2/23). Rishabh Pant struggled again as an opener, falling for 9. Deepak Hooda (6), Hardik Pandya (17), and Dinesh Karthik (10) fell cheaply. KL Rahul played a lone warrior knock, anchoring the innings with a brilliant 74 off 55 balls. But with no support at the other end, India could only manage 132/8 in their 20 overs.
- Result: Western Australia XI won by 36 runs, serving as a timely wake-up call for the Indian batting unit.
| Perth Practice Match Summary | India's Score | WA XI Score | Top Indian Performer | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 (Oct 10) | 158/6 (20 ov) | 145/8 (20 ov) | Suryakumar Yadav (52), Arshdeep (3/6) | India won by 13 runs |
| Match 2 (Oct 13) | 132/8 (20 ov) | 168/8 (20 ov) | KL Rahul (74), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/38) | WA XI won by 36 runs |
Watching the Action: Live Streaming, Broadcast, and Highlights
For fans wanting to watch the ind vs aus warm up match 2022 live, the official broadcast was handled by the Star Sports Network in India, which held the media rights for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022. For digital viewers, Disney+ Hotstar provided live streaming of the game.
For the Western Australia practice matches, official broadcasters didn't telecast the matches. Instead, Western Australia Cricket streamed them live on their official WACA YouTube channel, which saw record-breaking viewership as hundreds of thousands of Indian fans tuned in to watch their favorite stars prepare.
Following the epic finish at the Gabba, the ind vs aus warm up match highlights 2022 became some of the most-watched videos on ICC's official channels. Fans repeatedly watched Shami’s spectacular 20th over and Virat Kohli's gravity-defying catch to dismiss Pat Cummins, as well as his direct-hit run-out of the dangerous Tim David in the 19th over.
Strategic Takeaways: How the Warm-Ups Shaped India's Campaign
While warm-up matches do not carry international status, the lessons India learned from this three-match preparation phase in Perth and Brisbane were crucial in shaping their campaign for the main tournament:
- Solidifying the Death Bowling: The biggest headache for India heading into the World Cup was who would bowl at the death alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh. Shami's breathtaking final over at the Gabba instantly proved he was ready to handle the pressure of the death overs.
- Openers Finding Form: KL Rahul's blazing 57 against Australia and subsequent 74 against Western Australia gave India massive confidence. Though Rahul faced criticism for his strike rate prior to the tournament, his aggressive intent in the warm-up games was a massive positive.
- Suryakumar Yadav's Unstoppable Form: Playing on bouncy Australian tracks for the first time in a major tournament, Suryakumar Yadav silenced any critics by scoring half-centuries in both Perth and Brisbane, proving his unorthodox 360-degree batting style was highly effective Down Under.
- The Finisher Role: Rishabh Pant's struggles at the top of the order (scoring 9 in both Perth games) solidified Dinesh Karthik’s role as the designated finisher for the starting XI at the beginning of the tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who won the IND vs AUS warm up match 2022?
India won the match by 6 runs. India posted 186/7 and bowled out Australia for 180 at the Gabba, Brisbane.
What were Mohammed Shami's bowling figures in the Gabba warm-up?
Mohammed Shami bowled just one over (the 20th over) and took 3 wickets for 4 runs. There was also a run-out in that over, resulting in 4 wickets falling in 4 balls.
Why did India play Western Australia XI before the World Cup?
India arrived in Australia early to acclimatize to the unique pace and bounce of Australian pitches. Playing Western Australia XI at the WACA in Perth allowed the team to adjust before the official ICC warm-up games.
Where can I watch the highlights of the India vs Australia warm-up match 2022?
Official highlights are available on the International Cricket Council (ICC) website and the Disney+ Hotstar app/website.
Who top-scored for India in the Western Australia practice matches?
Suryakumar Yadav top-scored in the first match with 52 off 35 balls, while KL Rahul top-scored in the second match with a brilliant 74 off 55 balls.
Conclusion
The ind vs aus warm up match 2022 and the preceding Perth games were much more than simple practice sessions. They were the crucible in which India forged their tactical plans and resolved critical selection dilemmas ahead of the T20 World Cup. From Mohammed Shami's death-bowling masterclass to Suryakumar Yadav's batting brilliance, these matches set the stage for one of the most exciting World Cup campaigns in recent history, culminating in that legendary tournament opening clash against Pakistan at the MCG. Reliving these warm-ups highlights just how crucial early preparation and tactical flexibility are in the demanding world of international cricket.
