NEW DELHI: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said he and Gautam Gambhir were on the same page and praised his team after their 48-run win over Australia in the fourth T20 on Thursday.

He highlighted how the players adapted well while defending a modest total of 168. The victory helped India take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with key contributions from Axar Patel and Shivam Dube.

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Smart batting sets the tone

"I feel credit goes to all the batters. The way Shubman and Abhishek started, they knew this was not a 200-220 wicket. They batted very smartly. It was a complete team effort from the batters," Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation.

Bowlers rise to the occasion

Defending a competitive total, India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined display, with everyone chipping in for wickets. Suryakumar added that despite a little dew, the bowlers adapted quickly.

"The message is clear. I and Gauti (Gautam Gambhir) bhai, we are on the same page. There was a little dew but the bowlers adapted quickly," he added.

All-rounders Shivam Dube (2/20) and Washington Sundar (3/3) shared five wickets, significantly contributing to the win. "It’s always good to have bowlers give you 2-3 overs. This combination suits us. People chipping in, raising their hands, bailing their side is great," Suryakumar explained.

Marsh on loss

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh admitted disappointment at the loss but praised India’s performance. "I thought 167 was par. It provided us with a few challenges. We failed to go over the line. Fair play to India, they are a world-class team," Marsh said.

With the Ashes approaching, Australia rested key players ahead of the Test series against England. "Ideally, you want to have a full-strength side at all times but the boys have a big series coming up. We want to give more boys the opportunity. I think it’s great, especially in a high-pressure game like this," Marsh added.

Axar Patel’s all-round impact

Player of the Match Axar Patel spoke about his approach with both bat and ball. "I batted at No. 7 and had a chance to assess the wicket. There was some unexpected bounce, so I waited for my position and just hit," said the 31-year-old, who struck an 11-ball 21.

On his bowling figures of two for 20, Axar added: "I was thinking about the batter’s strength. If the batter was looking to hit me down the ground, I was looking to hit the good length."

(With PTI inputs)