Under the chilly lights of Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, Washington Sundar emerged as India’s hero, steering the Men in Blue to a stunning win over Australia in the third T20I. 

With the series on the line, Sundar’s blistering unbeaten 49 off just 23 deliveries not only silenced the Aussie crowd but also reignited India’s campaign in emphatic style.

Coming into the contest trailing 0-1, India needed a strong response. Australia, high on confidence after their previous victory, were put to bat first but faced early setbacks as Arshdeep Singh dismantled their top order with a fiery three-wicket spell. 

Just when India seemed to have the upper hand, Tim David (74 off 38) and Marcus Stoinis (64) unleashed a counterattack, guiding the hosts to a formidable 186/8.

Chasing 187 was never going to be easy. Indian batters failed to convert their starts while Australia kept striking back to keep the equation steep.

Then came Washington Sundar — calm, composed, and calculated. Walking in with India under pressure, the Gujarat Titans’ star all-rounder turned the tide with fearless intent. 

Mixing elegance with brute power, he launched three crisp boundaries and four towering sixes, accelerating India’s innings when it mattered most. His strike rate of 213.04 was a masterclass in controlled aggression, proving why he is one of India’s most valuable T20 assets.

What stood out wasn’t just his power-hitting — it was his temperament. The Titan read the bowlers beautifully, rotated strike intelligently and punished every loose delivery with precision. As India crossed the finish line with a five-wicket win, Sundar’s bat did the talking — loud and clear.

With the series now level at 1-1, Washi’s knock will be remembered not just as a rescue act, but as a defining statement of intent ahead of the fourth T20I in Gold Coast.