Takeaways were positive in all departments: Suryakumar

India's top ranking in T20Is was further reinforced by their 2-1 series win in Australia, but the visitors were tested throughout – a challenge that skipper Suryakumar Yadav welcomed as he reflected on the series takeaways.

After the series opener was washed out, Australia drew first blood with a comfortable win in the second game, troubling the Indian batters with pace and bounce. But the visitors bounced back strongly, winning the third and fourth T20Is before rain had the final say in the fifth match.

"I think, leading into the World Cup, it was a very important series. Because we are going to play 15 T20s before the World Cup. Coming to Australia and playing against Australia is a good challenge. It's a good responsibility for all the players. I had said before the tournament started that it will be a very good challenge. And it was challenging," said Suryakumar at the post-match press conference following the fifth T20I, which ended as a no-result.

"The first match was going well, it rained. We couldn't win the second game. We won the third and the fourth game. So the comeback was good. And if you look at the takeaways, there were a lot of takeaways. The way we wanted to play T20, we started playing it after the Asia Cup. We have been playing the same brand of cricket. And we haven't changed anything. We just played a few players, a couple of new players. But you can try it in the bilaterals – which player fits where, you can work on the combination.

"From the bowling point of view, a lot of bowlers have bowled out of position. If you have seen in the last game, Washi [Washington Sundar] bowled the 17th over. So we tried a lot of things and we are slowly getting to know. When you don't try in the match, you don't get to know. I think it's the best place to try out everything. And everyone did their own thing. Batsmen, bowlers, as a team, fielding unit… We are working hard in every department. So according to me, the takeaways were positive in all departments," he said.

For Abhishek Sharma, the Australian challenge was a new one – but one he embraced with composure and success, culminating in a Player of the Series award. The left-hander impressed with confident starts despite the testing conditions, his standout effort being a 37-ball 68 against Josh Hazlewood's fiery spell.

Speaking about his experience, Abhishek said: "I think coming here, when I was practicing, obviously I had a plan that there is going to be extra bounce and pace. But from a team point of view, I had a plan that I have to play the same way I have been playing. When you are playing like this, when you want to dominate the opposition, you have to have that confidence and that ability, which I think the captain and coach always backed me.

"And I was practicing really hard. Because if you see, it's not easy to come to Australia and beat them. So I think I had a plan. And I wanted to play the same brand of cricket. Because that's what we have been following since before the Asia Cup as well. And there was nothing different for me as a player. And as a plan also, it was all the same. Just go out and give the momentum to the team."

Abhishek has made a flying start to his T20I career, scoring 1012 runs in 28 innings since his debut in July last year. During his unbeaten 23 in the final T20I, he became the second-fastest Indian batter to 1000 runs in men's T20Is – just one innings behind Virat Kohli's record. Despite the strong start, the 25-year-old remains grounded about the road ahead.

"Obviously, the more I play, the bowlers will identify my strong areas and bowl less there. It will always be a challenge how you can make yourself better. But for that, I feel you need a very positive environment, which I am getting and which I have been getting. So I feel as a batter, if I get that, I always think of improving myself. Whether it's any team or any bowler, I think about how I can give a start to the team and how I can improve my ability.

"When you play a little aggressive or you dominate, there will be ups and downs. But the captain and coach have told me one thing. I've said it earlier as well, that – 'If you make 15, 20 or 0, I will be there. You will play the match'. So I think just saying it and doing it is very different. I have always got that positivity as a team. And I think I will continue to get it as well."