That timed-to-perfection latch set the precedent for a performance that undid five weeks of horrendous running, catching and throwing. It also gave credence to surrounding talk of fresh limbs in the Indian T20 squad, as those young and able pedals in Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma ran out nearly half the Australian side. It wasn’t that the Aussies weren’t fast between the wickets; the Indians were just faster on the field. And none more so than Jadeja at point.

With tomahawks for throws, the boy from Saurashtra made quick singles seem like suicides, when he ran out both top-scorer Aaron Finch and captain George Bailey in the seventh and ninth overs of the game respectively. And on both occasions, the caller was the otherwise ever-alert David Hussey.

Dabbing a Virat Kohli delivery to point, Hussey dashed off immediately, while Finch responded to the call with a charge. But Jadeja scooped up cleanly and released it in one motion, and MS Dhoni dislodged the bails about three metres before Finch could reach his nest. In the next case, Bailey seemed more interested in the single than the batsman, but Hussey sent him back to the non-striker’s end while Jadeja redirected him towards the hut.

“There’s a different energy about this Indian side, and they showed it tonight,” said Bailey at the end of the game. “We were surprised they didn’t field well on Wednesday during the first T20. They’re a good fielding side, with all the young guys that have come in for the T20s and one-dayers. They lifted their fielding from the other day.”

The dismissal of the match, however, wasn’t a run out, but a simple caught and bowled. Having set up Hussey with three leg side balls that didn’t turn in the 14th over, Jadeja let one rip big off the same patch with a lot more overspin. Trying to guide it to square leg, the orthodox delivery wobbled off Hussey’s leading edge, and Jadeja clasped both his palms over the return gift.