India vs Australia 5th T20I stopped as lightning strikes Brisbane; players and spectators evacuated from ground

The fifth and final T20I between India and Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane was suddenly halted due to lightning striking near the stadium on Saturday (November 8).

Only 4.5 overs of play were possible before lightning forced the play to be stopped immediately. The atmosphere at The Gabba shifted from electrifying to tense within moments.

Play stopped in Brisbane as lightning forced players off the field in India vs Australia 5th T20I

Following the unexpected incident, India and Australia players quickly rushed off the field, heading straight into their dressing rooms for safety in Brisbane.

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Ground staff rushed in to cover the pitch, even though it wasn’t raining yet. The umpires stopped play immediately after the lightning as a safety measure, with rain expected soon.

There is a severe weather alert at the Gabba.

Play has been stopped due to ICC's 30-30 rule.

Check out more in the blog.#INDvsAUS Live:https://t.co/VKLU6kKoW2 pic.twitter.com/HSS6tLUvtz

— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) November 8, 2025

The big screen at the stadium flashed a “severe weather” warning and suggested that it is “unsafe to remain in open areas.” As soon as the message appeared on the big screen, security officials quickly began moving fans from the lower stands to safer zones at The Gabba.

Flying start for India as Abhishek Sharma becomes second-fastest Indian to reach 1000 T20I runs

Meanwhile, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and invited the Men in Blue to bat first at The Gabba in the five-match T20I series decider on Saturday. Openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start with their aggressive assault on Australian bowlers.

The Indian openers have already stitched a quick partnership of 52 runs off 29 balls, and Gill and Abhishek will resume the play at 29 and 23, respectively, against Australia in the final T20I.

The left-handed opener has raced to 23 off just 13 balls and has entered an exclusive club after reaching 1000 runs in T20 Internationals. Abhishek achieved the milestone in just 28 innings, becoming the second-fastest Indian to do so.

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Virat Kohli leads the list, having reached the 1000-run mark in only 27 T20I innings. Abhishek was followed by KL Rahul (29 innings), Suryakumar Yadav (31 innings), and Rohit Sharma (40 innings). Abhishek’s latest feat highlights his rapid rise as one of India’s most consistent T20I performers.

Abhishek Sharma survives two early drops at The Gabba

Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma was dropped twice in the ongoing final T20I at The Gabba. In the very first over, Glenn Maxwell dropped a simple catch off Ben Dwarshuis’s delivery, giving India and Abhishek a big lifeline in the crucial game. The Indian opener tried to hit a full delivery straight down the ground but mistimed it completely, sending the ball high into the night sky.

Maxwell ran from mid-off, and even though he positioned himself perfectly under the ball, to everyone’s shock, the ball slipped right through his hands. The missed chance left Australian fans stunned, as Abhishek survived a major scare early in his innings.

And then, in the fourth over, Abhishek got a second life, and this time thanks to Ben Dwarshuis. Nathan Ellis bowled a short delivery angling across the left-hander, and he went for the pull but only managed a top edge that flew towards fine leg.

Dwarshuis came running in from the deep, and even he was perfectly placed to complete the catch, but he barely got a hand on it. The ball slipped away, leaving the Australian side frustrated. And now the Punjab lad is making the most of lifelines, striking the ball at 176.92.