Melbourne – The India vs Australia 2nd T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground turned into a nightmare for the visitors as Australia secured a comfortable four-wicket victory with 40 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. After India’s batting collapse saw them bowled out for just 125, Australia cruised to victory despite losing six wickets in the process.
Toss Advantage Continues for Marsh
The India vs Australia 2nd T20I began with Mitchell Marsh winning his fifth consecutive toss, maintaining an incredible streak of toss victories. The Australian captain elected to bowl first, asking Suryakumar Yadav and his team to bat on a surface that would prove challenging for the Indian batters. India remained unchanged from their rain-affected first encounter, while Australia made one change with Matt Short returning to the playing eleven.
Hazlewood’s Powerplay Masterclass
Josh Hazlewood proved to be the difference-maker in the India vs Australia 2nd T20I, producing a devastating spell during the powerplay that set the tone for Australia’s dominance. The opening batsman Shubman Gill survived a DRS reprieve on the very first ball but couldn’t capitalize on his luck.
Hazlewood was relentless, troubling Gill with inside edges, outside edges, and even hitting his helmet. The pressure eventually paid off as he dismissed Gill early. The carnage continued as Hazlewood struck twice more in quick succession, removing both Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma in the same over, reducing India to a precarious position.
By the end of the powerplay, India stood at 40/4, with Hazlewood having taken three wickets while conceding just 13 runs. He would finish with remarkable figures of 3/13, completing his spell and doing irreparable damage to India’s innings.
Abhishek Sharma’s Lone Resistance
The brightest spot for India in the India vs Australia 2nd T20I was Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive counter-attack. While wickets tumbled around him, Sharma played with remarkable fearlessness, racing to 29 runs off just 11 balls during the powerplay. He struck the first four and first six of the innings, refusing to be intimidated by the Australian attack.
Sharma continued his assault, reaching 46 runs off 19 deliveries at one stage. He eventually scored 68 before being dismissed LBW, batting on what seemed like a different pitch compared to his teammates. His innings included multiple boundaries and sixes, showcasing his ability to take on quality bowling. However, his inability to retain more strike meant India couldn’t capitalize fully on his form.
India’s Batting Collapse
The India vs Australia 2nd T20I saw a complete batting collapse from the visitors. After Abhishek’s dismissal at 68, the innings wrapped up on the very next ball for 125. Sanju Samson was caught in front early, while the middle order failed to provide any resistance.
Nitish Kumar Rana managed 35 runs and put together a 50-run partnership with Harshit Rana, who contributed with some lusty blows. However, Shivam Dube departed second ball, and Kuldeep Yadav played out a six-ball duck before the innings folded. Despite going with three spinners at the MCG, India’s batting let down their bowling unit completely.
Also Read: Jemimah Rodrigues 127: Stunning Knock Shatters Australia’s World Cup Dominance
Australia’s Comfortable Chase
The India vs Australia 2nd T20I chase began with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head opening for Australia, facing Jasprit Bumrah. The Australian openers started cautiously, with the first boundary coming off a thick edge from Harshit Rana’s bowling. Everything seemed to go Australia’s way, including four byes after Head left a delivery.
Head struck the first six with his trademark pick-up over square leg. Harshit Rana’s over went for 20 runs, with Australia racing to 49/0 after just four overs. Varun Chakravarthy provided the breakthrough by dismissing Head, with Tilak Varma taking the catch. Australia stood at 67/1 after seven overs.
Mitchell Marsh then took control in the India vs Australia 2nd T20I, launching an assault on Kuldeep Yadav with the sequence 4, 6, 4, 6, effectively ending any hopes of an Indian comeback. Kuldeep did answer back with Marsh’s wicket, but the damage was done.
Late Wickets Provide False Hope
The India vs Australia 2nd T20I saw India’s bowlers pick up late wickets, but the match was never in doubt. Varun Chakravarthy finished with figures of 2/23 from a good spell. Kuldeep Yadav claimed his second wicket after a successful review.
Jasprit Bumrah, who had been relatively quiet, finally got into the wicket column late in the innings. He even had an opportunity for a hat-trick after bowling a perfect yorker, with only 2 runs needed for victory. However, Owen was dropped by Harshit Rana, summing up India’s day.
Despite losing six wickets, Australia completed the chase with more than six overs remaining, winning by four wickets and taking a crucial 1-0 lead.
Looking Ahead
The India vs Australia 2nd T20I result puts pressure on India to bounce back in what is now effectively a four-match series after the Canberra washout. India’s dominant head-to-head record of 20 wins from 33 encounters means little without performance on the field. With concerns about their batting approach and execution, India must regroup quickly to keep their series hopes alive.
