Picture : ICC /X
With the first of the five-match T20I in Canberra abandoned due to rain , all eyes were on the second T20I between India and Australia at the imposing MCG . Aussie skipper Mitchell Marsh once agian won the Toss and opted to bowl first.
And Aussie bowlers were on target straight away . Shubman Gill was first to go for yet another failure for 5. Sanju Samson coming at number 3 did not last long out just 2. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav who should some signs of form (rain marred Canberra tie) was out to ripper from Josh Hazlewood for mere 1. India were tottering at 32/3 in 4.3 overs. It soon became 32/4 in 4.5 overs as Tilak Varma was out for 0. Australia right on top.
As wickets fell around him like pack of cards , Abhishek Sharma continued to play his fearless game and took the attack to the Aussie bowlers with shots all-round the wicket. He was brilliant and it seemed he was batting on diffrent pitch unlike his other team- mates. Axar Patel was run-out for 7 . Promoted up the order in bizzare move ahead of Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana threw his bat around to score a vital 35. Dube down the order flopped out for 4.
Barring Abhishek Sharma who smashed a exciting 68 ( 37 balls , 8 fours, 2 sixes) to give some cheers to the huge Indian supporters the rest of the batting had nothing to shwo. India were eventually bolwed out for just 125/10 in 18. 4 overs. Nothing target really given the Aussie batting line- up.
Aussie bowling was relentless, Josh Hazlewood outstanding with excellent figures of 3/13 ( 4 overs). India will heave a sigh of relief as Josh leaves the series to prepare for the Ashes. Xavier Bartlett 2/39 ( 4 overs), Nathan Ellis 2/21 ( 3. 4 overs), Marcus Stoinis 1/21 ( 4 overs), Mitchell Owen 0/13 ( 1 over), Matthew Kuhnemann 0/14 ( 2 overs)
In reply , Aussies were off to a flier with dangerous duo of Skipper Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. The duo put on 51 for first wicket in just 4. 3 overs . Head was first to be out for 28 . Mitchell Marsh showcased his brute force with some scintillating power shots . His signature shots hit with power timing and placement . Marsh was unlucky to miss out on fifty out for 46 ( 26 balls , 2 fours, 4 sixes), Josh Inglis scored run a ball 20 .
There was slight hiccup as Australia lost Tim David ( 1) , Mitchell Owen ( 14) , Matthew Short ( 0). But Marcus Stonis not out 6 and Xavier Bartlett not out 0 saw Australia home by four wickets. Australia lost wikets one thought bit too many chasing a modest 126 target . Australia finally reaching 126/4 in 13. 2 overs
India bowlers bagged wickets late but the total was just too low to defend . Jasprit Bumrah 2/26 ( 4 overs), Harshit Rana 0/27 ( 2 overs) , Varun Chakaravarthy 2/23( 4 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 2/45 ( 3. 2 overs)
Asutralia now take a 1-0 Lead in the series.
Match: 2nd T20I
Venue: Melbourne | Date: October 31, 2025
