🏏 Match Summary
India faced a tough defeat in the 2nd T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia chased down a modest target with ease. After an early collapse, India couldn’t post a competitive score, and Australia cruised to victory to take the series lead.
📰 Match Highlights
🔹 Toss
Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first on a pitch offering early seam and bounce.
🔹 India’s Batting
India struggled right from the start as the top order collapsed under disciplined Australian bowling.
Key performances
- Abhishek Sharma – 68 (37) ⭐
- Harshit Rana – 35 (33)
Only these two showed fight as India were bowled out for 125 in 18.4 overs.
🔹 Australia’s Bowling
- Josh Hazlewood – 3/13 (4 overs)
- Nathan Ellis – 2 wickets
Sharp swing bowling and tight lines destroyed India’s rhythm.
🔹 Australia’s Chase
Chasing 126, Australia started aggressively and maintained control throughout.
Top performances
- Mitchell Marsh – 46 (26)
- Travis Head – 28
Australia reached the target with ease, sealing the match with 40+ balls to spare.
🧠 Turning Points
- Early Indian batting collapse
- Hazlewood’s lethal opening spell
- Marsh’s aggressive chase approach
📌 Series Situation
Australia now lead the series 1-0 with three matches left. India must bounce back to stay alive.
📊 Full Scorecard
India Innings – 125 all out (18.4 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 68 | 37 |
| Harshit Rana | 35 | 33 |
| Others | 22 | — |
Australia Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 13 | 3 |
| Nathan Ellis | 3 | 21 | 2 |
Australia Innings – 126/6
| Batter | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | 46 | 26 |
| Travis Head | 28 | — |
India Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 26 | 2 |
❌ What Went Wrong for India
India’s downfall began with a shaky start as the top order failed to handle Australia’s disciplined pace attack. Poor shot selection and lack of strike rotation put immediate pressure on the batting unit, resulting in a collapse inside the powerplay. Although Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana fought back admirably, the lack of partnerships and middle-order contribution meant India couldn’t post a competitive total.
The team also struggled tactically—no clear plan to rebuild after early wickets, and an over-aggressive approach in tough conditions backfired. Defensively, India lacked early breakthroughs during the chase. Bowlers failed to extract similar movement or apply pressure consistently, allowing Australia to dominate from ball one. Field placements also seemed reactive instead of proactive. Overall, it was a mix of poor temperament, tactical mistakes, and lack of execution under pressure.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- India’s batting needs consistency
- Youngsters showed potential but lacked support
- Australia dominated in both bowling & batting
- India must improve powerplay performance
Unlucky Day for India
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