Hazlewood (3/13) powers Australia to big win over India in 2nd T20I

 

On Thursday, Navi Mumbai witnessed the brilliance of Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur as they humbled the mighty Australians. Barely 24 hours later and 10,750 kilometers away in Melbourne, the tables turned — a dominant Australian side crushed India. The dream of defeating Australia twice in two days remained unfulfilled. On the eve of the T20 World Cup, Friday’s game served as a harsh reminder for India — there’s still a lot of work to be done.

After the rain-washed opening T20 in Canberra, Friday’s clash in Melbourne was India’s first real test to prove themselves. But Suryakumar Yadav’s men failed miserably. Batting first, India could manage only 125, which Australia chased down with six wickets and nearly eight overs to spare. With this commanding win, Australia took a 1–0 lead in the four-match series. For India to win the series now, they’ll need to take all three remaining games.

India have lately been viewed as an unstoppable force in T20 cricket. Sitting atop the ICC rankings, they were seen as unbeatable. But Australia showed that overconfidence can be dangerous — and that staying grounded is essential. In Melbourne, India’s batting, bowling, and overall performance fell apart. Defending 125 in T20s is always tough, but the lack of fight made it worse. Though Australia lost six wickets, they batted so aggressively early on that it looked like they were playing on a different pitch altogether.

Suryakumar lost the toss again, and India were asked to bat first. The collapse began as early as the third over and didn’t stop until they were bowled out. Except for a brief stand between Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana, the innings was a procession of wickets. Shubman Gill (5) fell early, followed by regular dismissals — Sanju Samson (2), Suryakumar Yadav (1), Tilak Varma (0), and Axar Patel (7). Only two batters reached double figures: Abhishek (68) and Harshit (35). Hazlewood looked unplayable in his spell with outstanding accurate fast bowling .

Before the series, coach Gautam Gambhir had said he wanted his players to play fearless cricket and not worry about losing. But does that mean throwing their wickets away with reckless shots even in crisis situations? India’s batting on Friday suggested so. At 32 for 4, no one showed the intent to steady the innings. Perhaps this defeat will remind Gambhir that smart, situational cricket is also part of being fearless.

Abhishek Sharma, however, stood out. He played attacking cricket, but with calculated risk. There was composure and control in every shot, making it seem as though he was batting on a different pitch. Unfortunately, he was dismissed in the 19th over after facing just 37 balls — largely because the others consumed so many deliveries. Shubman took 10 balls for 5 runs, Axar 12 balls for 7, and Kuldeep couldn’t score off 6 balls. Had Abhishek faced a few more deliveries, India’s total might have been higher.

Harshit Rana’s 56-run stand with Abhishek ensured India at least crossed 100. Harshit’s 35 off 33 balls, including three fours and a six, was a small positive. But his bowling undid the good work — conceding 27 runs in just two overs at an economy of 13.5. It raised questions — is Gambhir trying to make Harshit a batting all-rounder just to keep him in the team?

In the 2022 T20 World Cup, India had controversially left out then-world No. 1 spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Now, they are benching the current top T20 bowler, Arshdeep Singh. Had Arshdeep bowled alongside Jasprit Bumrah, the Aussies might have been put under pressure. Instead, Harshit’s poor spells meant even Bumrah was taken to the cleaners. His only consolation was a stunning yorker in the 13th over that dismissed Matt Short — a delivery that will be remembered for a long time.

Tilak Varma’s boundary catch was another highlight — a moment of brilliance where he caught Travis Head’s shot, tossed the ball midair before crossing the boundary, stepped back in, and completed the catch. Beyond that, there wasn’t much to celebrate for India’s bowlers. Mitchell Marsh’s 46 off 26 balls, with four sixes and two fours, sealed the win for Australia, while Travis Head added 28 off 15. Both openers particularly Marsh played several breathtaking shots . Marsh even hit a massive 124 mts six. 

In short, Melbourne exposed India’s frailties — a team too reliant on reputation and too careless under pressure. If they dream of T20 World Cup glory, this humbling loss must serve as a wake-up call.