India Stumbles in Second T20I Thriller: Australia Clinches Series Lead with 4-Wicket Victory

Chasing a modest 126, the hosts romped home in just 13.2 overs, powered by skipper Mitchell Marsh’s gritty 46, leaving India’s bowlers grasping at straws despite a late fightback

Melbourne, October 31, 2025 – Australia edged out India by four wickets in a rain-interrupted second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, seizing a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the opener was washed out. Chasing a modest 126, the hosts romped home in just 13.2 overs, powered by skipper Mitchell Marsh’s gritty 46, leaving India’s bowlers grasping at straws despite a late fightback.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Australia dismantled India’s top order in the powerplay, bundling out the visitors for 125 in 18.4 overs. Young opener Abhishek Sharma’s valiant 68 off 37 balls – his sixth T20I fifty – offered a glimmer of hope, stitched together with Harshit Rana’s 35, but it wasn’t enough against a clinical Aussie bowling attack led by Josh Hazlewood’s three wickets. Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis claimed two apiece, while two run-outs compounded India’s woes.

The match began on a somber note, with both teams donning black armbands to honor 17-year-old Melbourne cricketer Ben Austin, who tragically passed away in a training accident earlier this week. Tributes poured in from players, echoing the women’s teams’ gesture the day before.

### Dismal Indian Collapse: Top-Order Woes Seal Fate

India’s innings unraveled spectacularly inside the first six overs, slumping to 40-4. Hazlewood struck twice in the fifth over, snaring skipper Suryakumar Yadav for 1 and Tilak Varma for a golden duck, both caught behind by Josh Inglis. Earlier, Shubman Gill fell for 5, edging to Marsh off Hazlewood, while Sanju Samson managed just 2 before an LBW verdict from Ellis in the fourth over.

Axar Patel’s run-out for 7 in the eighth over left India reeling at 50-5 by the ninth. Sharma, promoted to No. 3, steadied the ship with a flurry of boundaries, reaching his half-century off 23 balls in the 13th over. His 50-run stand with Rana pushed India past 100 – highlighted by Rana’s six off Marcus Stoinis – but Bartlett shattered the partnership in the 16th, dismissing Rana for 35 and Shivam Dube for 4. Kuldeep Yadav followed for a duck, caught by substitute Sean Abbott, before Ellis wrapped up the innings with Sharma’s LBW and Bumrah’s run-out for nought.

Australia’s bowlers exploited the seaming conditions masterfully, with the pitch offering early swing and bounce. Spinners found turn later, but it was the pacers who dominated, restricting India to their lowest T20I total at MCG.

### Clinical Chase: Marsh Anchors Aussie Triumph

In reply, Australia started aggressively, racing to 56-1 in the powerplay – a stark contrast to India’s struggles. Travis Head’s 28 came off just 15 balls before Varun Chakaravarthy induced a spectacular boundary catch by Tilak Varma in the fifth over, with the fielder leaping over the ropes and flicking the ball back in.

Harshit Rana leaked 20 in his second over, including back-to-back sixes from Head and Marsh, but the captain steadied at the other end. Marsh, who notched his 2,000th T20I run early on, anchored the chase with composed strokeplay, reaching 46 before falling to Chakaravarthy.

Needing just 26 off the last seven overs, Australia cruised despite a mini-collapse in the 13th. Jasprit Bumrah sparked brief hope, claiming Mitchell Owen caught behind for 15 and Matthew Short bowled for 24 off consecutive balls. However, Tim David (15*) and Stoinis (unbeaten on 11) saw off the target, with David sealing victory via a single off Kuldeep Yadav.

Bumrah, Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep picked up two wickets each, but economical spells couldn’t stem the flow. Harshit Rana, despite his batting rescue, went wicketless.

### Key Performers and Tactical Shifts

Player of the Match Josh Hazlewood (3-22) earned accolades for his incisive spell, while Abhishek Sharma’s knock stood out for India amid a batting meltdown where nine players failed to reach double figures.

Australia made one change, bringing back Matthew Short for Josh Philippe, while India stuck with their XI: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.

### Road Ahead: Hobart Decider Looms

With rain threats (87% chance) thankfully fizzling out, the series now heads to Hobart on November 2 for the third T20I. India, with a strong historical edge over Australia (20-11 in 33 T20Is), will look to level terms on a balanced MCG-like pitch where first-innings scores average 125.

This defeat underscores India’s top-order fragility, but Sharma’s emergence offers optimism. Australia, buoyed by home advantage, eyes a clean sweep – or at least consolidation – in the border-Gavaskar T20 buildup.