Australia showcased their T20 prowess in a commanding display against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, winning the second T20 International of the five-match series by four wickets with 6.4 overs to spare. The victory, powered by Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional bowling and Mitchell Marsh’s explosive batting, sets the tone for Australia’s campaign ahead of the T20 World Cup 2025.

Hazlewood’s Devastating Spell Puts India on the Back Foot

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood produced a masterclass with the ball, claiming figures of 3-13 and delivering 15 dot balls in a sensational opening spell. Hazlewood’s early strikes immediately put India under pressure, restricting them to a modest total of 125 in front of a packed crowd of 82,438.

Hazlewood started by targeting Shubman Gill, who was initially given out lbw on the first ball but survived a review. Hazlewood’s relentless short deliveries soon shook Gill, who was caught for five, triggering a top-order collapse. He quickly removed Suryakumar Yadav for one and Tilak Varma for a duck, leaving India reeling at 32 for four.

“The ball feels like it’s coming out really nicely at the moment in whatever format I’m turning up and playing,” Hazlewood said after being named man-of-the-match. “It was just put the ball in the right areas, don’t try too much and see what happens.”

Mitchell Marsh’s Batting Blitz Seals the Win

Chasing a below-par total, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh led from the front, scoring a rapid 46 off 26 balls. He shared a 51-run opening partnership with Travis Head, ensuring Australia reached the target comfortably with 40 balls to spare. Marsh’s aggressive approach combined with Head’s steady contributions left India chasing shadows for most of the innings.

India opener Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer for the visitors, scoring a brilliant 68 off 37 balls, including a fine first fifty on Australian soil. However, Sharma was one of only two Indian batters to reach double figures, highlighting India’s struggle on a lively Melbourne pitch that offered pace and seam movement.

Support from Australia’s Bowlers

While Hazlewood set the tone with his early strikes, Xavier Bartlett (2-39) and Nathan Ellis (2-21) supported the attack effectively. Bartlett recovered from a bruising first over, dismissing Harshit Rana (35) and Shivam Dube (4) in quick succession, while Ellis accounted for Sharma’s dismissal, ensuring India’s total remained underwhelming.

Notable fielding efforts, including a diving catch by wicketkeeper Inglis to dismiss Dube and a sharp close catch by Sean Abbott to remove Kuldeep Yadav for a duck, further compounded India’s woes.

Series Context and Outlook

With the first T20I in Canberra washed out due to rain, Australia takes a 1-0 lead into the third game in Hobart on Sunday. The series provides both teams a crucial platform to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2025.

Australia’s dominant performance underlines their strength in home conditions, with Hazlewood’s precision bowling and Marsh’s aggressive batting offering a blueprint for success in the upcoming World Cup. Meanwhile, India will need to rethink their batting approach and top-order stability to remain competitive in the series.