The Melbourne Cricket Ground was buzzing with energy as over 82,000 fans packed the stands on Halloween night, setting the stage for a gripping second T20 international between Australia and India. Amid the excitement, a somber moment united both teams and the crowd: players donned black armbands and a minute’s silence was observed in memory of 17-year-old Ben Austin, who tragically lost his life in a net practice accident earlier in the week. His image illuminated the stadium screens, and his favorite song echoed softly through the iconic venue, reminding everyone of the fragility and passion that cricket brings to so many lives.
Once the action got underway, Australia’s bowlers quickly seized the spotlight. Captain Mitch Marsh won the toss and sent the visitors in to bat, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Josh Hazlewood, renowned for his relentless precision, delivered a masterclass in seam bowling. On the very first ball, Hazlewood had Shubman Gill trapped lbw, though the decision was overturned on review. Gill managed just five runs before Hazlewood had him caught at mid-off, setting the tone for what would be a challenging innings for India.
India’s opening pair struggled to find rhythm, but Abhishek Sharma, the young left-hander, ignited hope with a flurry of boundaries. He smashed 14 runs in his first four balls, and his aggressive intent would soon prove vital. However, Hazlewood’s consistency was unyielding. He quickly dismissed India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, both caught behind, reducing India to a precarious 32 for 4. Nathan Ellis joined the attack, trapping Sanju Samson lbw, and Axar Patel was run out in a risky attempt for a third run, leaving India reeling at 49 for 5.
Amid the collapse, Abhishek Sharma stood tall. He reached his half-century off just 23 balls, peppering the boundary with eight fours and two sixes. Teaming up with Harshit Rana, the pair stitched together a crucial 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket, steadying the innings and giving the Indian fans something to cheer about. Rana contributed a composed 35, but the partnership was broken in the 16th over when Bartlett had Rana caught on the boundary by Tim David. That wicket triggered another collapse, with Shivam Dube edging Bartlett to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and Abhishek Sharma finally falling lbw to Ellis in the 19th over. India’s innings ended at 125 all out in 18.4 overs, with a run-out sealing their fate.
Hazlewood’s final figures—three wickets for just 13 runs in four overs—earned him the well-deserved man of the match award. Reflecting on his performance, Hazlewood told reporters, “Everything feels in a good place, and ready to go.” His teammate Xavier Bartlett was effusive in his praise, telling SEN Cricket, “He’s amazing. Just his consistency. He’s just relentless (with) line and length. He always makes the game look so easy and slows it down for you. He’s in some unbelievable form heading into The Ashes.” Even India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, acknowledged Hazlewood’s impact, saying, “The way he bowled in the power play—very difficult to recover from that.”
Australia’s chase was measured and efficient. Travis Head and Mitch Marsh opened with intent, racing to a 51-run partnership before Head was caught on the boundary for 28. Marsh continued the assault, hammering two fours and two sixes in the eighth over before departing for a brisk 46 from just 26 balls. Despite a couple of quick wickets from Jasprit Bumrah in the penultimate over, which briefly slowed the home side’s momentum, Australia never looked in real danger. Josh Inglis and Mitch Owen kept the scoreboard ticking, and Marcus Stoinis finished things off with a flourish, hitting the winning runs with more than six overs—46 balls—to spare. Australia reached 126 for 6 in just 13.2 overs, sealing a four-wicket victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the first game in Canberra was washed out.
For India, the result was a wake-up call. Despite Abhishek Sharma’s heroics, the team’s inability to adapt to the pace and bounce of Australian conditions was evident. The collapses—losing five wickets for 29 runs between the third and eighth overs, and another flurry after the 16th—exposed gaps in the lineup’s versatility. With the T20 World Cup looming in February-March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, the visitors are eager to showcase that they can win in all conditions, not just those tailored to their strengths. Over the next three matches, India will be looking to tinker with their balance, possibly considering more pace options or a specialist finisher like Rinku Singh to add firepower in the latter stages.
Australia, meanwhile, welcomes a significant boost: Glenn Maxwell returns to the squad after recovering from a fractured wrist that sidelined him since mid-September. Maxwell’s inclusion is expected to add both batting depth and bowling variety, particularly against India’s spinners. The last time Maxwell played, he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against South Africa—a reminder of his explosive potential. Australia’s likely lineup for the next match features Marsh, Head, Inglis, David, Maxwell, Owen or Short, Stoinis, Bartlett, Ellis, Abbott or Beardman, and Kuhnemann.
The series now heads to Bellerive Oval in Hobart for the third T20I on November 2, 2025. The ground is known for producing both high- and low-scoring contests, with pitch conditions often influenced by the time of year. Recent T20Is in Hobart have seen first-innings totals swing from 117 to over 200, with early-summer juice in the pitches sometimes favoring bowlers. The weather forecast promises a mostly clear day, with temperatures cooling from the mid-20s to the low 20s Celsius by evening—perfect cricket weather.
Several individual milestones are within reach as well. Sanju Samson needs just five runs to become the 12th Indian batter to reach 1,000 T20I runs, while Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma are closing in on the same landmark. With both teams considering lineup tweaks and strategic changes, the stage is set for another enthralling encounter.
As Australia enjoys the upper hand with a 1-0 series lead and the return of key players, and India looks to adapt and respond, all eyes now turn to Hobart. Fans can expect another night of high-intensity cricket, with both sides eager to make a statement as the countdown to the T20 World Cup continues. The action resumes Sunday, and if the first two matches are any indication, there’s plenty more drama to come.
