India vs Australia Highlights, 2nd T20I: AUS go 1-0 up with four-wicket win at MCG

India vs Australia Highlights, 2nd T20I: Australia’s clinical performance at the MCG left India searching for answers. Josh Hazlewood produced a masterclass in seam bowling, dismantling India’s top order with precision as the hosts cruised to a four-wicket win in the second T20I. In front of a crowd of more than 82,000, Men In BLue folded for just 125 in 18.4 overs. A collapse that saw nine batters fail to reach double digits. Hazlewood’s spell of 3 for 13 including 15 dot balls set the tone early and left the contest virtually over within the first 20 minutes.

Abhishek Sharma's lone fight kept India from complete disaster at the MCG, smashing a quickfire 68 off just 37 balls even as wickets tumbled from another end. With the top order blown away early, Harshit Rana stepped up with a gritty 35 off 33, adding a vital 56-run stand for the sixth wicket but once that partnership broke, the rest folded quickly.

After the first T20I was washed out in Canberra, both teams now shift focus to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the second clash of the five-match series. The rain-hit opener gave just a glimpse of what could have been an entertaining contest before the weather played spoilsport. With the series now effectively down to four games both sides will be desperate to grab an early lead and build momentum.

India were firmly in control at 97 for 1 in the 10th over when the heavens opened up at Manuka Oval. Abhishek Sharma looked promising again before falling for 19 while Shubman Gill (37* off 20) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (39* off 24) batted with flair. . Nathan Ellis picked up the lone wicket while even experienced pacer Josh Hazlewood struggled to find rhythm. India will take confidence from how their top order handled the conditions and will hope for a full game at the MCG.

The weather, though, remains a concern with a 66% chance of rain around toss time in Melbourne. The pitch is expected to offer swing and bounce early. India might tweak their bowling combination with Arshdeep Singh likely to replace one of the spinners on a seamer-friendly surface. Meanwhile, Australia are expected to stick with the same XI, still without Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell for the first two games. All eyes will be on the skies and on whether we will finally get a result tonight or not. 

Stoinis hits the winning run as Australia complete a four-wicket win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Easy win in the end, despite a flurry of wickets. The home side romps home with 41 balls to spare. 

An off-day for Indian batters, barring Abhishek Sharma, who hit a superb half-century.  Josh Hazlewood, who set the tone for Australia's win, named Player of the Match for a sensational spell of 3 for 13 in 4 overs.

India will look to bounce back in the third T20I at Hobart on Sunday.

That's it from us today. Do join us for more cricketing action.

Adios!

Australia losing wickets regularly. Mitch Owen is the next one to go. Jasprit Bumrah bowls a slower delivery outside off, Owen chases it and gets a feather. Umpire raises the finger reluctantly, Owen reviews, but the Ulta-edge shows the faint nick.

Matthew Short's stay at the crease is a short one as he is undone by a brilliant yorker by India's talismanic bowler, who finished with two wickets.

Kuldeep gets his second. Inglis is trapped in front by the wrist-spinner. He is dismissed for 20 off 20.  It was given not out, but India reviewed and got it overturned

AUS 121/4 (12 overs). AUS need just five more runs to go 1-0 up in the series.

Varun Chakaravarthy gets his second wicket. He dismisses Tim David for 1. Simple caught and bowled for the Indian spinner, who deceives David in flight and pace.

AUS 92/3 (9 overs). Mitch Owen joins Josh Inglis in the middle.

Kuldeep Yadav removes Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh, but not before being hit for two maximums and two boundaries in his first over. Too little, too late for India as Marsh goes for a 26-ball 46 after taking the home side to within 39 runs of victory.

AUS 87 for 2 (8 overs)

Varun Chakaravarthy finds the breakthrough, and it's the big wicket of  Travis Head. The explosive batter tries to continue his big-hitting spree and targets the big long-on boundary. However, he is caught brilliantly by Tilak Varma at the boundary line. He was close to the cushioning but showed composure and lobbed it back, before going out and coming back in to take it.

Two sixes, one boundary and a no-ball in Harshit Rana's second over as Australia press the foot on the gas. 20 runs off the fourth over. Head has hit two maximums so far and has reached 27 off 13 balls. Marsh is batting on 12 off 12 balls.

Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana start off the proceedings. Bumrah finds some swing in the opening over and troubles both Head and Marsh with exaggerated movement. Head gets going with a streaky boundary in Rana's over as a slash outside off, flies over the slip region for Australia's first boundary of the night.

Bumrah goes for plenty in his second over, concedes 18 runs, including a boundary, four byes and four wides. After a quiet start, Australia have found momentum in the third over.

We will be back shortly as Australia begin their chase. India have managed just 125 runs - a below-par total at the MCG.

Abhishek Sharma was back on strike and looking dangerous after taking on Bartlett, but he fell into Ellis’ trap and lost his wicket. With his dismissal, India’s innings comes to an end as Jasprit Bumrah is the final man out. The one-man show of Abhishek Sharma ended with 68 off 37. Harshit Rana's 35 off 33 was the second best as the rest fell for a mere 22 off 50 balls.

Marcus Stoinis makes a change in the pace, and as Kuldeep Yadav tries to guide it away but he fails. Abbott dived full length and showed Kuldeep the dugout. Varun Chakaravarthy walks in.

India 110/8 (17 overs)

After striking a four, Shivam Dubey walks out of the field as he tried to play the awkward poke away, but the ball flies off the outside edge, and Inglis dives to the left. 

Rana walks out as the partnership comes to an end. The slower delivery turns into a wicket as he tries to fetch it from off-field but gets it straight in the hands of Tim David. 

The partnership hits fifty as India seems to be back in momentum. Rana's invaluable contribution so far, as he is smashing Stoinis for one boundary after another.

India 105/5 (15 overs)

bhishek Sharma scores his sixth T20I fifty, holding one end steady as wickets fall at the other. Harshit Rana is doing his job brilliantly, hitting crucial boundaries to keep India afloat. The duo’s partnership has already reached 34 runs off 27 balls, providing some stability after early losses.

It’s been a one-man show for India so far, with the top order back in the pavilion. Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the charge, just four runs shy of his fifty as Harshit Rana provides steady support from the other end as they try to rebuild.

Axar Patel leaves the field as poor communication between the two. Axar initially was slow to take off for the first run but felt there was enough time for the third run while Abhishek was keen for just two.

India 49/5 (7.3 overs)

Abhishek Sharma has been the standout for India, ending the powerplay with 29 off just 11 balls. He skillfully squeezes a yorker from Nathan Ellis past point for another boundary, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Powerplay Score: India 11/3 in 6 overs

Tilak Varma falls for a duck, caught by Josh Inglis off Hazlewood’s probing length delivery. Men In Blue struggle against the Aussie pacer’s bounce and seam movement.

This is a poor start for India. Three big wickets have fallen in the powerplay, and they are now with their backs against the wall. All the responsibility lies with Abhishek and Tilak as Hazlewood continues to dazzle the Men in Blue.

India 32/3 (4.3 overs)

India have taken another hit. Sanju Samson’s experiment at the top didn’t last long - trapped LBW on the very first ball he faced. The early gamble hasn’t paid off for the Men in Blue. Suryakumar Yadav now walks in to join Abhishek Sharma as India look to rebuild.

Hazelwood returns and on the fourth ball of the over, as Gill tries to loft over mid-off, the ball hits the bottom of the bat and the Aussie skipper made no mistake.

India 22/1 (3 overs)

Abhishek Sharma welcomes Xavier Bartlett with striking boundaries as he strikes 14 runs in four balls. 
India 18/0 (2 overs)

hazelwood got Gill off a bit with his pace. Five dots in the first over and Aussies won't have a better start than that.

Shubman Gill has been given LBW on-field but the ball-tracker says otherwise. The ball was missing and flying away from the leg stumps. Hazelwood can't believe it and walks back, shaking his head with a smile.

Both teams line up to pay tribute to Ben Austin. A moment of silence to recognise the tragic accident that occurred. The players and support staff are wearing black armbands in tribute to Austin.

The wicket is good, but it might get a bit slow in the second innings. India are going on with three spinners, so they should atleast aim for a score around 170-180.

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

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah  

Australia have won the toss and chose to bowl first. 

'It's a bit overcast and cold. I think it might get a touch slower as the game goes but overall it's a good wicket for batting', says Aaron Finch

Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Matthew Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Tanveer Sangha

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma

A very good afternoon to all cricket fans tuning in from around the world! Welcome to the live coverage of the 2nd T20I between India and Australia. After the opening game was washed out in Canberra, both teams will be eager to get a full contest in and take early control of the series. The stage is set, the crowd is building and all eyes are on the weather.