Australia took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing India tour of Australia 2025 after a four-wicket win in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Excellent bowling performance led by the host team Josh HazlewoodIndia defeated India in both the departments by easily achieving the modest target of 126 runs in 14 overs.
Josh Hazlewood destroys Indian batting unit
Australia captain after winning the toss Michelle Marsh Opted to bowl first β a decision that paid immediate dividends. Hazlewood removed both the openers early within the powerplay with his trademark accuracy. The right-arm fast bowler was virtually unstoppable, extracting seam movement and maintaining a tough length that troubled the Indian batsmen throughout his spell. His excellent performance of taking 3 wickets for 13 runs in 4 overs earned him the Player of the Match award.
nathan ellis Complemented Hazlewood perfectly, including two important wickets sanju samsonWith a sharp nip-backer that trapped him on the front. Xavier Bartlett Whereas, also pasted with some skulls marcus stoinis Kept things tidy from my side. With a collective effort, India were bundled out for 125 runs in 18.4 overs and never recovered from the initial shock.
For India, it was once again a case of one man standing tall against adversity. young opener Abhishek Sharma Was the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing batting performance. Showing remarkable patience and aggression, he kept India afloat by scoring 68 runs off just 37 balls with the help of 8 fours and 2 sixes.
While Abhishek looked fluent and confident, wickets kept falling at regular intervals from the other end. Later, Harshit Rana Contributed 35 runs in 33 balls and hit some brilliant fours to add some respectability to the total.
However, the lower order collapsed rapidly as Australia’s bowlers continued to apply pressure. India’s innings ended at 125, which was never going to challenge the hosts on the batting-friendly MCG surface.
See also: Tilak Verma takes a sensational catch to dismiss Travis Head in the 2nd T20I – AUS vs IND
Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head took Australia to the target
Australia began the chase with intent as captain Marsh and travis head Scored a flurry of boundaries during the powerplay. The two made a quick partnership, with Marsh taking the lead and scoring 46 runs in 26 balls with the help of 2 fours and 4 skyscraper sixes. Head supported him well by scoring 28 runs from 15 and circled the ball three times before getting out. Varun ChakrabortyWhich continued to impress with its control and variations.
Despite some ups and downs in the middle overs, India took wickets quickly Jasprit Bumrah (2/26), Chakraborty (2/23), and -Kuldeep Yadav (2/45), Australia’s depth ensured there were no major hurdles. Michelle Owen (10 out of 14) and marcus stoinis (6 off 6) took the hosts to the finish line at 126/6 in 13.2 overs, winning the match comfortably.
Here’s how fans reacted:
If Josh Hazlewood delivers one of the best ODI spells in Adelaide last week, it will be the best power play spell ever in T20I cricket. 3/6 in 3 overs. Wonderful #AusvInd
– Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) 31 October 2025
– He gets gil.
β He gets the sun.
β They wear tilak.
– 3/6 in 3 overs in powerplay.Josh Hazlewood β One of the greatest bowlers across all formats. pic.twitter.com/qB7YJ9fiO5
– Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) 31 October 2025
https://twitter.com/sandeepkandra/status/1984223026368639207
Josh Hazlewood is the best fast bowler in the world across all formats. No agenda of Jasprit Bumrah can convince me otherwise. pic.twitter.com/FU0ya5qCM0
– JR66 (@JoeRoot_66) 31 October 2025
We are all lucky to be born in a generation where we get to watch Josh Emperor bowl to The King Hazlewood, no matter what format it is. pic.twitter.com/ctiA5ndRmH
– Arfan (@Im__Arfan) 31 October 2025
Shivam Dubey’s streak broken π pic.twitter.com/QEPeEuKTAW
– Out of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) 31 October 2025
Bhai is bowling like McGrath and celebrating like Akhtar. pic.twitter.com/Ec6m5tjmKO
– Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) 31 October 2025
the sequence is over
After 37 matches, India has not lost a T20 match with Shivam Dubey in the playing 11.#AUSvIND #mcg pic.twitter.com/x2nwfbXV93
– Vatsan (@Malabar_Parota) 31 October 2025
Josh Hazlewood was absolutely on fire today, hope he turns it into ashes
– Ellie π€‘πΏπ¦π¦πΊπ€ (@bangbongbingus) 31 October 2025
As much as I like Harshit, he cannot be the second seamer ahead of Arshdeep in these conditions. If Harshit plays, he will have to play in place of Shivam Dubey in place of Arshdeep Singh. #AusvInd #IndvAus
– Prantik (@Pran__07) 31 October 2025
India lost in MCG after 17 years. #AUSvIND
-Aditya (@AdityaVais79656) 31 October 2025
Another 30 runs for India and it would have been close #AUSvIND
– Matt Croft (@CroftyV1) 31 October 2025
Harshit Rana with the bat:
35(33)Harshit Rana with the ball:
27/0 in 2 overs.#AUSvIND– Ishan Joshi (@ishanjoshii) 31 October 2025
Australia wins at MCG!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/oedqdoFotr
– Lachi (@Lachi_Steele) 31 October 2025
congratulations boys @cricketcomau Especially Hazelwood, good work ππ»ππ» #AUSvIND
– Ash Lee (@aussiegal_19) 31 October 2025
If you are defending 124 and give away 43 runs in 3 overs! You are very poor and that is why you are being beaten in the fast track! Kuldeep Yadav is good against Pakistan and spinning tracks #AUSvIND
– Younis ΩΩΩΨ³ (@poetry_sports_) 31 October 2025
Australia gave a crushing defeat to India
Well done#AUSvIND– Geelong’s Pivotonian π¦πΊ (@pivotonian1838) 31 October 2025
See also: Nathan Ellis bowls a Jaffa to dismiss Sanju Samson in 2nd T20I – AUS vs IND
