Subhayan Chakraborty in Melbourne
Australia produced a clinical performance in the second T20I as the hosts defeated India by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series in front of a turnout of 82,438 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Josh Hazlewood was at his best as he ran through the Indian top-order to register figures of 3/13 in his four overs. With the MCG track having a bit of assistance for the pacers, Hazlewood extracted extra bounce and troubled the Indian batters with his disciplined line and length. Abhishek Sharma, India’s top-scorer on the day, was all praise for Hazlewood as the southpaw said that he never faced a spell like the Aussie quick’s in the shortest format of the game.
Abhishek stole the limelight with the bat once again as he blazed to 68 off 37 balls despite the wickets tumbling at the other end. Apart from Harshit Rana, none of the Indian batters performed to stitch even a decent partnership with Abhishek. Axar Patel looked comfortable at the crease but was run-out, trying for a risky third run in the eighth over.
“I was watching him (Hazlewood) in the ODIs as well. So, somehow we knew that he was going to give us this much difficulty and challenges. So, obviously, the way he bowled today, even I was surprised. I haven’t seen something like this in T20s,” Abhishek said at the post-match press conference.
“It was something new for me as well. Because I am a batter that wants to dominate. But when I was watching from the other end how he was bowling, it felt like he had a plan and he was just executing it,” he added.
Hazlewood will be released from the T20I squad and won’t be part of the remainder of the series with the Ashes coming up. “I didn’t know this, but obviously, I mean, he is good enough to play all the formats. But still, I was enjoying this challenge because somehow as a batter, you have to face the world-class bowlers,” said Abhishek.
The move to promote Rana above Shivam Dube worked out well with the fast bowler stitching a 56-run stand with Abhishek to arrest the slide. Rana ended up playing a handy knock of 35 off 33 balls, and was the second highest scorer for India. Though most of his slogs didn’t connect, he showed why India are eager to try him as a pinch-hitter.
“I knew that Harshit could bat because he hits sixes against me a lot at the nets. So, I knew that he could bat. He came and told me that let’s play a little normal. As a batter, he was aware of the situation and how we wanted to take it a little deep. But I knew that if Harshit played, then the right-left combination would be good and that was why he was promoted ahead of Shivam Dube just to try and disturb their line and length a bit,” Abhishek observed.
“The challenge is, I think, a lot of players are having their first tour, including me as well. So, we knew about the extra bounce and pace, and the advantage they take from the pitch. Everyone prepared well. It’s just that, as a batting unit, we were a little surprised. The bounce and pace that was coming. And the disciplined bowling, I think the credit goes to them,” Abhishek added.
Chasing a modest 126, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh came out all guns blazing to score a quickfire 51 runs before the former was sent packing by Varun Chakaravarthy in the fifth over. However, Marsh kept going as the Aussie skipper scored a blistering 46 off 26 balls. The chase was a walk in the park from there for Australia as they finished the match in the 14th over, with Jasprit Bumrah (2/26) and Varun (2/23) taking two wickets apiece. Both Kuldeep Yadav and Rana were expensive as Australia took lead in the series.
India and Australia will play the third T20I on Sunday in Hobart