Josh Hazlewood’s brilliant bowling set the tone as Australia defeated India by four wickets in the second T20I, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head provided aggressive support with the bat to seal the victory.
India, batting first after losing the toss, struggled from the outset. Shubman Gill was dismissed for five off 10 balls, and the captain fell to a well-pitched Hazlewood delivery, caught at mid-off. India lost five wickets for just 49 runs, leaving the innings in trouble.
Sanju Samson managed two runs off four balls before being LBW to Nathan Ellis. Hazlewood struck again in the same over to remove Suryakumar Yadav (1) and Tilak Varma (0). Akshar Patel failed to provide support to debutant Abhishek Sharma, who later scored seven off 12 balls before being run out.
The sixth-wicket partnership of 56 runs between Harshit Rana and Abhishek Sharma was the only significant resistance. Abhishek top-scored with 68 off 37 balls, falling LBW to Ellis in the 19th over, while Harshit added 35 from 33 deliveries. India were all out for 125 in 18.4 overs, with Hazlewood finishing with three wickets for just 13 runs.
Chasing 126, Australia’s openers put on 51 runs. Varun Chakravarthy broke a 28-run flurry in 15 balls, with Tilak taking the catch at long-off. Captain Mitchell Marsh fell for 46 off 26 balls, and Josh Inglis was dismissed LBW by Kuldeep Yadav for 20 off 20 balls.
Tim David managed only one run off two balls, caught off Chakravarthy. In the closing stages, Jasprit Bumrah removed Michael Wain (14 off 10 balls) and Matthew Short, who failed to score. Wain’s catch was taken behind the stumps by Samson, while Short was bowled.
Marcus Stoinis remained unbeaten on six off six balls, and Xavier Bartlett finished 0 not out. Australia reached the target with 40 balls to spare, confirming a comfortable win after the first match of the series was abandoned due to rain.
