Did Hazlewood's Bowling Disrupt India's Game Plan in 2nd T20I?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
In a thrilling second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India's Suryakumar Yadav reflects on the impact of Josh Hazlewood's bowling on their defeat, while highlighting Abhishek Sharma's commendable performance. As the series continues, can India bounce back in Hobart?
Key Takeaways
- Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional bowling significantly impacted India’s innings.
- Abhishek Sharma showcased resilience with a commendable 68 runs.
- India needs to recover quickly to remain competitive in the series.
- Early wickets in T20 can change the dynamics of the game.
- Strategic batting from the start is crucial for India's success.
Melbourne, Oct 31 (NationPress) The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav, commended Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for his impressive three-wicket haul and applauded teammate Abhishek Sharma's batting performance, following the visitors' four-wicket loss in the second T20I at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
After being asked to bat first, India's innings suffered significantly due to a top-order collapse initiated by Hazlewood, whose remarkable spell of 3-13 left the visitors reeling at four wickets down during the Power-play. He skillfully extracted seam movement and bounce with accuracy, consistently challenging the Indian batsmen with his disciplined length.
Despite a valiant 68-run effort from Abhishek, India could not regain their footing, getting bowled out for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs, which Australia successfully chased down with 40 balls to spare. “Absolutely - the way he bowled in the powerplay, if you're four down in the Power-play it's difficult to recover from that. Credit goes to him. Well bowled to him, he bowled really well,” he remarked.
“Abhishek has been performing consistently for quite some time now. He understands his game, knows his strengths, and it’s commendable that he’s not altering his approach - that’s the key to his success. Hopefully, he continues this form and delivers more impressive performances for us,” Suryakumar added during the post-match presentation.
Looking forward to the rest of the five-match series, with the next game scheduled in Hobart on November 2, Suryakumar emphasized the necessity of starting aggressively with the bat, a strategy that has previously yielded positive results for India.
“We need to replicate the performance from the first match - bat excellently if we bat first, set a substantial target, and then focus on defending it,” he concluded.
Point of View
I observe that while India's performance was hampered by Hazlewood's exceptional bowling, the resilience shown by Abhishek Sharma is commendable. This match serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where early wickets can dramatically alter outcomes. The focus now shifts to how India strategizes for the rest of the series.
NationPress
21/12/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the outcome of the second T20I?
India lost to Australia by four wickets.
Who was the standout bowler for Australia?
Josh Hazlewood was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for 13 runs.
What did Suryakumar Yadav say about Abhishek Sharma?
Suryakumar commended Abhishek Sharma for knowing his game and maintaining his successful batting identity.
When is the next match in the series?
The next match is scheduled for November 2 in Hobart.
