We’ll be back on Sunday to cover game three of the five-match T20 series. We would ordinarily expect India to bounce back anyway, but the absence of Josh Hazlewood for the rest of the series will be a reasonable leveller too.
Here is the full report of Australia’s four-wicket victory over India in front of more than 82,000 fans at the MCG.
Mitch Marsh continued his strong start to the summer with 46 runs that not only set up the successful chase but also would have boosted his hopes of a recall for the Ashes. The Australia skipper says all the right things while speaking on Fox Sports.
It was a good toss to win. There was a bit of moisture and ‘Hoff’ [Hazlewood] is a great bowler when there’s something in it. We wanted to take a couple of wickets early. I think since the last World Cup we have tried to really build a squad of 25 players who can come to the World Cup and feel a part of the team and be connected to everyone.
I was a bit nervous [batting] but got going in the end. Head took the pressure off. Should be a good three games to come.
India will be pleased to see the back of Josh Hazlewood who will leave the T20 squad to ramp up his preparations for the Ashes. The Australia quick is named player of the match for his classy opening spell that was well worth the 3 for 13 he finished with.
The ball feels like it’s coming out nicely at the moment no matter what format I’m playing. I’m just trying to put the ball in the right areas and see what happens. Everything feels in a good place and I’m ready to go. I think there’s no better place to learn than here.
Nathan [Ellis] does his job every time, bowls some of the tough overs. So we’ll have a lot of quicks fighting for spots soon. I’ll head home tomorrow and still have time to prepare with a Shield game and then head to Perth for the first Test.
Josh Hazlewood pulled off a stunning spell to dismantle India at the MCG.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
Watch every ball: https://t.co/gcg69l3gtp pic.twitter.com/lRtz8f6MFs
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Australia win by 4 wickets
Mitch Marsh has bolstered his hopes of a Test recall for the Ashes with a quick-fire 46 to set up Australia for a commanding four-wicket victory over India in the second T20I at the MCG. The white-ball skipper punished the India attack from the top of the order alongside Test regular Travis Head (28) as Australia chased down the modest 126-run target with 40 balls remaining.
Marsh looked comfortable against the new ball – admittedly coloured white rather than a dark shade of red – to race to 46 from 26 deliveries with four sixes and two boundaries before holding out while attempting to bring up his half-century in style. Josh Hazlewood put Australia in a strong position from the start as he bowled out a four-over spell and finished with 3 for 13 to have India on the ropes before they were even out of the powerplay.
India opener Abhishek Sharma played a lone hand with 68 from 37 balls and Harshit Rana (35) helped add respectability to the score as the tourists were all out for 125. But when Marsh and Head had already fired Australia to 49 without loss after four overs, not even late fireworks from Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 26) could turn the game on its head.
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13th over: Australia 124-6 (Stoinis 4, Bartlett 0) Jasprit Bumrah adds some light fireworks with two wickets in two deliveries but Xavier Bartlett is just good enough to fend off the hat-trick ball.
WICKET! Short b Bumrah 0 (Australia 124-6)
Jasprit Bumrah has two in two balls. A cracking yorker is too much for Matt Short and he is one his way first ball. Bumrah is on a hat-trick.
WICKET! Owen c Samson b Bumrah 14 (Australia 124-5)
Mitch Owen winds up and the finest of nicks is enough to have the powerhouse on his way. Bumrah is moving the ball away nicely under lights, and he was ready to review the decision before the pensive umpire belatedly raises a finger.
12th over: Australia 121-4 (Owen 12, Stoinis 3) Kuldeep picks up his second wicket with Inglis out lbw but Owen is in a hurry to finish this off. The Tasmanian slogs a six over midwicket as Australia move to within reach of the win.
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WICKET! Inglis lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 20 (Australia 112-4)
Josh Inglis rocks his head back in disbelief as India’s review pays off this time as the replay shows approximately 51% of the ball is hitting the stumps - but just enough to avoid it staying with umpire’s call. Kuldeep pitches the ball on leg stump and it holds its line to send Inglis on his way.
11th over: Australia 110-3 (Inglis 18, Owen 6) Mitch Owen hits across the line but misses the ball that cannons into his pads. India appeal with a hint of desperation and send the decision upstairs for a review that shows the ball was creeping over leg stump. The Australia pair ease through the over with four singles and two more to Inglis.
10th over: Australia 104-3 (Inglis 14, Owen 5) DROPPED! Mitch Owen winds up but fails to connect cleanly as Varun Chakravarthy runs backwards and Harshit Rana comes charging in off the rope. Varun stops, starts, and causes mass confusion as Rana grasses the catch at mid-on. Varun rightly claims responsibility though. Josh Inglis begins the over by punishing a full toss from Kuldeep Yadav with a reverse sweep off middle to the rope at backward point. India are fighting hard but running out of runs to protect.
9th over: Australia 92-3 (Inglis 6, Owen 1) Tim David is on his way after a soft dismissal and Australia suddenly need to rebuild through the middle order. India are in the inglorious position of having nothing to lose.
WICKET! David c & b Varun 1 (Australia 90-3)
Tim David is caught in two minds before trying to defend a quicker ball that bounces off the top of the bat and back to Varun Chakravarthy. India have a glimmer of hope.
8th over: Australia 87-2 (Inglis 3, David 0) A stunning over from Mitch Marsh as the Australia skipper plunders four, six, four, dot, six but then is dismissed trying to add another boundary. It was an ugly over from Kuldeep as he continually dragged the ball down and gave Marsh plenty of time but he ends it with a wicket and a wry grin on his face.
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WICKET! Marsh c Abhishek b Kuldeep 46 (Australia 87-2)
Mitch Marsh hammers Kuldeep for two sixes and a pair of boundaries but the rush of blood gets too much as he fails to pick the wrong’un and skies a ball into the clouds and to Abhishek Sharma at mid-off. The Australia skipper has set up his side for victory with 46 from 26 balls including four sixes and a couple of fours.
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7th over: Australia 67-1 (Marsh 19, Inglis 10) SIX! Josh Inglis was excellent behind the stumps during India’s innings and now the Australia keeper gets in on the big hitting with a huge straight drive. Two India fielders close in from either side of the ball drop but not before it hammers into the sightscreen.
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6th over: Australia 56-1 (Marsh 15, Inglis 3) Jasprit Bumrah returns from the opposite end of the MCG to bowl out the powerplay as India need wickets if they are any hope to pull this out of the bag. The Australia paid are content with three singles and a couple to Inglis.
5th over: Australia 51-1 (Marsh 13, Inglis 0) Varun Chakravarthy picks up the critical wicket of Travis Head but Australia are already beyond 50 and within sight of their 126-run target.
WICKET! Head c Tilak Varma b Varun 28 (Australia 51-1)
Acrobatics on the boundary with Tilak Varma skipping either side of the rope to complete a clever catch to dismiss Travis Head. India call on spin with this game getting away from them and Varun Chakravarthy gets the breakthrough. Head departs after 15 balls with one six and three boundaries.
What a brilliant catch on the boundary from Tilak Varma! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/NdmTd6q2et
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
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4th over: Australia 49-0 (Marsh 12, Head 27) SECOND TIER! Mitch Marsh hooks Harshit Rana into the second tier of the MCG. That’s a monster shot from the man that some call the Bison. The Australia skipper almost adds another from the next delivery but the straight drive falls short of the rope and stops in its tracks. Travis Head kickstarted it all with a six over square leg and a thick edge for four to begin the over.
3rd over: Australia 29-0 (Marsh 4, Head 16) Travis Head is not one to die wondering as he dispatches a straighter delivery from Bumrah off middle stump and through midwicket to the rope. The next ball goes off his hip for two at square leg, then Head finds three more with a classic cut shot. Not even the keeper can pick which way Bumrah is moving the ball as a ferocious inswinger beats everyone on the way to the boundary. A rare wild delivery from the India star down the leg side adds five wides as an expensive over has Australia well on their way.
2nd over: Australia 11-0 (Marsh 4, Head 7) Travis Head picks up the first boundary of the innings with a thick edge over first slip. Harshit Rana can’t contain the singles as Australia begin on their journey towards a meagre target.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Marsh 3, Head 1) Bumrah picks up where he left off last summer - having Australia batters in all sorts. Mitch Marsh wafts at the first delivery and is fortunate not to make any contact. The India quick’s first to Travis Head is even better but somehow misses the edge. Marsh ends the over picking the inswinger but only a thick edge picks up two at square leg.
Jasprit Bumrah is lining up with Mitch Marsh on strike… can the cricket empire strike back!??
Australia have a deep batting lineup filled with powerhitters and will begin with two of the best – Mitch Marsh and Travis Head – at the top of the order. India quick Jasprit Bumrah will not unusually be the key to his side’s hopes of turning this contest around.
Australia need 126 to win
India’s batting collapse is complete as Jasprit Bumrah is run out looking for a quick single off his first delivery. The tourists are all out for 125 in 18.4 overs with Josh Hazlewood setting the tone with 3 for 13, while Nathan Ellis was important late and finished with 2 for 21 from 3.4 overs.
India’s thrillseeking opener Abhishek Sharma played a lone hand with 68 from 37 deliveries to drag his side to something resembling a competitive total, as Harshit Rana was the only other batter to reach double figures with 35.
Running out of ways to describe Josh Hazlewood 🤩 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/yFUIBppvyd
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
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WICKET! Abhishek Sharma lbw b Ellis 68 (India 125-9)
Abhishek can’t quite carry the bat as Nathan Ellis traps him plumb in front with a yorker. A stunning innings comes to an end with 68 coming from 37 balls with two sixes and eight boundaries.
18th over: India 125-8 (Abhishek 68, Varun 0) Abhishek Sharma takes a liking to Xavier Bartlett once again with another 15 runs. The opener picks the gap through cover to pick up his first boundary since the ninth over. Then hooks a slower ball for SIX at fine leg.
17th over: India 110-8 (Abhishek 53, Varun 0) Abhishek picks up one run to start the over and loses Kuldeep before he gets back on strike. The India opener will need to hang onto the strike now and aim for the boundaries.
WICKET! Kuldeep c Abbott (sub) b Stoinis 0 (India 110-8)
Kuldeep Yadav’s eyes light up as he pulls Stoinis in the air but Sean Abbott dives to take a smart catch at midwicket. Abhishek Sharma might run out of partners before he can get going again.
16th over: India 109-7 (Abhishek 52, Kuldeep 0) Bartlett picks up two wickets as Australia finally make their way into the lower order. Kuldeep Yadav joins Abhishek Sharma who has faced the equivalent of four-and-a-half overs of the 16 that have been bowled. Just get him on strike, India!
WICKET! Dube c Inglis b Bartlett 4 (India 109-7)
An absolute screamer from Josh Inglis as Shivam Dube nicks while dabbing at a ball coming off the back of a length. Inglis moved to his right for a split second and had to dive hard and high in the other direction to reach the ball as it travelled behind him to dismiss the left-hander. Bartlett lets out a huge roar of appreciation.
GOOD GRIEF JOSH INGLIS 🤩 #AUSvIND | #PlayoftheDay | @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/g2Qb2CW7Pj
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
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WICKET! Harshit Rana c David b Bartlett 35 (India 105-6)
Harshit Rana has helped resurrect the India innings with a composed and critical knock but with the overs running out he chances his arm and is caught off a slower delivery. The ball comes off the bottom of the bat and picks out Tim David on the rope.
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15th over: India 105-5 (Abhishek 52, Harshit Rana 35) SIX! Harshit Rana brings up the 50-run partnership in the best possible way with a cracking shot over the long-on rope. Yet again he farms the strike from Abhishek though, with two runs early in the over and a single off the last delivery.
14th over: India 96-5 (Abhishek 52, Harshit Rana 26) Nathan Ellis comes back on as Australia look to break up this partnership that is closing in on 50 runs. The creative quick stuns Abhishek with a slower ball but the rare block shot falls safely off his gloves. The India pair survive a tidy over but pick up only four runs.
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13th over: India 92-5 (Abhishek 51, Harshit Rana 23) FIFTY for Abhishek Sharma. It has been a hugely entertaining innings even as India wickets have tumbled around him. But there is a sense that it could have been even better if he was able to spend more time on strike, as his eight time reaching the mark in T20Is comes from only 23 balls. Harshit Rana cuts Kuhnemann to the rope as India have finally found a partner for their opening powerhouse.
FIFTY!
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2025
Abhishek Sharma has been at it from the word go.
He brings up a brilliant half-century off just 23 deliveries.
His 6th in T20Is 🔥🔥
Live - https://t.co/ereIn74bmc #TeamIndia #AUSvIND #2ndT20I pic.twitter.com/5lt8x71Tmr
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12th over: India 83-5 (Abhishek 48, Harshit Rana 17) Harshit Rana is fortunate to pick up a boundary as Travis Head dives over the ball at deep fine leg. But the India batter needs to turn over the strike better as Abhishek only faces two balls in a relatively loose Stoinis over – he is now 48 from 21 deliveries.
11th over: India 74-5 (Abhishek 46, Harshit Rana 12) Matt Kuhnemann joins the attack and has Harshit Rana playing watchfully. The India batter cuts in the air but picks his spot to pick up the only boundary in an otherwise tame over with Abhishek at the non striker’s end.
10th over: India 69-5 (Abhishek 46, Harshit Rana 7) Abhishek Sharma continues to play a lone hand as the only India batter to reach the rope as he has one six and seven boundaries at the half way mark of the innings. He bookends Mitchell Owen’s first over with a pair of fours - the first a cut through gully and the next a punishing pull shot.
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9th over: India 56-5 (Abhishek 36, Harshit Rana 4) Marcus Stoinis comes into the attack at just the right time with even Abhishek Sharma now playing with an air of caution. The opener has hardly been on strike and has 36 runs from only 16 deliveries as India approach the half way mark.
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8th over: India 50-5 (Abhishek 33, Harshit Rana 1) Bartlett had a rough start to his night with 17 coming from his first over. Now he adds a dropped catch off his own bowling. But a run out removes the same batter – Axar Patel – a couple of balls later and Australia are into the tail with Harshit Rana heading to the middle of the strangely quiet MCG.
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WICKET! Axar run out 7 (India 49-5)
Axar is almost caught at cover but picks up an easy two runs. The all-rounder looks for a third but is sent back by Abhishek and is short of his crease as Josh Inglis lifts the bails. That was clever from Tim David in the deep as Axar’s dive wasn’t enough to save him.
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7th over: India 47-4 (Abhishek 33, Axar 5) Hazlewood almost picks up the critical wicket of Abhishek but the thick edge sails just wide of a diving Inglis for four runs. The Australia quick goes around the wicket to Axar who is happy to see him off. Hazlewood finishes with 3-12 from his four overs.
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6th over: India 40-4 (Abhishek 29, Axar 1) Nathan Ellis bowls out the powerplay as Axar Patel looks to play a steady hand. India have no choice but to rebuild the innings from here. But Abhishek knows only one way as he steps back to loft a ball off middle stump over cover for a much-needed boundary.
5th over: India 33-4 (Abhishek 24, Axar 1) Hazlewood turns the game in Australia’s favour with two wickets in an over. He has been almost unplayable and now has 3 for 6 from three overs in the powerplay.
WICKET! Tilak Varma c Inglis b Hazlewood 0 (India 32-4)
Josh Hazlewood has another and India are on the ropes. Tilak Varma lasts two deliveries as a top edge sends the ball skyward and Josh Inglis scampers a long way back to complete the catch with gloves on.
WICKET! Suryakumar c Inglis b Hazlewood 1 (India 32-3)
Josh Inglis drops the India skipper but Josh Hazlewood tidies up for his keeper with the next delivery. Suryakumar reaches for an outswinger but gets a nick on the way through. This is no less than Hazlewood has deserved.
4th over: India 32-2 (Abhishek 24, Suryakumar 1) The India captain comes to the crease following the failed experiment to move Sanju Samson up to No 3. A quick single puts Abhishek on strike and the attacking opener unleashes with back-to-back boundaries. The first gets what it deserves from Ellis, as a short ball down the leg side is ramped to the rope. The next is a full toss that Abhishek sends through cover. The Australia bowlers don’t seem to have worked out Abhishek yet, but let’s see how he goes up against an in-form Hazlewood.
WICKET! Samson lbw b Ellis 2 (India 23-2)
Nathan Ellis replaces Bartlett and soon beats Sanju Samson with a touch of movement outside off. The Australia quick gets the ball to move the opposite way with the next delivery to beat the inside edge and crash into Samson’s pads. The finger goes up with the ball heading towards middle stump but India waste a review.
Nathan Ellis got off to a rapid start, dismissing Sanju Samson for just two. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/lY4FAlbzDI
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
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3rd over: India 22-1 (Abhishek 15, Samson 2) It’s a game of two ends at the moment - one where Josh Hazlewood is bowling, and then one where he isn’t. The Australian quick is in ominous form with the white ball and will be hoping to carry that into the Ashes. He picks up the wicket of Shubman Gill with Sanju Samson a surprise at No 3 while India captain Suryakumar Yadav bides his time.
WICKET! Gill c Marsh b Hazlewood 5 (India 20-1)
Hazlewood has had Shubman Gill in all sorts from the very first ball and sends the opener on his way soon after. Gill tries to lift a wide ball straight over mid-off but picks out Mitch Marsh tracking back.
2nd over: India 18-0 (Gill 4, Abhishek 14) SIX! Abhishek Sharma lights up the MCG as he takes 14 runs from the four balls he faces in the Xavier Bartlett over. A swipe across the line picks up a couple, then Abhishek charges down the pitch to crack the first boundary of the innings through cover. A rattled Bartlett overpitches and allows the India opener two more past mid-on but he saves his best for last with a powerful drive over cover for six.
A stunning six from Abhishek Sharma to get the MCG crowd fired up 😱 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/azTBA0Lsle
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025
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1st over: India 1-0 (Gill 1, Abhishek 0) The highest of drama to begin the T20 at the MCG! Josh Hazlewood traps Shubman Gill in front with the opening delivery and there looks to be little saving the India opener. But his half-hearted review has the decision overturned with the ball sailing well over leg stump. The Australia quick almost gets Gill nicking with the very next delivery and then crashes the ball into the opener’s helmet as the batter attempts to pull. After a lengthy delay Gill finally gets off the mark from the final delivery, but that was some over from Hazlewood.
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Josh Hazlewood is at the top of his mark with Shubman Gill on strike as a huge roar goes up around the packed MCG.
The India and Australia women’s teams played a classic World Cup game just under 24 hours ago with the former stunning the defending champions to chase down the 339-run target. Raf Nicholson covers the semi-final upset, including Jemimah Rodrigues’s incredible century that steered India into a final against South Africa
Rodrigues was dropped three times by Australia, on 52, 83 and 106, eventually finishing unbeaten on 127 as the seven-time world champions uncharacteristically cracked under the pressure of defending 338. Running back from mid-off, Tahlia McGrath spilled the third of those chances from Rodrigues in the 44th over, while Annabel Sutherland sent down two wides in a wayward 48th over which cost 15 runs.
Before the T20 gets under way in about 15 minutes, Cricket Australia will hold a tribute in memory of Ben Austin – the young cricketer who was killed when hit by a ball while training in the nets in Melbourne earlier this week. There will be a moment’s silence with Ben’s image will be on the big screen and his favourite song played as well.
Australia’s cricket community have already been putting their bats out in a gesture to remember teenage cricketer, after the incident that has been described as similar to the death of former Test player Phillip Hughes in 2014.
India XI
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
India are unchanged for the abandoned T20 series opener. Captain Suryakumar suggests India would have picked up where they left off on Wednesday and batted if he won the toss.
“That’s the brand of cricket we want to play, as soon as we go in. It starts with Abhishek, he has been setting the tone along with Gill. He knows how to score runs and with him you have to run hard between the wickets as well.”
Australia XI
Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Short, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
One change for Australia with Matt Short replacing Josh Philippe.
Toss
Australia captain Mitch Marsh wins the toss yet again. And it is no surprise when he elects to bowl first. Suryakumar Yadav called incorrectly but he is comfortable with batting first, just as India did in Canberra for 9.4 overs on Wednesday.
🚨 Toss 🚨#TeamIndia have been put into bat first.
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 31, 2025
Updates ▶ https://t.co/7LOFHGtfXe#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/46JjIM2YkA
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the second T20 international between Australia and India at a sold out MCG. The first T20I of the five-match series was washed out in Canberra after only 9.4 overs on Wednesday. But the forecast looks much more promising this evening in Melbourne, with a bit of cloud around to please the pace bowlers.
Mitch Marsh won the toss in Canberra and – just as he had done during the ODI series – was keen to field first. But India have a threatening top order that might make the Australia captain think twice if the coin falls his way again. Abhishek Sharma looks dangerous from the first ball and India skipper Suryakumar Yadav showed signs of returning to form in the series opener.
First ball will be at 7.15pm AEDT in Melbourne / 1.45pm IDT. The toss and team news will be coming up shortly. Meanwhile, let us know your thoughts and predictions - shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
