The atmosphere at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the second T20I between India and Australia was momentarily lightened by India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav. After Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss yet again, choosing to bowl first, a visibly amused Suryakumar turned to his teammates, playfully suggesting it might be time for the team to perform an ‘Aarti’—a traditional prayer ritual—to reverse their fortunes with the coin.
This light-hearted exchange quickly caught the camera’s attention during Ravi Shastri’s post-toss interview with Marsh, spreading laughter across social media. Former Australia captain Aaron Finch, part of the commentary team, humorously remarked, “I wouldn’t take Suryakumar Yadav to a casino. That’s crazy,” emphasizing India’s ongoing struggle with the toss, a streak that extended through all three preceding ODI matches and the first T20I.
Before the match officially began, a more solemn moment took place as players from both sides wore black armbands. This gesture honored Ben Austin, a 17-year-old Australian cricketer who tragically passed away after being struck by a ball during training earlier in the week.
Once the game commenced, India’s challenges were not limited to the toss. Josh Hazlewood delivered a formidable opening spell, putting the visitors under immense pressure. The Indian top order quickly crumbled within the powerplay, finding themselves in a difficult position at 32/4.
Amidst this collapse, Abhishek Sharma stood out with a courageous, counter-attacking innings, scoring an impressive 68 runs off just 37 balls. He found crucial support from Harshit Rana, who contributed a valuable 35 runs from 33 deliveries, forging a resilient 56-run partnership. Despite their efforts, India was eventually bowled out for 125 in 18.4 overs.
Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis were instrumental for Australia, expertly exploiting the pitch’s movement and bounce. Wickets fell consistently, preventing India from making a significant recovery despite Abhishek Sharma’s valiant performance.