In the second T20 match being played in Melbourne, India scored 125 runs while playing first. Abhishek Sharma single-handedly played a brilliant inning of 68 runs. The second highest score for Team India was made by Harshit Rana, who played an important inning of 35 runs while batting at seventh position. Apart from Abhishek and Harshit, no other Indian batsman could even touch double figures in terms of runs.
The Indian team had a very bad start. Shubman Gill was out after scoring 5 runs in the third over itself. The team management perhaps made the conditions a little difficult for the Indian batsmen by changing the batting order. Captain Suryakumar, who usually plays at number 3, came at fourth position, while Sanju Samson was sent at third position. As a result, Surya and Samson walked out after scoring 1 and 2 runs respectively.
Due to this strategy, even Tilak Verma, who had maintained his form in the Asia Cup, did not work. Tilak came at number-5, who could not even open the account. Axar Patel looked in good touch, but he too was run out on the score of 7 runs.
Only Abhishek-Harshit should go
The Indian team had lost 5 wickets at the score of 49. Abhishek stood firm at the other end and played a stormy innings of 68 runs in 37 balls. He hit 8 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. The team management sent Harshit Rana to bat at number 7 above Shivam Dubey. Taking full advantage of this opportunity, Harshit Rana played an important inning of 35 runs.
Josh Hazlewood was the most successful bowler for Australia, taking three wickets for just 13 runs in 4 overs. Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis took two wickets each and Marcus Stoinis also managed to take one wicket. Two Indian batsmen, Akshar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah were run out.
