Australia produced a clinical all-round performance to outclass India by four wickets in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing a modest target of 126, the hosts wrapped up the game in style, reaching 126-6 in under 14 overs.
Captain Mitchell Marsh led from the front with a blistering 46 off 26 balls, while Travis Head and Josh Inglis made valuable contributions at the top.
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Openers Marsh and Head got Australia off to a flying start, racing to 50 inside the first five overs.
Head struck three fours and a six in his quick 28 before Varun Chakravarthy claimed the first breakthrough.
Marsh continued to dominate, clearing the ropes four times before falling just short of his half-century to Kuldeep Yadav.
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The wrist-spinner then removed Inglis for 20, while Chakravarthy picked up his second wicket by dismissing Tim David cheaply.
Despite a brief stumble, Marcus Stoinis (6*) guided Australia home comfortably after Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets in quick succession to cause a minor scare late in the innings.
Earlier, India’s batting lineup struggled against Australia’s pace attack and were bowled out for 125 in 18.4 overs.
Josh Hazlewood was the standout performer, returning exceptional figures of 3-13 in four overs, while Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis took two wickets apiece.
India’s top order crumbled early, slipping to 32-4 after Hazlewood and Ellis ran through their frontline batters.
A mix-up in the eighth over saw Axar Patel run out, deepening India’s woes.
Opener Abhishek Sharma provided the only resistance with a fighting 68 off 37 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
He shared a 56-run stand with Harshit Rana (35 off 33), which temporarily steadied the innings before Bartlett broke the partnership.
Once Harshit departed, the tail offered little resistance as India were dismissed well short of a competitive total.
With this win, Australia now lead the series 1-0.
The third T20I will be played in Hobart on Sunday as India look to bounce back and level the series.
