India suffered a shocking batting collapse in the second T20I of their five-match series against Australia, folding for a paltry 125 all out in 18.4 overs after being inserted to bat by skipper Mitchell Marsh. What promised to be a high-octane rematch following the rain-abandoned opener in Canberra turned into a one-sided demolition early on, as Australia's pace battery—led by the evergreen Josh Hazlewood—ripped through the Indian top order. With the series now effectively a best-of-four affair, India desperately seek early breakthroughs in the chase, where openers Travis Head (14*) and Marsh (10*) have navigated the powerplay unscathed, reaching 29/0 in 2.5 overs.

The writing was on the wall from the first ball as Hazlewood, in a spell of unrelenting precision (3/13 off 4 overs), dismantled India's batting edifice inside the powerplay. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, fresh off a gritty cameo in the opener, edged a seaming delivery to Josh Inglis for a golden duck in the opening over—India's review in vain. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, promoted to No. 3, lasted just three balls before nicking a full outswinger to slip, while Tilak Varma holed out tamely to mid-on off a short ball.

Sanju Samson (2) and Shivam Dube (0) followed in quick succession, leaving India reeling at 40/5 after eight overs. This marked the visitors' worst T20I powerplay since 2019, exposing frailties against seam movement on a pitch offering true bounce and subtle spice—conditions Hazlewood exploited with economy of 3.25, etching his name among Australia's top T20I wreckers against India.

Amid the ruins, opener Abhishek Sharma emerged as the lone warrior, crafting a masterful 68 off 37 balls (8 fours, 2 sixes) that single-handedly dragged India past three figures. Dropped on 12, the 24-year-old unleashed vintage aggression, including a flicked six off Nathan Ellis and a scorching cover drive against Xavier Bartlett, racing to his sixth T20I fifty. His promotion of uncapped pacer Harshit Rana to No. 7 paid dividends, quicky summoning a gritty 35 off 21 (3 fours, 2 sixes) in a record-equaling sixth-wicket stand of 56—the third-highest at MCG in T20Is. Yet, the lower order crumbled: Axar Patel (4), Kuldeep Yadav (0), and Varun Chakaravarthy (1) fell cheaply, with Ellis (2/21) and Matthew Kuhnemann (2/22) mopping up. Australia's fielding was electric, with Marsh's sharp captaincy stifling boundaries—India managed just 10 in total.

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As the chase unfolds, India’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has drawn first blood with a probing new-ball over, but Head and Marsh—Australia's explosive engine room—have countered assuredly. Head, with a flicked four, and Marsh, nurdling singles, have kept the required rate under 7, exploiting loose deliveries from Harshit Rana. With spinners Axar and Kuldeep lurking, India eye a middle-over stranglehold, but the hosts' depth—Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, and Matt Short waiting in the wings—looms large. A win here would give Australia a 1-0 series lead, avenging their ODI and Test series defeats Down Under. For Suryakumar's men, it's redemption time: bowl smart, strike early, or risk a Melbourne mauling.

(Live updates: Australia 34/1 after 5 overs, Steve Smith in at 3 chasing 126.)

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