India’s top-order batting unit suffered a catastrophic meltdown in the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), collapsing to a nightmarish sequence of scores: 5, 2, 1, 0, and 5. The disastrous start left fans stunned and handed the hosts a commanding position in the crucial match.
Table of Contents
- The Collapse: A Batter’s Nightmare
- Josh Hazlewood’s Devastating Spell
- A Historical Low for Indian Cricket?
- A Glimmer of Hope from the Lower Order
The Collapse: A Batter’s Nightmare
The Indian innings began with promise but quickly descended into chaos. The top five batters were dismissed for a combined total of just 13 runs. This sequence of single-digit scores—5, 2, 1, 0, and 5—is a stark indicator of a complete failure to handle the Australian bowling attack on a challenging MCG pitch .
Josh Hazlewood’s Devastating Spell
At the heart of India’s misery was a fiery spell from Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood. His relentless accuracy and ability to extract bounce from the pitch proved too much for the Indian batters. Hazlewood was instrumental in removing key players like Suryakumar Yadav for a duck and Tilak Varma for a golden duck . His figures of 3-0-9-2 in his initial spell were a testament to his dominance .
India’s Top-Order Wickets
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 5 | 4 | c mid-off b Hazlewood |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 2 | 3 | b Xavier Bartlett |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 1 | 4 | c Inglis b Hazlewood |
| Tilak Varma | 0 | 2 | c Inglis b Hazlewood |
| Axar Patel | 5 | 12 | run out (David/Inglis) |
A Historical Low for Indian Cricket?
Such a collective failure from the top order is a rare and alarming sight for a team of India’s caliber. This collapse has drawn comparisons to some of the team’s most infamous batting failures in recent history. The pressure will now be immense on the team management to reassess their batting strategy and selection for the remainder of the series.
A Glimmer of Hope from the Lower Order
While the top order crumbled, there was a brief spark of resistance from the lower middle order. Abhishek Sharma, in particular, showed intent with a quickfire 39 off just 24 balls, including a massive 125-metre six, offering a small consolation on an otherwise bleak day for Indian cricket .
Focus on India’s Top Order Collapse
This India top order collapse at the MCG is a major talking point. The inability of the star-studded batting lineup to handle the new ball and the pressure of a high-stakes game raises serious questions about their preparation and mental fortitude in Australian conditions.