Despite India’s defeat to Australia in the second T20I, Abhishek Sharma emerged as the lone bright spot with a blistering 68 off 37 balls. His aggressive intent impressed captain Suryakumar Yadav, who urged the young opener to continue playing his natural game.
India’s Batting Struggles Despite Abhishek’s Heroics
India’s top order collapsed early under pressure from Josh Hazlewood, who delivered a brilliant spell of 3/13. Apart from Abhishek’s fighting knock, there was little resistance as India were bundled out for 125 in 18.4 overs. Australia chased down the target comfortably in just 13.2 overs, winning by four wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Suryakumar on Abhishek’s Approach
Praising Abhishek’s fearless batting, Suryakumar said:
“Abhishek has been doing this for quite some time now. He knows his game and his identity. He’s not changing it anymore, and hopefully, he sticks to it and plays many more such knocks for us.”
The skipper also lauded Hazlewood’s clinical performance, acknowledging that losing four wickets in the powerplay made recovery nearly impossible.
“The way Hazlewood bowled in the powerplay — if you’re four down early, it’s difficult to recover. Well bowled…”
Lessons From the Loss
Reflecting on the defeat, Suryakumar said India needed to replicate their approach from the first T20I in Canberra, where they had batted fluently before rain stopped play.
“We need to do what we did in the first game — bat well first and then defend strongly.”
Marsh Hails Hazlewood’s Impact
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh praised his pace spearhead for exploiting early movement and setting the tone for victory.
“It was a good toss to win. With a bit of moisture, Hoff (Hazlewood) is a great bowler. We wanted early wickets, and he delivered.”
He also highlighted Australia’s broader goal of building a strong 25-player squad ahead of the next major tournament.
“We’re trying to build a squad where every player feels connected and ready for the World Cup.”
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