Australia win the toss, bowl first, and India are all out for 125 in 18.4 overs despite a blazing 68 from Abhishek Sharma.
Match Overview:
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
- Date: 31 October 2025 (IST)
- Toss: Australia opted to bowl
- India: 125 all out in 18.4 overs (RR 6.70)
What Happened
India’s innings never settled after an early wobble. Australia’s new-ball plan worked perfectly: good lengths, extra bounce, and a slip in place. Josh Hazlewood ran through the top order, and by the fifth over India were 32/4. From there, it was all about one man trying to hold the innings together.
The Lone Warrior: Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma counter-attacked superbly, scoring 68 (37) with 8 fours and 2 sixes. He read the pace changes well, put away anything short, and kept the scoreboard moving even as wickets fell around him. His half-century came in 23 balls—elite tempo on a tricky surface.
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A Helpful Hand: Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana played a fighting role at No. 7, adding 35 (33) and putting on a 56-run stand with Abhishek for the sixth wicket. That partnership took India from deep trouble to some sort of total.
Australia’s Bowlers on Point
- Josh Hazlewood: 3/13 (4) – the spell that broke India’s top order.
- Nathan Ellis: 2/21 (3.4) – nailed the death, including Abhishek’s lbw.
- Xavier Bartlett: 2/39 (4) – key strikes in the middle overs.
- Marcus Stoinis: 1/24 (4) – smart pace-off control.
The mix of hard length with the new ball and slower change-ups later meant India never got a finishing kick. The last five wickets fell for just 16 runs.
Score Highlights (India)
| Batter | Runs (Balls) | 4s/6s | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 68 (37) | 8/2 | lbw Ellis |
| Harshit Rana | 35 (33) | 3/1 | c David b Bartlett |
| Axar Patel | 7 (12) | 0/0 | run-out (David/Inglis) |
| Others (combined) | 12 | – | – |
| Total | 125 all out (18.4) | – | – |
Australia Bowling
| Bowler | O | R | W | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 13 | 3 | 3.25 |
| Nathan Ellis | 3.4 | 21 | 2 | 5.73 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 4 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 |
| Marcus Stoinis | 4 | 24 | 1 | 6.00 |
| Others | 3 | 27 | 0 | – |
Key Turning Points
- Powerplay Collapse: India slid to 32/4 as Hazlewood removed Gill, Suryakumar, and Tilak in a decisive burst.
- Run-out of Axar: At 49/5, Axar’s dismissal stalled rebuilding momentum.
- Ellis at the Death: Tight yorkers and pace-off deliveries finished the innings; Abhishek’s lbw ended India’s main resistance.
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Tactics & Selection Talking Points
- Harshit before Dube: India promoted Harshit Rana at No. 7. He added valuable runs, but it kept a recognized finisher (Shivam Dube) away from strike during a critical phase.
- Pace vs Pace-off: Australia’s plan to start hard-length and finish with variations worked perfectly on a deck that held up slightly as the evening progressed.
Before play, both teams and officials observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands in memory of 17-year-old Melbourne cricketer Ben Austin—a respectful and emotional start to the game.
