India’s defeat at Australia saw them hit a 17-year-old low
Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
The Indian men’s cricket team hit a new low on Friday (October 31) after Australia beat them by four wickets in front of a jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the second T20I to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series between the teams.
The home team won the toss and chose to bowl first. The decision paid off as India’s batters struggled against Australia’s fiery pace attack and were bowled out for 125 despite Abhishek Sharma’s stunning one-man show as the World No.1 T20I batter made a knock of 68 in just 37 balls. Josh Hazlewood was the star of the show with a three-wicket haul in the powerplay.
Australia lost a few wickets towards the end of the chase but comfortably got home in just 13.2 overs with 40 balls to spare.
Australia Creates History
Australia’s run chase is the second-quickest against India in a T20I match in history. The only instance of a quicker chase also only came from the 2021 T20 World Cup champions. 17 years ago. Ironically, that also occurred at the MCG in a one-off T20 between Australia and India, when led by Michael Clarke, the home team defeated India by nine wickets with 53 balls to spare as they chased a target of 75 with ease.
Four of the six earlier run-chases against India in T20Is have come by Australia. They are the first team to chase a total against the Men in Blue with more than 40 balls remaining twice, and the only outfit to do so with more than 30 balls too.
Australia are now also the first team to chase a target of above 100 against India with 40 balls or more left, breaking New Zealand’s record (33) balls set in the 2021 T20 World Cup in 2021 in a match that took exactly four years ago to the day.
Run-Chases With Most Balls Left in T20Is vs India
India also lost at the MCG after 17 years, with their only previous T20I defeat at the venue being that game in 2008. Overall, the Men in Blue have played seven games at the venue, in which they now have four wins, two losses, and a no-result. Five of these games have been against Australia, out of which India have two wins. During the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue beat Pakistan and Zimbabwe at the iconic venue.