Daijiworld Media Network – Melbourne

Melbourne, Oct 31: India’s batting woes deepened on Friday as vice-captain Shubman Gill’s poor form continued, managing just five runs before falling cheaply to Josh Hazlewood during the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Gill’s mistimed chip shot ended in the hands of Mitchell Marsh at mid-off, extending his lean patch in white-ball cricket.

Gill’s struggles have become a major talking point among fans, with many on social media calling for Yashasvi Jaiswal to replace him as opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. The young vice-captain has scored just 169 runs in nine T20I innings since his return to the format in September 2025 and endured a disappointing Asia Cup and ODI series against Australia, where he managed only 43 runs in three games.

Amid the batting collapse, Abhishek Sharma stood tall with a defiant 68 off 37 balls, showcasing grit and flair against Australia’s fiery pace attack. His knock, decorated with eight fours and two sixes, was the lone highlight as India were bowled out for a modest 125 with eight balls remaining.

Abhishek displayed exceptional shot-making — slashes, check drives, and lofted strokes on the off-side — racing to a 23-ball half-century in his maiden appearance at the iconic venue. His 56-run partnership with Harshit Rana (35 off 33) for the seventh wicket helped India cross the 100-run mark after the top-order crumble.

However, Abhishek was visibly frustrated in the later stages as lower-order batters struggled to rotate strike. Despite limited support, he continued to fight, hooking Xavier Bartlett for a six to push India’s total past 120 before the innings folded.

Earlier, Australian spearhead Josh Hazlewood (3/13) delivered a masterclass in accuracy and control, bowling 15 dot balls in his four-over spell. He extracted movement off the surface, troubling the Indian top order with relentless Test-match lengths.

Hazlewood first softened Gill with a sharp bouncer before dismissing him with a fuller delivery outside off. He then trapped skipper Suryakumar Yadav with a delivery that kissed the outside edge, while Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson fell cheaply as India slumped to 40 for 4.

Despite a brief resistance from Abhishek and Harshit, the visitors’ innings never recovered. The Australian bowlers maintained relentless pressure, ensuring that India’s total remained well below par in front of a packed MCG crowd.

With another batting failure from key players, India’s team management faces tough questions ahead of the remaining matches — especially around Shubman Gill’s form and the team’s fragile top order.