Daijiworld Media Network – Melbourne

Melbourne, Oct 31: Josh Hazlewood turned the Melbourne Cricket Ground into a theatre of terror on Thursday evening, scripting a spell that left Indian batsmen trembling. His opening over was a masterclass in seam bowling — a deadly mix of precision, bounce and movement — that set the tone for Australia’s commanding victory.

The drama began with his very first ball — a searing delivery that trapped Shubman Gill on the pads, prompting the umpire’s finger to rise before a review revealed the ball was narrowly missing leg stump. The next swung away sharply, and the third thudded into Gill’s helmet, drawing gasps from the crowd. Nearly a lakh spectators watched in stunned silence as Hazlewood turned the contest into a nightmare for India’s top order.

Gill survived the over but not the spell. Attempting to drive a full delivery, he miscued to mid-off, triggering a collapse. In a span of 16 balls, India slumped from 20 for no loss to 32 for 4, losing Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson. Hazlewood’s precision was relentless — the ball that dismissed Suryakumar shaped in and straightened off the seam, while Tilak Varma was undone by bounce and subtle deviation.

From the wreckage, Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana tried to rebuild with grit and intent. Abhishek, India’s new T20 dynamo, showcased maturity with a composed 37-ball knock, guiding the team to a modest 125. Rana’s 35-run stand with Abhishek was the lone bright spot, though his slow strike rotation limited India’s recovery.

Australia, chasing 126, overcame late jitters to reach the target in 13.2 overs, despite losing quick wickets after a strong start.

The contest, however, belonged to Hazlewood, who reaffirmed his status as a rare T20 gem — a bowler who thrives on simplicity rather than deception. Once dismissed as a red-ball specialist, Hazlewood’s rise in T20s has been remarkable. He now stands as one of the format’s most reliable pacers, known for his impeccable control, bounce, and subtle seam movement.

“I don’t complicate myself with things I can’t do,” Hazlewood once said — a philosophy that has made him Australia’s silent assassin.

For India, the match was a stark reminder of the importance of discipline with the new ball. Jasprit Bumrah, usually unerring, was off-colour as early waywardness allowed Australia to dominate the chase.

At the MCG, the night belonged to Hazlewood — the cold, calculating craftsman whose first over sent a chill through the heart of India’s batting.