Abhishek Sharma admitted that while India were ready for Australia’s trademark discipline, it was the extra bounce and pace at the Melbourne Cricket Ground that caught their batters off guard during the second T20I. India were bundled out for just 125 and went on to lose by four wickets, as Australia chased the target in only 13.2 overs to take a 1–0 lead in the series.
Batting first, India lost four wickets inside the powerplay — only the tenth time it has happened to them in T20Is — as Josh Hazlewood tore through the top order with a fiery spell of 3 for 12. Bowling probing Test-match lengths on a surface offering steep lift, Hazlewood set the tone early. Amid the collapse, Abhishek stood tall with a counterattacking 68 off 37 balls, trying to anchor the innings while wickets kept tumbling around him.
Speaking after the match, Abhishek said he tried to stick to the team’s attacking game plan but had to adjust once early wickets fell. “Our plan was to dominate at the top, but things didn’t quite go our way today. Their bowlers hit the right areas, their lengths were spot on. When you see wickets falling at the other end, you have to think about the team first,” he said.
The left-hander added that the pitch wasn’t as straightforward as it appeared. “It wasn’t easy to score freely. The bounce made shot-making tough, so I had to change my approach and focus on building a total that would give us a chance,” Abhishek explained.
Even after facing Hazlewood in the recent ODIs, Abhishek said he wasn’t fully prepared for what the Australian pacer unleashed. “We knew he’d be challenging, but the way he bowled today really surprised me. I haven’t seen that kind of bounce and control in T20s before. He had a clear plan and executed it perfectly,” he admitted.
At 49 for 5, India promoted Harshit Rana up the order, and together with Abhishek, he put on a valuable half-century stand that helped the visitors cross 100. But once their partnership broke, the innings unraveled quickly with eight balls still unused.
On Rana’s unexpected promotion, Abhishek said, “I knew Harshit could hit — he’s done that plenty in the nets. The plan was to play a bit more sensibly and take it deep. The left-right combination also worked well, and he batted really smartly.”
Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Abhishek said the match served as an important lesson for India’s young batting group. “A lot of us, including me, are touring here for the first time. We expected bounce and pace, but it was more than we imagined. Still, it’s a great learning experience. Credit to Australia — they executed their plans with precision.”