It was a night to forget for India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a batting collapse so brutal that even Australia might’ve been surprised at how easily they wrapped it up.
Abhishek Fights, Others Fall
While the rest of the batting lineup crumbled, Abhishek Sharma stood tall. The young left-hander smashed a blazing 68 off 37 balls, showing confidence and intent even as wickets fell around him. He looked set for a big one, but the lack of strike and India's middle-order fragility didn't allow him to get that hundred.
Behind him, there was little support. Harshit Rana, surprisingly, was the next-best batter with 35 off 33 balls, a bright sign for someone known more for his bowling. But apart from those two, India’s batters, including Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube, could only manage 22 runs off 42 balls combined with 3 extras.
Tactical Misses and Selection Woes
The decision to send Sanju Samson at No. 3 baffled many, especially given Surya or Tilak usually occupy that spot. India never recovered from their slow start, limping to 125 all out, a total far below par even on a testing surface.
Australia Cruise to Victory
In response, Mitchell Marsh and his men made it look easy, sealing another comfortable win and reminding everyone why they’re so dominant at home. For India, this was a night best forgotten, a reminder that individual brilliance can’t mask collective failure.
Also Watch: Tears of Triumph: India stun mighty Aussies in World Cup epic
