India Collapse at MCG as Hazelwood Destroys Batting Lineup

By Harshit - Oct 31, 2025 05:02 PM
Last updated on Oct 31, 2025 05:02 PM

India suffered a nightmare start in the second T20I against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday, as their top-order crumbled in dramatic fashion. Within the first few overs, India’s top five batters were back in the pavilion with scores reading 5, 2, 1, 0, and 5 — a collapse that stunned fans both at the stadium and around the world. The Australian bowling attack, led by Josh Hazlewood, exposed India’s vulnerabilities against disciplined pace and movement under the MCG lights.

Batting first after winning the toss, India’s decision quickly backfired. The ball was swinging under overcast conditions, and Australia’s bowlers capitalized perfectly. Hazlewood, in particular, bowled with Test-match precision in the shortest format, making life miserable for the Indian batters. Every over felt like a battle for survival as India slumped to one of their worst powerplay performances in recent memory.

The early dismissals derailed India’s momentum completely. Shubman Gill’s brief innings, Sanju Samson’s misjudgment, and the failures of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma all contributed to India’s downfall. What followed was a testament to how even world-class batters can struggle when confronted with exceptional seam bowling and relentless pressure. The collapse left fans wondering whether India’s aggressive approach at the top was suited to Australian conditions.

Hazlewood’s Devastating Spell Shatters India’s Top Order

Josh Hazlewood, known for his impeccable line and length, delivered one of his most clinical spells in T20 cricket. His first breakthrough came early when he dismissed Shubman Gill for just 5 runs. The ball seamed just enough to take the edge off Gill’s bat as he attempted to loft it over mid-off, only to find the fielder waiting patiently. The Australian captain took a clean catch, setting the tone for what was to come.

In the very next over, India’s decision to send Sanju Samson up the order backfired. Nathan Ellis, operating in perfect tandem with Hazlewood, trapped Samson LBW for 2. The ball nipped back sharply after pitching, catching Samson deep in his crease. The review showed the delivery crashing into the leg stump, leaving no doubt about the decision. India’s early experiment had failed miserably.

Hazlewood returned for his third over, tightening the noose around India’s neck. He dismissed Suryakumar Yadav for 1 with a delivery that climbed awkwardly and moved just enough to induce an edge to Josh Inglis behind the stumps. Suryakumar’s dismissal was followed almost immediately by Tilak Varma’s departure for a duck. Tilak, attempting to flick across the line, mistimed completely and sent the ball high into the air. Inglis ran forward and completed a simple catch near short fine leg.

In just a few overs, India found themselves reduced to 20 for 4, with the top order decimated by Hazlewood’s accuracy and movement. The crowd erupted as Hazlewood celebrated with his teammates, while Indian fans watched in disbelief.

Axar Patel’s Run-Out Adds to India’s Misery

If India thought the worst was behind them, Tim David’s brilliance in the field proved otherwise. Axar Patel, who looked to steady the innings, was run out for 5 after a sharp direct hit from midwicket. Patel nudged the ball and called for a quick single, but David’s direct throw caught him inches short of the crease. It was the kind of moment that summed up India’s luckless innings — everything that could go wrong, did.

By the time the fifth wicket fell, India’s scorecard read 5, 2, 1, 0, and 5 — a sequence that no fan or statistician will forget anytime soon. The collapse was reminiscent of India’s early overseas struggles, where seam-friendly pitches exposed their batting frailties. Even the middle order, featuring the experienced Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh, faced immense pressure to rebuild from the ruins.

Hazlewood’s Bowling Masterclass at the MCG

Hazlewood’s spell at the MCG was nothing short of a bowling masterclass. He combined pace, precision, and subtle seam movement to dismantle India’s lineup. What stood out most was his ability to extract bounce even on a relatively flat surface. The MCG’s unique pitch characteristics — offering bounce and carry under lights — played perfectly into his strengths.

Analysts later pointed out how Hazlewood’s discipline forced India’s batters into playing at deliveries they would normally leave. His Test-style bowling in T20 cricket proved too difficult to handle. Hazlewood finished his spell with figures of 4 overs, 2 maidens, 9 runs, and 3 wickets — an astonishing performance in the shortest format.

Australian captain Pat Cummins praised Hazlewood’s control after the match, saying, “Josh was phenomenal. He kept hitting that perfect length, making it nearly impossible for the batters to drive or pull. That’s what makes him world-class.”

India’s Tactical Missteps and the Cost of Aggression

India’s collapse wasn’t just about exceptional bowling — it was also about poor shot selection and tactical miscalculations. Sending Samson ahead of more experienced players backfired. Similarly, Suryakumar’s decision to attack from the first ball against a moving delivery was risky given the conditions. The aggressive approach that has brought India success in flat Asian pitches looked ill-suited for the seam and bounce at the MCG.

Even coach Rahul Dravid, known for his calm demeanor, looked visibly frustrated as wickets tumbled one after another. The dressing room atmosphere was tense, with batters trying to make sense of what went wrong. The collapse reignited debates about India’s adaptability to foreign conditions and whether the team needs to recalibrate its batting strategy ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

Australia Tighten Grip While India Try to Rebuild

After the early carnage, India’s lower middle order tried to bring some stability. Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh absorbed the pressure and began rotating the strike. Their partnership helped India cross the 50-run mark, much to the relief of fans. However, just as things started looking better, Pandya edged one behind off Ellis, and Rinku fell to Adam Zampa while trying to accelerate.

By the 12th over, India were staring at a total collapse, with the scoreboard reading 68 for 7. Even though Ravi Bishnoi and Arshdeep Singh added a few valuable runs at the end, India’s innings folded for just 97 — one of their lowest totals in recent T20 history. The MCG crowd, while partisan, applauded Hazlewood’s effort as he walked off with the ball in hand.

Social Media Reacts to the Collapse

As expected, social media exploded with reactions. Memes, jokes, and stunned commentary flooded X (formerly Twitter). Some fans compared the collapse to India’s infamous batting failures of the early 2000s, while others credited Hazlewood for bowling “like a machine.”

• “Josh Hazlewood proving once again that line and length still win games!” wrote one user.
• “India’s batting fell faster than a pack of cards,” joked another.
• “MCG magic! Hazlewood delivers a Test-class spell in T20 cricket,” read a post by a popular cricket account.

Despite the heartbreak, many cricket enthusiasts praised India’s bowlers for showing fight later in the innings, even as defending such a small total was nearly impossible. The collapse, though, will serve as a wake-up call for India ahead of the next match in Sydney.

Looking Ahead: Lessons for India

For India, the lesson from the MCG meltdown is clear — adaptability is key. Conditions in Australia are vastly different from home, and success requires patience and shot selection. The team management is expected to review batting plans and possibly reshuffle the order for the next game. Players like Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav, known for their natural flair, will need to temper aggression with discipline.

As the teams move to Sydney for the third T20I, the spotlight remains firmly on how India will respond. Will they bounce back from one of their most dramatic collapses in recent memory, or will Australia continue their dominance? One thing is certain — Josh Hazlewood’s spell at the MCG will be remembered as a modern-day masterclass in fast bowling.

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