After the series opener was washed away by rain in Canberra on Tuesday, India and Australia meet again in the second of the five-match T20I series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday. The iconic 90,000-capacity MCG is sold out for the clash between two of the format’s powerhouses – a contest that promises intensity, intrigue and plenty of action.
The whole of India is still humming from the heights Semifinals of the Women’s World Cupwhere Jemimah Rodrigues led a record-breaking chase against Australia in Navi Mumbai. Thousands of miles away, the men’s team will now attempt to script their own chapter of dominance in what many see as an important dress rehearsal for next year’s T20 World Cup.
It was a frustratingly bad start in Canberrawhere only 9.4 overs were possible in the series opener. Rain washed out what promised to be a great contest after Australia won the toss and elected to field. T20I world number one Abhishek Sharma failed to convert the promise into a big score even as Suryakumar Yadav found some touch and vice-captain Shubman Gill showed signs of hunger in the shortest format. Before the heavens opened, India were reeling at 97 for 1.
Both teams will be keen to strike first in what will be a highly contested series. The MCG is sold out and a partisan crowd is expected – one that could make Suryakumar and his men feel right at home. For the first time since the T20 World Cup final in 2022, the iconic venue will host a T20I under lights.
Head-to-Head in T20Is
India and Australia have met 33 times in men’s T20Is, with India holding the upper hand — 20 wins to Australia’s 11. At the MCG, India boast an impressive record of winning four of their six matches and remain unbeaten there since 2008.
Spacing and conditions
Rain seems determined to overshadow both teams on this tour. There is a threat of showers in Melbourne on Thursday night, although the forecast suggests that at least a shortened game should be possible. The pitch at the MCG is expected to be true, offering good value for strikes, with some help for bowlers – especially those who hit the deck hard.
All eyes will also be on how the surface performs at the start of the season, as the ground will host a key Ashes test later this year.
Team news and projected XI
India faced criticism for leaving out Arshdeep Singh in the series opener – the left-arm pacer, one of India’s leading T20I wicketkeepers, spent too much time on the bench ahead of the World Cup year. The visitors instead went with Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana as their front-line pacers, with Shivam Dube filling the role of a medium-pace all-rounder in the absence of the injured Nitish Reddy.
India have also fielded three spinners in Canberra and are expected to maintain the same balance at the MCG, whose large boundaries naturally support this approach. With so little gameplay possible in the opening game, it is unlikely that the management will change the eleven just yet.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia, meanwhile, will have Josh Hazlewood available for the last time in the series before he leaves to prepare for the Ashes, which start on November 21. The hosts are unlikely to make major changes but could consider bringing in Sean Abbott, who will also leave the team after the third T20I.
Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Josh Inglis (week), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
Key stories to watch
Can Abhishek Sharma shoot?
The battle between one of India’s most aggressive young openers and Australia’s fast attack has been one of the most anticipated storylines of the series. Abhishek showed flashes of intent in Canberra and his fearless approach could set the tone at the top. But that same aggression offers opportunities for Australia to strike early – a fine balance between risk and reward will determine its innings.
Is Suryakumar back in the groove?
After a relatively quiet year with the bat in T20Is, Suryakumar looked composed in his brief appearance in Canberra, scoring 39 off 27 balls. Its timing and placement suggested the spark was returning. With the added motivation of the side’s captain and a packed MCG behind him, the stage is set for him to make a statement.
Bumrah’s quest for peak form
Jasprit Bumrah remains India’s pace leader but has not hit his devastating best since returning from injury. He enjoys bowling in Australian conditions and the MCG, with its bounce and carry, could be the perfect place for him to find his rhythm and menace again.
Marsh and Head – Australia’s twin threats
Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head have been in excellent form across formats and the challenge for India will be to keep both of them quiet during the power-play. With Glenn Maxwell set to return for the final three games, Australia will want to make sure they go into this stage with momentum – and that will largely depend on how their top order performs.
Medium order muscle test
Australia will also be looking for consistency from their middle-order hitters Marcus Stoinis and Tim David, both key figures in the World Cup plans. Facing the Indian spinners on the big boundaries of the MCG will be an ideal test of their shooting and situational play.
The big picture
For both sides, this five-match series is less about immediate results and more about fine-tuning combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
31 October 2025
