India vs Australia 2nd T20: Melbourne pitch report, key stadium stats

Suryakumar Yadav’s India are facing Mitchell Marsh’s Australia in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today. The coin flip of the match went in Australia's way, who invited India to bat first. The opening match in Canberra was washed out, but India can take some positives, as Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav, who have struggled for runs in this format, looked in fluent touch.

India vs Australia 2nd T20 playing 11:  India's playing 11 vs Australia: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah  Australia's playing 11 vs India: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood 

 

For Australia, during the 9.4 overs they bowled in Canberra, Josh Hazlewood stood out, while the rest of the attack showed vulnerabilities once the batters accelerated. Both teams will be eager in Melbourne for a full contest, aiming to test their skills thoroughly in favorable conditions.

 

 

India vs Australia 2nd T20: Melbourne Cricket Ground pitch report

 

The Melbourne Cricket Ground usually offers assistance to bowlers rather than being a completely flat pitch. Its expansive square boundaries favor bowlers, particularly fast bowlers who can exploit a good length and generate pressure. In T20Is at the MCG, teams batting first average a score of 141, highlighting that big totals are not guaranteed. Chasing sides have generally had the upper hand, winning 11 out of 19 matches, including four of the last five encounters. 

  The venue has seen some high-scoring encounters, with the most recent T20I between India and Australia played here in 2016, when India posted 184 batting first. Overall, the MCG rewards disciplined bowling while still allowing skilled batters to make an impact.

 

India vs Australia: Head-to-head stats in T20Is in Melbourne

 

In the recent T20I series between India and Australia at Melbourne, three matches have been played with mixed results. Out of the three contests, one match ended with no result, likely due to rain or other interruptions, leaving both teams without a win in that game. India managed to secure victory in one of the T20Is, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure and adapt to the conditions at the Melbourne venue. Australia also won one match, highlighting the competitive nature of the series and the closely matched strengths of both sides. Overall, the series has been balanced, with each team winning once and one match ending inconclusively.

 

Recent T20I match at the MCG

 

The most recent T20I match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground came back in November 2022 when Pakistan faced England in the final of the T20 World Cup 2022.England won the match by 5 wickets chasing down a modest total of 137 on the night. 

Highest totals at Melbourne Cricket Ground in T20 Internationals
Team	Score	Overs	RR	Inns	Opposition	Ground	Result
India	186/5	20	9.3	1	v Zimbabwe	Melbourne	won
India	184/3	20	9.2	1	v Australia	Melbourne	won
Australia	182/9	20	9.1	1	v South Africa	Melbourne	won
Sri Lanka	172/5	20	8.6	2	v Australia	Melbourne	won
Australia	168/6	20	8.4	1	v Sri Lanka	Melbourne	lost
Sri Lanka	161/4	20	8.05	1	v Australia	Melbourne	won
India	160/6	20	8	2	v Pakistan	Melbourne	won
Pakistan	159/8	20	7.95	1	v India	Melbourne	lost
Ireland	157	19.2	8.12	1	v England	Melbourne	won
Australia	157/8	20	7.85	2	v India	Melbourne	lost
Sri Lanka	155/5	19.5	7.81	2	v Australia	Melbourne	won
Australia	154/6	20	7.7	1	v Sri Lanka	Melbourne	lost
Australia	147/7	20	7.35	1	v England	Melbourne	won

 

MCG key T20I stats

 

The Melbourne Cricket Ground has hosted 19 T20I matches, producing some memorable performances. Teams batting first have won 7 matches, while chasing sides have been more successful with 11 victories; one match ended with no result. The first T20I here was played on 1 February 2008, and the most recent on 13 November 2022. Winning the toss has offered a slight advantage, with 10 wins (45.45%), compared to 8 wins (36.36%) when losing it. The highest individual score at the venue is 89 by D. A. Warner of Australia on 11 January 2009. Best bowling figures are 4/30 by J. R. Hazlewood on 31 January 2014. The ground’s highest team total is 186/5 versus Zimbabwe, while the lowest is 74 against Australia. The highest successful chase recorded is 172/5 by Sri Lanka against Australia on 17 February 2017.