Melbourne: Team Australia won the toss and elected to field first , now they face India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the second T20I of the five‑match series. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India aim to turn the early advantage into a full victory, while Australia strive to strike back. India’s women claimed a stunning five‑wicket win over Australia in the semi‑final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, booking their place in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup final.
Conditions, Venue & Historical Edge
The MCG is known for high‑scoring T20 games, and data shows that sides chasing have a slight advantage, 11 victories compared to 7 for teams batting first. With the toss still to happen, choice of batting or fielding first could prove crucial given the weather and ground conditions.
Playing Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.
T20 Thriller or Washout? India and Australia face off at Melbourne, Know who has upper hand
India’s Batters Seek Momentum
India’s top order made encouraging signs in the first game with Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill showing promise. With the MCG’s batting‑friendly surface, India will look to build a strong total or chase with confidence. Their bowling attack, featuring Bumrah, Kuldeep and Axar, will aim to exploit early conditions.
Australia’s Response & Strategy
Australia’s short outing in Canberra saw Hazlewood stand out among the bowlers. The batting lineup, featuring Marsh, Head and David, has the firepower to compete aggressively. They will be judged on whether they can deliver a full performance over 20 overs and negate India’s momentum.
🎥 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝘿𝙞𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨#TeamIndia reach Melbourne for 2nd #AUSvIND T20I 🛬 👌 pic.twitter.com/MIadTIuEWz
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 30, 2025
Toss Scenarios & Looking Ahead
With potential rain and variable conditions, the toss becomes even more pivotal. The winning captain’s decision to bat or bowl first could heavily influence the match. Given history at this venue, the chasing side may have a slight edge, adding to the strategic layer.
Winning Prediction
Given India’s balanced squad, recent batting recovery, and stronger depth in both batting and bowling, India appear to have a marginal upper hand heading into the 2nd T20I. While Australia will not be far behind and could spring a surprise, if India execute their game plan, they look slightly more likely to clinch this fixture.
Final Word
The MCG will stage a high‑stakes battle where early dominance can shape the series. Whether India reinforce their rising form or Australia bounce back strongly, the chess match begins with the toss and how each side adapts to the conditions under pressure.