Varun Aaron questions India’s performance in 2nd T20I against Australia

Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron questioned India’s performance after they suffered a four-wicket loss against Australia in the 2nd T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday. The visitors were bundled out for 125 runs in 18.4 overs after they were put into bat by Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh.

Barring Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana, none of the Indian batters could get going on a bouncy MCG pitch. Australia’s gun fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was right on the money as he returned with impressive figures of 3-13 in his quota of four overs.

Furthermore, Aaron highlighted that Indian fast bowlers could not hit the right line and length with the new ball while defending a below par score.

“India were very off, first of all, with the amount of runs they put on the board. They should have scored at least 30 to 40 runs more in these conditions. I think they pulled the trigger and then they just couldn’t stop going after that. Then, with the new ball, they could have been slightly better,” Varun Aaron said on Star Sports.

“I thought Bumrah started off really well, with over the wicket. Then we went around. That changed plans. Harshit was a bit too short. In these conditions, you can sometimes get carried away with pace and bounce, but you have to put it in the right areas. Josh Hazlewood is the best example of this,” Aaron observed.

Aaron noted that it was not easy to bat against a quality bowler like Josh Hazlewood but India has to find a way.

“You can lose a few wickets, especially when Josh Hazlewood is bowling against you. He is always pitching it in the right areas. It’s doing so much. He also has a really fast bouncer. It hit Shubman Gill on his head. However, you have got to find a way of coming back,” he replied.

The former RCB bowler praised Abhishek Sharma for unsettling the bowlers and playing a crucial knock of 68 runs off 37 balls.

“Abhishek Sharma did that really well. He made sure that none of the bowlers, even in these conditions, could bowl where they wanted to. He kept using his feet and he didn’t take too many high-risk shots. I think the Indian batsmen should have battled the hatches and taken it a little deep, kept some wickets in hand, and then tried to go big,” Aaron observed.

The third T20I between India and Australia will be played at Hobart on Sunday.