Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan didn’t hold back his words after India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse on Friday. Despite Abhishek Sharma’s brilliant half-century, India fell apart quickly, allowing Australia to secure a dominant four-wicket win. Pathan described the contest as a “mismatch,” criticizing India’s inability to perform as a top-ranked T20 side in challenging conditions.
Pathan Calls the Match a “Mismatch”
Irfan Pathan expressed strong disappointment after the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse, saying the game did not look like a contest between two top cricketing nations. In his latest video, he remarked, “The match between Australia and India in the 2nd T20 was not a match but a mismatch. This is a fact.
Pathan added that India didn’t resemble the number one T20 team in the world. “It wasn’t visible anywhere that the Indian team was the best side of T20 cricket. Whether they are the World Cup winner or Asia Cup winner, the struggle we saw, especially on the bouncy pitch, showed how uncomfortable they were,” he said.
He blamed India’s poor batting approach on a surface that offered spongy bounce and lateral movement, which contributed heavily to the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse. “On such a surface, you have to apply yourself better. Instead, we saw poor shot selection and lack of patience from the top order,” Pathan explained.
India were bundled out for just 125 runs in 18.4 overs after being asked to bat first. Apart from opener Abhishek Sharma, who scored a valiant 68 off 37 balls, no other player managed to settle in. This batting failure highlighted India’s recurring issues against high-quality pace attacks, a major factor in the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse.
Australia’s Josh Hazlewood was the standout performer with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 13 runs. His early breakthroughs set the tone for Australia’s dominance and exposed India’s lack of adaptability. Pathan praised Hazlewood’s control and precision, saying, “Hazlewood’s game was very attractive. In front of him, it felt like India were completely defeated.”
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Abhishek Sharma Shines but Misses a Trick, Says Pathan
While India’s batting lineup failed to click, Abhishek Sharma was the lone bright spot amid the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse. The young opener displayed excellent shot selection and composure even as wickets kept tumbling around him.
Pathan applauded Abhishek’s temperament, saying, “Abhishek Sharma definitely showed once again that everyone else was batting on one pitch, and it looked like he was batting on another.” His fluent stroke play briefly lifted India’s hopes during the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse, but it couldn’t prevent the inevitable outcome.
However, Pathan also highlighted an area for improvement. He felt Abhishek could have used the powerplay overs more effectively. “When you are batting in the powerplay and when it is ending, the style in which you should play, I didn’t see him playing in that style,” Pathan said.
The former cricketer further explained that Abhishek needed to face more deliveries during the first six overs to maximize scoring opportunities. “When you are set, you need to take responsibility and not let your partners face most of the balls. That’s where game sense comes in,” he added. This lack of awareness contributed to the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse, according to Pathan.
Abhishek shared a 56-run stand with all-rounder Harshit Rana, who scored 35 off 33 balls. Their partnership was the only positive takeaway from the innings, briefly delaying the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse.
In the chase, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh led from the front with a quickfire 46 off 26 balls. His aggressive knock ensured Australia comfortably reached the target in just 13.2 overs, sealing a one-sided victory that perfectly summed up the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse.
Pathan concluded by warning that India must quickly learn from their mistakes. “There’s no doubt India are a top team, but they need to adapt faster to different conditions,” he said. With this defeat, Australia now lead the series 1-0, and the third T20I on Sunday gives India a chance to recover from the India vs Australia 2nd T20I Collapse and prove their resilience.
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source: Times Of India
