'Not a match, but a mismatch!': Irfan Pathan tears into Team India after batting collapse

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan slammed India's batting collapse against Australia, calling it a "mismatch." Despite Abhishek Sharma's valiant 68, India were bowled out for 125. Pathan praised Abhishek's effort but suggested improvements in powerplay strategy. Australia comfortably chased the target, leading the series 1-0. The 3rd T20I will be played on Sunday.

Abhishek Sharma top scored for India in the 2nd T20I against Australia at the MCG, scoring 68 from 37 balls (Lukas Coch/AAPImage via AP)

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan didn’t mince words after India’s batting collapse led to a four-wicket win for Australia in the second T20I on Friday. Pathan described the contest as a “mismatch,” pointing to India’s struggles with the bat on a challenging surface. “The match between Australia and India in the 2nd T20 was not a match but a mismatch. This is a fact,” Pathan said in his latest video. “It wasn't visible anywhere that the Indian team was the number one side of the T20. Whether they are the World Cup winner or the Asia Cup winner, especially in batting, the struggle that we saw… especially on the bouncy pitch, which had a spongy bounce and the ball was moving around.”

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Put in to bat first, India were bundled out for 125 in 18.4 overs despite a valiant 37-ball 68 from opener Abhishek Sharma. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, taking 3 for 13 to trigger the collapse. Captain Mitchell Marsh then led from the front with a brisk 26-ball 46 as the visitors chased down the target with 40 balls to spare. Praising the Australian pacer, Pathan said, “Hazelwood’s game was also very attractive. In front of Hazelwood, it felt like India were completely defeated.” While India’s top order faltered, Pathan lauded Abhishek Sharma for his composed innings but also pointed out areas of improvement. “Abhishek Sharma definitely showed once again that everyone else was batting on one wicket, it looked like he was batting on the other pitch,” Pathan said. However, Pathan also felt the youngster could have approached the powerplay phase differently. “When you are batting in powerplay and when it is ending, the style in which you should play — I didn’t see him playing in that style." He later explained that the batter should have faced a greater share of balls in the first six overs instead of letting his strike partners attack the majority of them. Pathan said that the batter should have used more of his game sense in the moment when he was at the crease.

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Abhishek’s 56-run stand with all-rounder Harshit Rana (35 off 33 balls) was the only bright spot in India’s innings. Australia lead the five-match series 1-0, with the third T20I scheduled for Sunday.

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