Australia's post-World Cup hangover has continued after plunging to a 44-run loss to India in the second Twenty20 at Thiruvananthapuram.
A ragged bowling display allowed India to plunder a mammoth 4-235 on Sunday (Monday AEDT) before Australia replied with 9-191 to go 2-0 down in the five-match series, one week to the day after lifting the 50-over World Cup.
Cameos from Marcus Stoinis (45), captain Matthew Wade (42no) and Tim David (37) saw Australia, noticeably fatiguing with half the team having been in India for the best part of two months due to the World Cup, avoid a bigger humiliation.
"There was a sweet spot in the first six or seven overs when we thought we could make some inroads but we just weren't able to," Australia coach Andre Borovec said.
"The plans and intent are there but when you miss in these conditions, it doesn't have to be by an awful lot.
"We're making the right decisions but we're failing to execute at the critical moments."
Sent in to bat, Ruturaj Gaikwad (58), Yashasvi Jaiswal (53), Ishan Khan (52) and Rinku Singh (31no off nine balls) helped India to their highest total in T20s against Australia. It surpassed their previous best 8-209 set three days ago at Visakhapatnam and was easily the best score at Greenfield International Stadium.
Jaiswal was the early aggressor, dominating India's 1-77 powerplay, which was their best in T20s against Australia.
The 21-year-old opener welcomed Sean Abbott to the bowling crease by going 4-4-4-6-6 to bring up his half-century inside the fourth over.
Australia bowled poorly with the new ball before regularly losing control as the dew set in, dishing up 12 wides and a no-ball, via a chest-high full-toss from Glenn Maxwell.
Nathan Ellis (3-45) picked up three of the four wickets but was expensive, Abbott's three overs were dispatched for 56 and Australia's three spinners were ineffective.
Australia's reply started poorly when Matt Short (19) was bowled by his legspinning nemesis Ravi Bishnoi for the second time in five deliveries this tour.
Game one centurion Josh Inglis (2) fell to a wonderful catch from Tilak Varma, before Jaiswal snared successive smart catches to dismiss Maxwell (12) and Steve Smith (19) to have Australia reeling at 4-58 in the eighth over.
Stoinis and David gave Australia some hope but the end of their 81-run fifth-wicket stand triggered a 5-16 collapse before Wade limited some of the damage, swinging hard to the finish.
Bishnoi (3-32) and seamer Prasidh Krishna (3-41) were India's best bowlers.
Game three is at Guwahati on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning AEDT).
