Australia defeated India by two wickets with 22 balls to spare in the second ODI of the three-match series at Adelaide. After being invited to bat first, India managed to score 264/9 in 50 overs. Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer both hit superb half-centuries. A blazing knock from Axar Patel and a late flourish by Harshit Rana helped India cross the 250-run mark.
Adam Zampa (4/60 in 10 overs) and Xavier Bartlett (3/39 in 9 overs) led the bowling attack for Australia. While chasing, Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but a 55-run fifth-wicket stand between Matt Short and Cooper Connolly, followed by a 59-run sixth-wicket partnership between Connolly and Mitchell Owen, turned the match in Australia’s favour.
Although Australia lost three quick wickets near the end, Cooper Connolly held his ground and ensured victory for his team. Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana took two wickets each. With this win, Australia sealed the series 2-0.
India’s Struggles Continue Under Gill
India’s 50-over return has been disappointing under new ODI captain Shubman Gill. Despite moments of promise, the team couldn’t build momentum after being asked to bat first. Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer added 118 runs for the third wicket, but the rest of the lineup fell short.
Rohit played a solid knock of 73 from 97 balls, surpassing Sourav Ganguly to become India’s third-highest run-scorer in ODIs. In contrast, Virat Kohli’s struggles continued as he was dismissed for a duck for the second match in a row — the first time in his ODI career this has happened.
Bartlett and Zampa Star with the Ball
Australia’s bowlers maintained control throughout the innings. Xavier Bartlett replaced Nathan Ellis and made an instant impact, dismissing Gill and Kohli in the same over. He and Adam Zampa shared seven wickets, while Josh Hazlewood delivered a tight spell, conceding just 29 runs in 10 overs.
Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc continued their strong start to the season, keeping the Indian batters under constant pressure. “The way we bowled in that first game [was good], especially on a Hagley wicket that did give us a little bit,” captain Mitchell Santner later said, referring to earlier performances.
Rohit’s Fight and Kohli’s Woes
Rohit struggled early, facing 40 balls for just 14 runs before finding rhythm. He was nearly run out in the third over but survived. Eventually, he settled in and played some confident strokes before falling to Mitchell Starc in the 30th over.
Kohli, meanwhile, lasted only four balls. Bartlett trapped him plumb lbw with an inswinger, later admitting he had actually intended to bowl an outswinger. It was Kohli’s first duck in 29 ODI innings in Australia.
India’s Late Efforts and Missed Chances
Shreyas Iyer looked fluent but fell to Zampa, who also dismissed KL Rahul as India slipped to 174 for 5. Axar Patel, batting at No. 5, impressed with 44 off 41 balls and continues to be a bright spot for India with both bat and ball.
India’s bowlers started well, with Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj troubling the openers. Marsh and Travis Head struggled to score early, but fielding errors cost India dearly. Short survived a run-out chance on 14 and was later dropped by Axar Patel, who injured his thumb in the process.
Australia’s Chase Gains Momentum
Matt Renshaw supported Short with a steady 30 before Axar bowled him with a looping delivery. Alex Carey, returning to the XI, was out to Washington Sundar’s spin. However, Harshit Rana’s short-pitched strategy backfired as Connolly and Owen attacked freely, easing the pressure with big hits.
Connolly remained composed till the end, ensuring Australia’s two-wicket win and a 2-0 series lead.
Brief Scorecard
The good thing for India is that Rohit Sharma has returned to form. Although Virat Kohli was out for another duck, he is a big player and will regain his form in the coming matches. Shreyas Iyer also played well. Axar Patel is performing well with both bat and ball, but India certainly missed Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. Though Mohammed Siraj bowled with good line and length, his efforts were not enough.
On the other hand, Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett took crucial wickets. Matt Short and Cooper Connolly delivered when the team needed them most, while Mitchell Owen provided solid support to Connolly. In the end, Australia’s disciplined bowling, sharp fielding, and composed batting made the difference. For India, they need to adapt to the conditions more quickly. Although they lost the series, they will aim to perform better in the third ODI at Sydney. Stay tuned with JUSZNEWS for regular updates!