Adelaide Awaits: India Seek Redemption After Perth Collapse in Second ODI
Rohit, Kohli and Gill must fire as Marsh-led Australia look to seal the series; Adelaide’s swing and chasing record could shape the contest.
It is time for India to buckle up. It’s Adelaide, it’s Australia, and it’s a visiting team staring down the barrel after that shambles in Perth — seven wickets down, barely 136 runs on the board, and the innings wrapped up in under 30 overs.
Few teams win much cricket like that. Now, the task is to dust off the disappointment and return stronger in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval here tomorrow.
The series stands delicately poised but firmly tilted in Australia’s favour after a commanding win in the opener. Skipper Mitchell Marsh led from the front, while the pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc made early inroads that India never quite recovered from.
For the visitors, the equation is simple: the top order — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill — must deliver to keep the series alive. Their collective form holds the key to India’s revival on a surface expected to offer early movement before easing into good batting conditions under lights.
Starc’s new-ball battle with Rohit promises to be the early highlight, as the left-arm pacer looks to exploit Adelaide’s swing-friendly air. Kohli’s return to white-ball cricket after a long break adds further intrigue, while Gill’s composure will be vital in stabilising the innings.
Australia, winners in five of their last seven ODIs at the Adelaide Oval, are expected to enter unchanged. Their balance, depth, and home advantage provide a clear edge. India, however, may bring in spinner Kuldeep Yadav to add variation, with Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh continuing as the new-ball pair.
With four of the last five ODIs at Adelaide won by teams chasing, the toss could prove decisive. Conditions remain ideal for cricket — partly cloudy skies, temperatures around 15 °C, and no rain forecast.
Australia are rated favourites. Yet a strong start from India’s top order could shift the momentum in what promises to be a high-intensity contest under lights.
Teams:
India (Probable XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar / Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Australia (Probable XI): Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.