India is set to clash with Australia in a critical second One-Day International at Adelaide Oval this Thursday. Following a seven-wicket defeat in Perth, the pressure is squarely on star veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to deliver match-winning performances and keep India alive in the series. The team’s strategy will be significantly impacted by the absence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, which has undoubtedly affected their overall balance.
During the first ODI, India’s batting lineup faltered, hampered by several rain delays. They only managed to post 136 runs, a total far too low for their bowlers to defend. Looking ahead, the Adelaide pitch is anticipated to present a different challenge, with expectations of significant bounce and lateral movement early in the game, typical of the Australian summer conditions.
Australia, too, has made tactical adjustments to their squad. Matt Kuhnemann has been released, making way for the return of Adam Zampa, who rejoins the team after celebrating the birth of his child. Additionally, Alex Carey is back in the mix, having concluded his commitments in the Sheffield Shield.
With young talent Yashasvi Jaiswal eyeing a spot, Rohit Sharma is under considerable pressure. He arrived 45 minutes ahead of schedule for an optional practice session at Adelaide Oval, engaging in an extensive workout with head coach Gautam Gambhir and two specialist throwers. Interestingly, Rohit had to switch nets when the first one was found to be too damp. Gambhir closely monitored his session, while Virat Kohli opted for a rest day after his extended practice on Tuesday.
Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna, despite putting in extra hours during practice, may not secure a spot in the final playing eleven. The team management is weighing its options, choosing between Washington Sundar’s tight, restrictive bowling and Kuldeep’s more aggressive, wicket-taking leg-spin. However, the compact boundaries at Adelaide Oval pose a challenge for Kuldeep; any slight misjudgment in line or length could prove to be expensive.
It appears India is leaning towards sticking with the same playing eleven from the first ODI, even with other players available who could potentially bolster either their batting or bowling attack.
India’s ODI Record Against Australia at Adelaide Oval
India boasts a strong recent record against Australia at this venue, having won their last two encounters. Their previous loss here dates back to 2008. Here’s a quick look at their head-to-head statistics at Adelaide:
- Matches played: 6
- Australia won: 4
- India won: 2
| Date | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2019 | India | Beat Australia by 6 wickets |
| 12 February 2012 | India | Beat Australia by 4 wickets |
| 17 February 2008 | Australia | Beat India by 50 runs |
| 26 January 2000 | Australia | Beat India by 152 runs |
| 15 December 1991 | Australia | Beat India by 6 wickets |
| 26 January 1986 | Australia | Beat India by 36 runs |
Squads for the 2nd ODI:
India (Captain: Shubman Gill): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna.
Australia (Captain: Mitchell Marsh): Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, and Adam Zampa.