The Australian cricket team is gearing up to maintain its strategic bowling attack against India’s star batter, Virat Kohli, in the upcoming One-Day International at Adelaide. This insight comes directly from Australian all-rounder Matthew Short, who revealed that their fast bowlers plan to persistently target Kohli’s off-stump, a tactic that successfully led to his early dismissal in the opening ODI in Perth.
Virat Kohli, after being dismissed for a duck in the first match in Perth, is expected to make a strong comeback at the Adelaide Oval, a venue where he has historically excelled.
For Kohli, who is returning to competitive action after a break, this Adelaide fixture is particularly significant. Not only is it a crucial must-win game for India, but Adelaide also stands out as his most successful overseas ground, boasting five international centuries and an impressive average of 65 across all formats. He’ll undoubtedly be looking to leverage his past success here to ignite his form.
Matthew Short candidly discussed the team’s approach: “I’m not in the fast-bowling meetings, but that seems to be the way he has been getting out recently.” He further explained, “Some of the guys like ‘Hoff’ (Josh Hazlewood) and ‘Starcy’ (Mitchell Starc), they have bowled a lot against him, they know what they’re doing. In Perth, they sort of let the conditions do all the work, a bit of swing and nip on the wicket, so I’m sure they’ll do the same again.”
The first ODI at Optus Stadium saw an enthusiastic crowd of 42,423, largely hoping to witness Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s return after a seven-month hiatus. Both former captains were making their first ODI appearances since India’s Champions Trophy triumph on March 9. Short recounted the atmosphere: “When Rohit or (Shubman) Gill got out the other day (in Perth), and then Kohli came on, just the cheer when he was walking on — you’d feel pretty bad as the batter walking off. It’s just an amazing experience.”
Despite the anticipation, both Rohit and Kohli showed signs of rust, scoring just 8 and 0 runs respectively. Australia’s stand-in captain, Mitchell Marsh, seized the opportunity, leading his team to a convincing seven-wicket win in the rain-affected match with an unbeaten 46.
Now, with India trailing the series 0-1, Thursday’s Adelaide ODI is a critical encounter to keep their series hopes alive. This match could also be the final time these two prominent Indian cricketers play an ODI on Australian soil, adding an emotional layer to the high stakes.
Short shared his personal sentiment about competing alongside such a renowned player: “It’s pretty cool to share the field with such a legend of the sport. I’ll definitely get the chance to have a chat to him at some stage throughout the series.”
Beyond the immediate series, Matthew Short views these white-ball matches as crucial preparation for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa. The right-handed batsman has been navigating injuries and a shifting role in the batting lineup, playing at No. 8 on debut and now at No. 3, as he strives for consistent performance.
“It’s always going to be tough to get a spot in the XI, and I’ll sort of take whatever that is, whether it’s opening, batting at three, or wherever,” Short explained, emphasizing his adaptability. “It’s just about staying flexible and trying to bat wherever you’re put and be able to take that.”
In other team news, left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis has been ruled out of the ODI series due to a calf injury. However, he remains optimistic about returning for the T20 Internationals, which are scheduled to begin on October 29 in Canberra. The final ODI of the series will take place this Saturday in Sydney.