The India vs Australia 2nd ODI turned out to be a nail-biting contest that kept fans glued till the final ball. Australia fought hard and defeated India by two wickets to level the series 1-1 in Adelaide. The hosts confidently chased down a target of 265 with 22 balls to spare, thanks to composed batting from Matthew Short and Cooper Connolly. Although India showed strong resistance, Australia held its nerve and crossed the finish line with grit and determination.
India’s Batting Scorecard – 264 (9 wkts, 50 ov)
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Rohit Sharma | 73 | 97 | 7 | 2 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 61 | 77 | 7 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | 44 | 41 | 5 | 0 |
| KL Rahul (wk) | 11 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Washington Sundar | 12 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Harshit Rana* | 24 | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| Arsheep Singh | 13 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj* | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures:
- Mitchell Starc – 10 ov, 62 runs, 2 wkts
- Xavier Bartlett – 10 ov, 39 runs, 3 wkts
- Adam Zampa – 10 ov, 60 runs, 4 wkts
India began their innings with confidence after winning the toss. Rohit Sharma led from the front and anchored the innings with a gritty 73 off 97 balls. He played smartly against the new ball, rotating the strike and hitting timely boundaries. However, Shubman Gill fell early after a brief start, and soon after, Virat Kohli’s dismissal for a duck shocked the crowd.
Nevertheless, Shreyas Iyer joined Rohit and stabilized the innings. Together, they built a valuable 94-run partnership that helped India recover from early trouble. Iyer looked fluent, scoring 61 from 77 balls, while Rohit’s calm approach ensured steady progress. After both batters departed, Axar Patel stepped up and added a quick 44 runs, guiding India to a competitive total of 264/9.
Meanwhile, Australia’s bowlers kept constant pressure on India’s batting lineup. Adam Zampa starred with four wickets for just 41 runs, mixing his flight and pace cleverly. Xavier Bartlett complemented him well by claiming three wickets, including two crucial breakthroughs in the middle overs. Their tight lines and disciplined bowling prevented India from posting a bigger total.
Australia’s Batting Scorecard – 265 (8 wkts, 46.2 ov)
| Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
| Mitchell Marsh (c) | 11 | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Travis Head | 28 | 40 | 1 | 1 |
| Matt Short | 74 | 78 | 4 | 2 |
| Matt Renshaw | 30 | 30 | 1 | 1 |
| Alex Carey (wk) | 9 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper Connolly* | 61 | 53 | 5 | 1 |
| Mitchell Owen | 36 | 23 | 2 | 3 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Strac | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Adam Zampa* | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling Figures:
- Mohammed Siraj – 10 ov, 49 runs, 1 wkt
- Arshdeep Singh – 8.2 ov, 41 runs, 2 wkts
- Harshit Rana – 8 ov, 59 runs, 2 wkts
- Axar Patel – 10 ov, 52 runs, 1 wkt
In reply, Australia faced an early setback. Arshdeep Singh struck early to remove Travis Head, and Harshit Rana continued the pressure with two quick wickets. As a result, Australia slipped to 87 for 4, giving India a firm grip on the game.
However, Matthew Short changed the momentum with an aggressive counterattack. He played confidently, scoring 74 off 88 balls and finding gaps with ease. His intent forced India’s bowlers to rethink their plans. After Short’s dismissal, Cooper Connolly took charge of the chase. The young left-hander stayed calm under pressure, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. Eventually, his unbeaten 61 guided Australia home with 46.2 overs on the board.
Moreover, Washington Sundar bowled economically and took two important wickets to keep India in the hunt. Yet, Australia’s lower order held firm. Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa contributed valuable runs down the order, ensuring Australia didn’t collapse under pressure.
India failed to capitalize on key moments. Even though their bowlers created chances, dropped catches and misfields proved costly. The batting lineup, too, lost momentum after a solid start. Without big runs in the final overs, India’s total looked 20-25 runs short of what they needed.
On the other hand, Australia showed remarkable composure. Further, their bowlers executed their plans perfectly, and the batters handled pressure maturely. This win showcased their depth and fighting spirit. Youngsters like Connolly and Short stepped up, proving that Australia’s next generation can handle big-match pressure.
As the series now moves to the decider, both teams have plenty to reflect on. India will aim to improve their finishing and fielding, while Australia will look to carry forward its confidence.
Ultimately, the India vs Australia 2nd ODI offered everything cricket fans love: momentum shifts, high drama, and a thrilling finish. Australia’s calm approach under pressure turned the match in their favor and set the stage for an exciting series finale.
