In a nail‑biting finish at the Adelaide Oval, Australia edged out India by two wickets, locking in an unassailable 2‑0 advantage in the three‑match Australia vs India ODI series. The match, part of the 2025 Australia Tri‑Nation Tour, unfolded on Thursday, 23 October 2025, with a dramatic chase that saw the visitors scrape home with just three balls to spare.
Series Overview
Before Adelaide, the Australian side had already put the Indians on the back foot with a comfortable seven‑wicket triumph in Perth. That first win highlighted the potency of Australia’s pace quartet – Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc – and exposed early-season vulnerabilities in India’s top order.
India entered the second ODI hoping to revive a faltering campaign. Veteran batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had both struggled in Perth, while youngster Shubman Gill, drafted in as stand‑in captain, was tasked with steadying the ship.
Second ODI – Adelaide Oval
The match kicked off under a clear sky at Adelaide Oval, located on War Memorial Drive in North Adelaide. The pitch, traditionally a blend of bounce and spin‑friendly turn, prompted Indian coach Gautam Gambhir to favour wrist‑spinner Kuldeep Yadav over seam‑bowler Harshit Rana.
India’s innings sputtered early. At 14.3 overs, they were 48/2, with Shreyas Iyer stranded on 12 off 20 balls. Iyer attempted an upper‑cut off a short‑length delivery and was caught behind by Alex Carey, Australia’s keeper‑batsman. A subsequent wide from Mitchell Starc nudged the total to 49/2.
Despite a brief resurgence from KL Rahul, who added a brisk 34, the Indian line‑up could not recover. They were eventually bowled out for 274 in the 48th over, handing Australia a modest chase target of 275.
Key Performances
Australia’s reply hinged on two gritty half‑centuries. Matthew Short anchored the innings with a composed 58 off 72 balls, rotating the strike and finding the boundary when it mattered most.
Joining him, 23‑year‑old Cooper Connolly smashed 62 from 58 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes. Connolly’s aggressive run‑making, especially the late‑over slog that pushed the required run‑rate below 6, proved decisive.
The lower order contributed the final push: Alex Carey added a handy 25, while Xavier Bartlett chipped in with a quick 14.
Australian bowlers, led by the relentless Mitchell Starc, restricted India to 274 – a total that, on paper, looked chaseable, but the pressure of a 2‑0 deficit proved too much.
Coaches and Tactical Moves
Gambhir’s decision to start Kuldeep Yadav paid off early, as the left‑arm wrist‑spinner claimed 2/34 in his ten‑over spell, exploiting the turn‑friendly surface. However, after the fifth over, the Indians turned to pace, with Xavier Bartlett and Mitchell Starc sharing wickets.
On the Australian side, Cricket Australia coach Andrew McDonald praised the team’s adaptability, noting, “We knew the pitch would help spin, but our bowlers kept the pressure, and the middle order delivered when the chase got tight.”
India’s interim captain Shubman Gill admitted after the match, “We didn’t execute our plans properly against the new ball, and the Aussie bowlers made us pay for it.”
Implications for the Tour
With a 2‑0 lead, the series is effectively decided; the third ODI in Melbourne becomes a formality unless the BCCI opts to rest senior players for the forthcoming Tests.
For India, the defeats highlight a deeper issue – the top order’s vulnerability to high‑pace swing in Australian conditions. Analysts suggest that unless Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli regain form, the team could struggle in the upcoming Test series at the Gabba.
Conversely, Australia’s consistent performances across both ODIs strengthen their confidence heading into the final leg of the tri‑nation tour, where they will face the third participating side (yet to be announced) for a place in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Looking Ahead
The next fixture is scheduled for 28 October 2025 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While the series result is set, both camps will use the match as a platform to fine‑tune line‑ups. Expect Mitchell Starc to continue as the spearhead of Australia’s attack, while India may gamble on a fresh opening pair to blunt the new‑ball threat.
Fans can also look forward to a possible debut for India's leg‑spinner Vijay Shankar, who has impressed in domestic cricket but is yet to break into the senior side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Australia’s 2‑0 lead affect India’s chances in the series?
With two wins secured, Australia has already clinched the series. India can only win the remaining match, which would not change the series outcome. The focus now shifts to pride and player assessment rather than series redemption.
What were the decisive moments in the Adelaide ODI?
Key turning points included Kuldeep Yadav’s early wickets, the middle‑order partnership between Matthew Short and Cooper Connolly that steadied the chase, and a late‑over six‑run over that lowered the required run‑rate, allowing Australia to finish in just three balls.
Why was the spin option preferred by India at Adelaide Oval?
Adelaide’s surface traditionally offers turn after a few overs. Coach Gautam Gambhir opted for Kuldeep Yadav, whose left‑arm wrist spin can exploit the rough outside the right‑handers’ off‑stump, hoping to snag early wickets and control the run flow.
Who stood out for India despite the loss?
KL Rahul’s brisk 34 and the resilient 25 from Shubman Gill in the chase showed character. Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav’s two wickets provided a glimpse of what a full spin attack could achieve on this pitch.
What does this result mean for the upcoming Test series?
Australia’s dominance in the limited‑overs format raises confidence ahead of the Tests, especially for their pace brigade. India will likely reassess its top order technique against fast swing bowling and may make strategic changes before the first Test at the Gabba.
Sreeramana Aithal
October 24, 2025 AT 21:07India's batting collapse in Adelaide was nothing short of a disgrace, a textbook case of how not to handle swing bowling in Aussie conditions 😡. The top order's cowardice was palpable, and it's high time the board demands accountability before the Test series 🤬.