India, Oct 22 : The Indian cricket team heads into the second ODI against Australia on Thursday at the Adelaide Oval with plenty to ponder. After a seven wicket loss in the opening match at Perth, the team’s heavy reliance on all rounders is set to be tested against a probing Australian attack, while the spotlight remains firmly on senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The first ODI saw multiple interruptions that disrupted India’s momentum, leaving the batting unit struggling to post a defendable total of 136. The bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel, were unable to compensate for the low score.
Conditions in Adelaide are expected to offer bounce and lateral movement, challenging India’s batsmen against the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Australia, meanwhile, welcomes back leg-spinner Adam Zampa after the birth of his child and fit again wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, the hero of the previous match, has been released.
Rohit Sharma demonstrated his commitment in the nets, arriving early for an extended practice session with batting coach Gautam Gambhir. While Kohli opted for a day off, he has otherwise been relaxed and approachable during the tour. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak praised both seniors for their form and focus in practice sessions.
India’s team balance continues to be affected by the absence of Hardik Pandya. Nitish Kumar Reddy is being groomed as a potential all-rounder, but the team will closely evaluate whether Washington Sundar and Nitish in the lower order can provide the necessary flexibility.
Bowlers Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna also spent time in the nets, with Kuldeep presenting a potential attacking option over the restrictive Washington Sundar. However, the shorter boundaries at Adelaide Oval pose a risk for wrist spinners like Kuldeep, who could be punished if he misses length.
India is likely to stick with the same XI from Perth, though adjustments could be considered depending on match conditions.
Squads:
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
Match Timing: 9 AM IST