In a gripping ODI clash in Adelaide on Thursday, October 23, 2025, India’s Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer lit up the pitch with a vital 100-run partnership, only to see their efforts undone as both fell in quick succession. The duo’s resilience had steadied India’s innings after a torrid start, but Australia’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa, struck back to tilt the game in their favor.

Rohit, India’s seasoned opener, showcased his class with a composed 73, notching his 59th ODI half-century under pressure after a lackluster performance in the prior match in Perth. Shreyas Iyer complemented him with a gritty 23rd ODI fifty, scored off 67 balls, as the pair rebuilt India’s innings following early losses. Their 100-run stand offered hope, but the tide turned in the 30th over when Starc dismissed Rohit, followed by Zampa removing Iyer just three overs later.

The collapse didn’t end there. Zampa struck again in the 37th over, sending KL Rahul packing for 11 off 15 balls after the wicketkeeper-batsman started brightly with a boundary but dragged a delivery onto his stumps. Earlier, Australia’s Xavier Bartlett had set the tone with a fiery spell, claiming two wickets in a single over to leave India reeling. Dubbed the ‘X-man,’ Bartlett dismissed captain Shubman Gill for just 9, caught by Mitchell Marsh, and then stunned the crowd by sending Virat Kohli back for a second consecutive duck—the first time in Kohli’s storied career he’s recorded back-to-back zeros in an ODI series.

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India’s woes began after Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that paid dividends with Bartlett’s early breakthroughs. India stuck with an unchanged XI from their Perth outing, banking on continuity, while Australia swapped Josh Philippe for Alex Carey and Nathan Ellis for Bartlett, bolstering their attack.

As the match unfolded, India’s middle order faced a stern test against a disciplined Australian bowling unit featuring Starc, Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, and the in-form Bartlett. With key batsmen back in the pavilion, India’s hopes now rest on Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and the lower order to salvage a competitive total.

Teams:

India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

With the series on the line, all eyes are on India’s fightback in this high-stakes encounter Down Under.

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