 "India slammed for 'lack of intent, poor selections' in Adelaide as Australia clinch ODI series with match to spare")
Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer’s half-centuries went in vain on Thursday as Australia defeated India by 2 wickets in Adelaide to clinch the three-match ODI series with a game to spare. The Men in Blue put up a more spirited fight at the Adelaide Oval than they did four days ago in the series opener in Perth, where they suffered a seven-wicket defeat in a rain-curtailed game.
Their improved performance, however, wasn’t enough in the end as the Aussies went past the 265-run target with nearly four overs to spare even as the chase got somewhat tricky towards the end.
India crumble after Rohit and Iyer’s fifties
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4/60) and seamer Xavier Bartlett (3/39) were the key performers with the ball as they shared seven of the nine Indian wickets that fell in Adelaide. While Bartlett removed captain Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli – who was dismissed for a duck for the second consecutive time – inside the powerplay, Zampa spun a web around the Indian batters in the middle overs as the Men in Blue crumbled to 226/8 from 160/3.
Rohit (73) and Iyer (61) had earlier rescued India from yet another slow start with a third-wicket partnership that was worth 118. Former India captain Rohit appeared set for his 13th ODI century when he fell into the leg-side trap set by senior pacer Mitchell Starc. All-rounder Axar Patel later chipped in with a handy 44 off 41 balls while tail-enders Harshit Rana (24 not out) and Arshdeep Singh (13) ensured India got past the 250-mark with a handy little partnership towards the end.
Connolly guides Aussies home after Short’s heroics
After Marsh produced a captain’s knock in Perth, it was Matthew Short (74) and Cooper Connolly (61 not out) who setup the narrow victory for Australia in the second one-dayer with their half-centuries, the latter staying till the very end to ensure his team got over the line despite suffering a few hiccups. Mitchell Owen (36) and Matt Renshaw (30) provided valuable support along the way to ensure Australia were always in the chase, and that the required rate never got out of hand.
With back-to-back defeats in Perth in Adelaide, Gill has suffered his first series loss as India captain since he first led a second-string Indian team in Zimbabwe last year. He had led India to a 2-2 stalemate in a five-match Test series in England earlier this year that was followed by a 2-0 sweep against West Indies at home.
Indian cricket fans, meanwhile, were left disappointed with their team’s inability to get over the line for the second time in as many matches. Here are select reactions:
#INDvsAUS #INDvAUS: Aus won the 2nd ODI by 2 wickets and with that won the series too .. The game turned in favour of Aus in the last 15 overs of the 2nd innings but more than bowlers, the batters r to b blamed fr being short of a competitive total .. Overall a disappointing…
— Nishant (@NishantTweets30) October 23, 2025
If Virat Kohli has even a mODIcum of self respect, he should retire.#IndvsAus
— vintage tipu sir_ 53.78_ (@onetiponehand_) October 23, 2025
Mark my words — within the next 2 years, India will have a new captain and a new coach.
— Haryuksh Sharma 1 (@Harryhs06) October 23, 2025
GG and Gill era might go down as one of the worst phases in Indian cricket history.
Lack of intent, poor selections, and no clear direction — India deserves better.#INDvsAUS
Even on the England tour we have seen so many catch drop same continues here in Aus. Are we going back to 2000s era where it used to be our norm?? #indvsAus #INDvAus
— Red Ball (@IPLanalyst) October 23, 2025
This Australian team lost to Pakistan at their home last year and our next generation team under a visionary coach has lost against them 😭 #INDvsAUS
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) October 23, 2025
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