World’s number one ODI side looking to bounce back against Australia and keep series alive
Australia v India | 2nd ODI | Thursday, 23rd October |Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 5:30am
This is the second game of a three-match series. Australia were comfortable winners of the opening game which was reduced to 26 overs a side after a long rain interruption.
Australia have won three of the last five ODIs against India.
India is currently the top ranked ODI side in the world while Australia are in third place.
India has four batsmen in the top ten of the ICC’s rankings with Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer all ranked. The only Australian batter in the top 20 is Travis Head who is ranked 11th.
India and Australia have been the two most dominant forces in ODI cricket since its inception. Of the 13 World Cups played, eight of them have been won by either India or Australia.
Allrounder Cameron Green has withdrawn from the Aussie side for the ODI series with an injury and will be replaced by Marnus Labuschagne who has found good form on the domestic scene.
Green is not the only player missing for Australia. Pat Cummins is still out and fighting to be fit in time for the start of the Ashes. There is no Adam Zampa who is awaiting the birth of his child. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and his regular backup, Alex Carey are both out as well.
Veteran allrounder Glenn Maxwell is also out. He continues to recover from a fractured wrist and has targeted playing in the last three T20Is against India.
Veteran Indian allrounder Ravi Jadeja has not been selected for the tour although according to head of selectors Ajit Agarkar he remains a part of the plans for the 2027 World Cup.
Venue: Adelaide Oval
India has a good record at the Adelaide Oval. They have played 15 games at the venue and been beaten just five times.
Australia have played 54 games at the ground and won 37 of those games – that’s a success rate of 68.5%
The average first innings score at the ground is 225.
The highest total recorded at the venue was Australia’s 369 for seven made against Pakistan in 2017.
The lowest total at the ground was Australia’s battling 70 all out from 26.3 overs against New Zealand in 1986.
The highest score successfully chased at the venue was Sri Lanka’s 303 for nine from 49.4 overs made against England in 1999.
The lowest score defended at the ground is Pakistan’s 140 all out, made against the West Indies in 1981. Having batted first Pakistan were able to dismiss a West Indies side that featured Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd, for 132.
Batting first seems to be the preferred preference for captains winning the toss in Adelaide. They chose to bat first in 29 of the 54 games played at the ground.
The team batting first in Adelaide has won on 46 occasions while the side batting second has won 39 times.
Weather:
Rain is unlikely in Adelaide on Thursday although there could be a shower here or there. Overall things should hold up well enough to ensure that the game will be played. There will be a mild breeze, and temperature will be in the high teens or low twenties. If rain stays away, it should be very comfortable weather for cricket.
Form (most recent game first):
Australia: W, W, L, L, L.
India: L, W, W, W, W.
Key player:
Australia, Mitch Marsh: The Australian skipper is a man in good form, and he led the way for the home side in their series opening win on the weekend with an undefeated 46. His last five outings across all formats have seen him dismissed just twice for a total of 245 runs and an average of 122.5. He is playing with superb confidence and appears to be thriving with his role as leader.
India, Virat Kohli: Kohli made a duck in the first ODI of the series. His days playing for the national team are certainly numbered (he has already retired from T20I and Tests), but he wants to make it through to the World Cup for one last shot at glory in South Africa in 2027. To do that he will be fiercely aware of the need to deliver consistently in the format. He will want to bounce back in style in the second game of the series. Surrounded by incredible talent, expect him to bide his time and build an innings – he is due something big, especially if you consider that he averages 57.64 in ODI cricket.
Verdict: India
India is not the number one ranked side in the world for nothing, and while Australia is an outstanding unit, if this game is unaffected by rain, India should put up a much better fight this time around. With four batters in the top ten of the world rankings and a need to win in Adelaide to keep the series alive, expect India to find a way to get this one over the line.
