Australia defeated India by 2 wickets in the second ODI in Adelaide. Despite half-centuries from Rohit (73) and Iyer (61), India could only score 264/9. Australia won the series 2–0. Shubman Gill became the sixth Indian captain to lose the first 2 ODIs.
Adelaide: Indian skipper Shubman Gill has joined the list of five other captains to lose their first two ODIs as captain of the Men in Blue after they lost by two wickets to Australia in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday. With the help of Rohit’s 73 runs in 97 balls and Shreyas Iyer’s 61 runs in 77 balls, India scored 264/9 in 50 overs. Captain Gill (9) and Virat Kohli (0) had a poor performance.
During the run-chase, Matt Short (74 off 78 balls, with four fours and two sixes) and Cooper Connolly (61* off 53 balls, with five fours and one six) scored brilliant half-centuries that kept the scoreboard ticking, and Mitchell Owen’s cameo of 36 off 23 balls (with two fours and three sixes) finished off the game for India. Gave. The target was achieved with 2 wickets and 22 balls remaining.
Shubman Gill becomes the sixth Indian captain to lose the first 2 ODIs
Gill has now become the sixth Indian captain to lose the first two ODIs under his captaincy, joining KL Rahul, Mohammad Azharuddin, Kris Srikkanth, Dilip Vengsarkar and Ajit Wadekar. With this, India’s golden period in ODIs at Adelaide Oval also ended. This is their first defeat in six ODIs at this ground, following a 50-run loss to Australia during the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series 2008 in February 2008, which also included Sri Lanka.
India played 9 series, could win only 4
Since 2016, India have played 9 series against Australia, winning 4, including one win in Australia in 2019, which was India’s first ODI series win in Australia, and losing five. Talking about the match, Australia, leading 1-0, asked India to bat first. Rohit and Shubman Gill started cautiously, but Xavier Bartlett (3/39) took the early wickets of Gill (9) and Virat (0) to reduce India to 17/2.
Rohit Sharma’s innings proved useless, Virat-Gill flopped
Rohit made an innings-saving 118-run partnership with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer (61 runs from 77 balls, with seven fours). Akshar also continued his excellent form at number five, scoring 44 runs in 41 balls, which included five fours. However, Adam Zampa (4/60) left India reeling at 226/8. Brilliant performances in the last overs from Harshit Rana (24* off 18 balls, with three fours) and Arshdeep Singh (13) added 37 runs for the ninth wicket, and India ended their innings at 264/9.
During the run-chase, Australia was reduced to 54/2, but contributions from Matt Short (74 from 78 balls, with four fours and two sixes), Cooper Connolly (61* from 53 balls, with five fours and one six) and Mitchell Owen (36 from 23 balls, with two fours and three sixes) kept Australia in a good position throughout, even if Washington Sundar (2/37), Arshdeep Singh (2/41) and Harshit Rana (2/59) took a few wickets in between. Zampa received the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his four wickets. The Australian team has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.