AUS vs IND 2025 – 2nd ODI: India Eye Survival in Series as Kohli Returns to Beloved Adelaide Oval
India face a must-win 2nd ODI vs Australia at Adelaide, with Kohli returning to his favorite venue amid a packed crowd.
India face a must-win clash against Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Thursday. The visitors trail 0-1 in the three-match series and must win to stay alive.
The stadium is expected to be packed, with tickets sold out well in advance. The scene is reminiscent of the 2015 World Cup when thousands of Indian fans turned the Adelaide Oval into a sea of blue.
This match also carries emotional weight for Virat Kohli. The former India captain returns to one of his most cherished venues, where he has produced some of his finest ODI innings. Many believe this could be his final ODI appearance at the iconic ground.
The weather had raised concerns earlier in the week with thunderstorms, but conditions have cleared up. The pitch is expected to be good for batting, setting up an exciting contest between two strong sides.
Australia’s Steady Changes
Australia have made a few tactical adjustments. Alex Carey returns behind the stumps, while Marnus Labuschagne is likely to replace young all-rounder Cooper Connolly. Adam Zampa comes in for Matt Kuhnemann to strengthen the spin department.
Australia Probable XI: Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (C), Matt Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (WK), Mitch Owen, Marnus Labuschagne/Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.
India Look for Spark
India are not expected to make many changes. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s leg-spin has impressed in the nets, but he’s unlikely to feature. The focus will again be on the top order, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Kohli needing to anchor the innings.
India Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.
A senior team official summed up the feeling around Adelaide: “It’s been well over 10 years, but one of the most prominent murals inside Adelaide Airport still shows a packed Oval full of Indian fans. It’s a reminder of the special bond Indian cricket shares with this venue, and with Kohli in particular.”
