levelling win as focus remains on Ro

After a forgettable opening to the ODI series in Perth, India will look to regroup and aim for a series-levelling victory against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday, even as the focus firmly remains on the veteran pair of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who endured modest returns with the bat on return to international action for the first time since their Test retirements earlier this year.

Apart from a late cameo from Nitish Kumar Reddy and an impressive spell from left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh, there were hardly any positives that India would want to take from Sunday’s rain-affected match that lasted less than 50 overs.

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While Virat and Rohit struggled, Shubman Gill had a rare recent failure on his ODI captaincy debut as the visitors looked a bit rusty in their 50-over return since the ICC Champions Trophy in March. Having said that, the Men-In-Blue are expected to present a much more formidable challenge in Adelaide, considering that the series is on the line.

As such, on Thursday, all eyes will once again be on Rohit and Virat to turn back the clock with series-saving knocks even as the challenges in Adelaide are unlikely to offer much relief. In Perth, Rohit did show off his trim physique with hard running between the wickets before nicking Josh Hazlewood to second slip, but since then has been working hard in the Adelaide nets as he hopes to alleviate some pressure amid doubts over whether he can make it to the next World Cup.

Kohli, meanwhile, took the day off after an extended net session on Tuesday. Back in his happy hunting ground, the charismatic batter, who holds an impressive record at the ground, having amassed 975 runs in 12 international matches, the most by an Indian at this venue, looked relaxed on match eve.

“They both look in very good touch to me. They batted really well yesterday, every net session, their approach has been excellent. So I feel they are really batting well, to be very honest,” batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Wednesday.

All-rounder balance under scrutiny

The absence of Hardik Pandya continues to disrupt India’s balance in white-ball cricket. His ability to bowl at 140 kmph while offering solidity in the middle order remains unmatched, and Kotak acknowledged his absence.

“Someone like Hardik is always a big loss. But if we look at the positive side, Nitish is getting some game time and we’re trying to groom him,” Kotak said. “Every team needs an all-rounder, and we’re trying to develop him in that role. So it’s a good preparation in that way. But yes, any team would miss a player like Hardik.”

Under Gautam Gambhir’s watch, the team has been experimenting with depth in batting, extending till No. 8 with the inclusion of Washington Sundar and Nitish Reddy. Whether that strategy is sustainable will become clearer as the series progresses.

Selection dilemma in bowling department

Both Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna had extended spells in the nets on Wednesday, though recent trends suggest that players who train longer on the eve of a match often miss out on the final XI. Still, given Kuldeep’s wicket-taking ability and Prasidh’s bounce and pace, the team management might be tempted to make a change.

However, the shorter square boundaries at the Adelaide Oval could work against Kuldeep, whose attacking wrist-spin style can be risky if he misses his length. Sundar, though less aggressive, offers control and economy, qualities that may persuade the team to retain him.

Australia look to seal series

Early summer conditions mean there will be bounce and lateral movement on fresh pitches, a combination that can trouble even the most seasoned batters. As such, the Australian new-ball pair of Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood is once again expected to test India’s top order with unrelenting accuracy.

Hazlewood, particularly, relished the extra bounce and pace on a ground that will host the first Ashes Test in a month. With Pat Cummins highly unlikely to feature in the Ashes opener, starting November 21, a lot will ride on Hazlewood’s shoulders.

While Australia’s major focus remains on the Ashes, winning the ODI series against India is also important for the Kangaroos as they look to form a core to defend their World Cup title. With several seasoned players stepping away from the 50-over format, Australia handed ODI debuts to Matthew Renshaw and Mitchell Owen, and the duo performed well, as did fringe players Matt Kuhnemann and Josh Philippe, as they revamp their ODI outfit ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Left-arm spinner Kuhnemann, who emerged as the hero in Perth, however, has been released with the return of leg-break bowler Adam Zampa after attending the birth of his child along with a fit-again Alex Carey, who was playing a Sheffield Shield game.

Squads:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Dhruv Jurel, Prasidh Krishna.

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Bartlett, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Alex Carey.

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