The second ODI between India and Australia in the 2025 bilateral series promises to be a high-intensity clash, as India fights to stay alive in a rain-hit series that began in Perth. Scheduled for October 23 at Adelaide Oval, the match comes with deep tactical undertones, individual battles, and high stakes for both sides.
Context and Importance
After a truncated opener in Perth that saw Australia cruise to a seven-wicket victory under DLS, the series now shifts to a sunnier Adelaide. Persistent rain and a low-scoring affair left fans unsatisfied, but Australia’s dominant display—led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood—showed their ruthless home prowess. India, by contrast, struggled with top-order collapses, rusty timing, and a lack of rhythm after transitioning quickly from red-ball duty against West Indies.
For India, this is a must-win match to keep the series alive. Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir are keen to see a sharper showing from the senior pros, particularly Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who failed in Perth but both boast strong ODI records at Adelaide. For Australia, a win here would mean their first back-to-back home series victory over India since 1984, adding historic weight to the contest.
Pitch and Conditions
Unlike Perth’s pace and bounce, the Adelaide Oval provides truer batting conditions. The surface is expected to favour stroke-play with some early movement for fast bowlers. Importantly, no rain is forecast for Thursday, offering fans a complete game after the interruptions in Perth. Dew is minimal in Adelaide’s evening, which should ensure a fair contest between bat and ball.
Teams and Tactical Setups
Both sides are likely to make minor adjustments rather than wholesale changes:
India: Kuldeep Yadav is tipped to replace Washington Sundar to strengthen the spin attack. India’s top order—Gill, Kohli, Rohit—need to provide the platform that was missing in the series opener. Shreyas Iyer’s middle-order solidity and Arshdeep Singh’s left-arm angle remain key assets.
Australia: Expect Adam Zampa to return after resting in Perth, strengthening the spin department. Their pace unit—Starc, Hazlewood, and Ellis—remains the biggest threat. Skipper Mitchell Marsh, unbeaten in the first game, leads from the front, blending aggression and composure.
Statistical Insights
India have won their last two ODIs at Adelaide Oval, both while chasing.
Seven of India’s last nine ODI wins have come while batting second, hinting at a possible preference at the toss.
Australia’s biggest weakness in 2025 ODIs is early dismissals — 62% of their wickets have fallen within the first 20 balls faced, the highest rate among full-member nations.
India’s overall ODI record vs Australia stands at 58 wins to Australia’s 84 in 152 meetings.
Key Battles to Watch
Kohli vs Starc: Kohli’s exceptional record in Adelaide pits him against one of the world’s most lethal left-arm pacers.
Gill vs Hazlewood: The clash between India’s young captain and Australia’s precision bowler could set the tone for India’s innings.
Arshdeep & Siraj vs Marsh & Head: Both Indian pacers need early breakthroughs to dent Australia’s confident top order.
When: Australia v India, 2nd ODI, October 23, 2025, 14:00 hrs Local Time, 14:30 hrs AEDT, 09:00 hrs IST
Where: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
What to expect: We are in the last week of spring but the weather has felt nothing like it in Adelaide over the last two days. There were thunderstorms through Tuesday and even a big spell of rain early on the eve of the match. But the skies did clear as Wednesday wore on, but not enough for the groundstaff to avoid using the heat lamps over the pitch. The pitches here this season have been largely good to bat on as seen during the two Shield games, and expect it to be the same for the second ODI.
Predicted Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Philippe (WK), Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Short, Alex Carey.
Expert Outlook
The clash in Adelaide is poised to be a batting-centric showdown, testing India’s senior trio and Australia’s middle-order depth. While Adelaide’s balanced pitch reduces the toss dependency, the key lies in how India’s top order handles the new ball. A disciplined start from India could turn this into a run-fest, but an early collapse could seal the series for Australia. Expect fireworks — both teams will play for pride, momentum, and positioning ahead of next year’s global tournaments.
Conclusion:
With the series on the line, expect India to come out swinging at the SCG. While Australia look settled, a wounded Indian side under Rohit Sharma can never be counted out. Expect a thriller — one that could very well set the tone for the upcoming T20 World Cup preparations.
