Australia won a thrilling second ODI against India by two wickets at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 23, 2025, clinching the three-match series 2-0 with one game remaining. Chasing 265 under lights, Australia reached the target in the 47th over thanks to Matthew Short’s career-best 74 and Cooper Connolly’s calm unbeaten 61. Player of the match Adam Zampa took four wickets to restrict India to 264/9. For India, Rohit Sharma top-scored with 73 off 97 balls, while Shreyas Iyer made 61, but Virat Kohli’s struggles continued as he fell for a second consecutive duck.
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Match Report (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-in-australia-2025-26-1478882/australia-vs-india-2nd-odi-1478905/match-report)
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 264/9 | 50.0 | 9 | Lost by 2 wickets |
| Australia | 265/8 | 46.2 | 8 | Won with 22 balls remaining |
Top Performers
| Player | Team | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Zampa | Australia | Bowler | 4/60 (10 overs) – Player of the Match |
| Matthew Short | Australia | Batsman | 74 (78 balls, 12 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Cooper Connolly | Australia | All-rounder | 61* (53 balls, 9 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Rohit Sharma | India | Batsman | 73 (97 balls, 13 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Shreyas Iyer | India | Batsman | 61 (77 balls, 10 fours) |
| Axar Patel | India | All-rounder | 44 (41 balls, 6 fours, 7 sixes) |
Sources: ESPNcricinfo Live Score (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-in-australia-2025-26-1478882/australia-vs-india-2nd-odi-1478905/live-cricket-score)
Key Moments
- Early disaster for India as Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli both fell cheaply, with Kohli recording his first-ever consecutive ODI ducks in his legendary career.
- Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer rebuilt the innings with a crucial 118-run partnership for the third wicket.
- Adam Zampa broke the partnership and finished with four wickets, dismantling India’s middle order.
- Australia slipped to 132/4 in their chase before Matthew Short and Cooper Connolly steadied the ship with a vital half-century partnership.
- Short survived a run-out chance on 14 and was dropped by Axar Patel at point, making India pay with a career-best 74.
- Mitchell Owen blasted 36 off 23 balls on ODI debut to keep Australia ahead in the chase.
- Australia lost three quick wickets late in the innings, but Connolly remained calm to seal the series win.
Match Analysis
Australia’s victory marked a disappointing return for India in the 50-over format and a shaky start to Shubman Gill’s ODI captaincy reign. The visitors showed promise with bat and ball but couldn’t close out the match when it mattered most.
For Australia, the performances of Short, Connolly, and debutant Owen will please the team’s hierarchy as they look to build depth with an eye toward the 2027 World Cup. The home side demonstrated their ability to handle pressure situations and chase down competitive totals.
India’s sloppy fielding proved costly, with dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities allowing Australia’s middle order to flourish. The bowling attack showed promise but lacked the finishing touch needed to defend the total.
Rohit Sharma’s innings was a positive sign for India, but Kohli’s form remains a major concern. For the first time in his legendary ODI career, Kohli has fallen for consecutive ducks.
What’s Next
The third and final ODI will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, 2025. With the series already decided, Connolly’s calmness ensures the third ODI in Sydney will be a dead rubber. India will be looking to avoid a series whitewash and end their tour on a positive note, while Australia will aim for a clean sweep to build momentum ahead of the upcoming Ashes series.
Both teams will use the final match to give fringe players more opportunities and test their bench strength before bigger challenges ahead.