Match: India vs Australia, 2nd ODI
Date: October 23, 2025 (Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM IST / 2:30 PM AEDT
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia
Series Status: Australia leads 1-0
Toss: Not yet known
India’s Likely Playing XI
India are expected to make at least one change after their disappointing loss in Perth. Sources suggest Kuldeep Yadav will likely replace Harshit Rana or Washington Sundar as India looks to add spin options.
Likely XI (Source: Zee News, M9 News, SportsTiger):
- Rohit Sharma
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Axar Patel
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Kuldeep Yadav (likely in for Harshit Rana)
- Mohammed Siraj
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prasidh Krishna (possible return)
Australia’s Likely Playing XI
Australia have made squad changes with Adam Zampa returning after missing the first match for his child’s birth, while Matthew Kuhnemann has been released despite his excellent performance in Perth. Alex Carey returns as first-choice wicketkeeper, replacing Josh Philippe.
Likely XI (Source: India TV, SportsCafe):
- Mitchell Marsh (c)
- Travis Head
- Matthew Short
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Matthew Renshaw
- Cooper Connolly
- Mitchell Owen
- Mitchell Starc
- Josh Hazlewood
- Nathan Ellis
- Adam Zampa
Pitch Report: Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval pitch is expected to be dry and balanced, with ground staff using ultraviolet lights to prepare the surface after recent rain. The surface traditionally offers good bounce and carry for seamers early on but tends to settle into a batting-friendly track as the match progresses.
Teams batting first here usually aim for totals around 270-300 runs, though chasing teams have had more success recently with 4 of the last 5 ODIs won by sides batting second.
Weather Forecast
Good news for cricket fans! The weather forecast for Adelaide on October 23 indicates hazy sunshine with clear skies throughout the day, with temperatures ranging from 11°C to 20°C, and only a 1 percent chance of precipitation. There is 0% chance of rain with wind speeds around 8 km/h, making a full 50-over match highly likely.
Players to Watch
| Role | India | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Top-order Batter | Virat Kohli | Travis Head |
| Opening Batter | Rohit Sharma | Matthew Short |
| Captain | Shubman Gill | Mitchell Marsh |
| Wicketkeeper | KL Rahul | Alex Carey |
| Pace Bowler | Mohammed Siraj | Mitchell Starc |
| Fast Bowler | Arshdeep Singh | Josh Hazlewood |
| Spinner | Kuldeep Yadav (likely) | Adam Zampa |
Why These Players Matter:
Virat Kohli: Kohli has an excellent record at Adelaide Oval with 244 runs in four ODIs at an average of 61, including two centuries. After scoring a duck in Perth, he’ll be hungry for runs.
Rohit Sharma: After scoring just 8 runs in Perth, Rohit will look to set the tone early in Adelaide. His experience at this venue will be crucial.
Shubman Gill: Leading a wounded side after a seven-wicket defeat, Gill faces his biggest captaincy test yet. His tactical calls could shape India’s series hopes.
Mitchell Starc & Josh Hazlewood: Australia’s pace duo dismantled India’s top order in Perth and will look to exploit Adelaide’s early bounce.
What to Expect
After a rain-hit first ODI at Perth where India went down by seven wickets, all eyes turn to Adelaide Oval for the second clash of this three-match series. This is a must-win game for India to keep the series alive.
Adelaide’s batting-friendly surface could help both Rohit and Kohli find form and rhythm. The dry pitch and clear weather mean we should see a full match with high scores possible.
India’s likely inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav adds a wicket-taking spin option, while Australia’s return of Adam Zampa strengthens their middle-overs control. The toss could be crucial as teams prefer chasing at this venue.
Match Prediction
Australia have home advantage and momentum after winning the first ODI. However, Adelaide Oval has been a happy hunting ground for Virat Kohli, and India’s senior batters are due for big scores. With better weather conditions and a batting-friendly pitch, expect a high-scoring thriller.
Prediction: Close contest with team batting second having slight advantage. India need their top three to fire to level the series.
Where to Watch:
- India: Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (Live streaming)
- Australia: Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports