Rohit Sharma’s stellar performance with the bat contrasts sharply with Virat Kohli’s struggles as India faces Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval.
ADELAIDE – India’s middle-order resilience was on display in patches during the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Rohit Sharma led the fightback with a gritty 73 runs, even as early setbacks from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli left the team under pressure.
Rohit, facing criticism after scoring just eight runs in the series opener in Perth, began his innings cautiously, reaching eight runs off 28 balls. However, he gradually found his rhythm, combining patience with aggression to finish with 73 runs off 97 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes. This innings, noted as his slowest ODI fifty, not only steadied India’s innings but also allowed the middle order to build momentum, showcasing Rohit’s enduring class and composure. In achieving this milestone, he became the first Indian to score 1,000 ODI runs in Australia against the hosts and surpassed Sourav Ganguly to become India’s third-highest ODI run-scorer with a total of 11,249 runs.
Rohit’s brief second-wicket partnership with Kohli, which lasted just four balls, marked their 100th ODI stand. This milestone highlights the longevity and success of the duo, who have shared an impressive 5,315 runs across 100 innings together.
While Rohit’s innings offered hope for the team, Kohli’s struggles continued as he recorded his second consecutive duck in the series. This marks the first time in his 50-over career that he has registered back-to-back zeros. Outsmarted by Australia’s Xavier Bartlett, Kohli could not capitalize on his strong record at Adelaide, where he averages 52.70 in Tests and 61 in white-ball cricket.
Despite his struggles, the crowd celebrated the Indian veteran’s illustrious career, giving him a standing ovation as he walked off the field. Kohli acknowledged the applause with a raised arm, and fans took to social media to praise his legacy, noting that even in a low moment, his contributions to Indian cricket remain immense.
Reflecting on the defeat, India captain Shubman Gill emphasized the missed chances in the field that proved costly while defending a total of 264 runs. “We had just enough runs on the board, but dropping a couple of chances makes it very difficult to defend that kind of total,” he said. With the series already lost 2-0, India looks to salvage pride in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, hoping for contributions from both veterans and young players alike.
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