India vs Australia: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made their comeback in international cricket after a seven-month break but struggled on Perth’s testing surface, scoring 0 and 8 in the 1st ODI.
Senior Stars Under Pressure After Perth Collapse
India suffered a crushing 7-wicket loss in the first ODI at Perth. Consequently, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli faced heavy criticism. Both scored just 8 and 0 runs respectively. Moreover, they returned after an eight-month international break. Therefore, adjusting to Australia’s bouncy pitch proved difficult. Nevertheless, their experience remains vital for India’s middle order.
Gavaskar Backs Comeback in Favorable Adelaide Conditions
Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar strongly supports their bounce-back potential. Specifically, he cited Adelaide Oval as Kohli’s happy hunting ground. In fact, Kohli averages 61 in four ODIs there with two centuries. Furthermore, Gavaskar emphasized that rhythm returns with net sessions. Thus, he confidently predicts big scores in the next two matches. Additionally, he noted that even regulars like Gill struggled in Perth.
KL Rahul’s Batting Shuffle Draws McGrath’s Concern
Former Aussie pacer Glenn McGrath expressed surprise at KL Rahul’s constant role changes. Indeed, Rahul has batted in nearly all eleven positions during his career. Although versatile, such shuffling can hurt confidence. However, he top-scored with 38 in the rain-affected Perth match. Still, McGrath believes consistency in the batting order helps performance. Meanwhile, Rahul remains India’s key middle-order stabilizer.
Team India’s Must-Win Scenario and Tactical Shifts
Now, the second ODI becomes a do-or-die game for Shubman Gill’s side. Hence, the team must fix its top-order fragility immediately. Already, only 18 runs came from India’s top three in Perth. Also, the batting order raised serious selection questions. Therefore, the think tank may promote Rahul or stabilize the middle overs. Besides, Adelaide’s pitch favors batting first after winning the toss.
Australia’s Momentum and Reinforced Squad
On the other hand, Australia enters Adelaide with high confidence. Mitchell Marsh leads a strengthened lineup with Zampa, Carey, and Inglis returning. Moreover, Marsh scored a match-winning half-century in Perth. Consequently, the hosts hold a 61% win probability according to analysts. Still, India’s record at Adelaide gives fans hope. Ultimately, Thursday’s clash could define the series trajectory.