Experts hail Indian skipper’s resilience and discuss team’s tactical takeaways ahead of Sydney clash
Adelaide: Australia edged India in a nail-biting finish at the Adelaide Oval, securing a two-wicket victory to seal the ODI series 2-0 with one match still remaining. Despite Rohit Sharma’s fighting 73 and Shreyas Iyer’s composed 61 guiding India to a competitive 264, Matthew Short and Cooper Connolly’s crucial knocks helped Australia cross the line in dramatic fashion.
The defeat, though narrow, left plenty of talking points for India — from Rohit’s tenacious innings to the bowling combination and the need for tactical balance on foreign soil. On ‘Cricket Live’, JioStar’s panel of experts — Abhishek Nayar, Parthiv Patel, Varun Aaron, and Shane Watson — dissected the game and shared insights on India’s performance.
“Rohit’s Innings Was All About Character”: Abhishek Nayar
Speaking exclusively on ‘Cricket Live’, Abhishek Nayar lauded Rohit Sharma’s determination despite tough conditions.
“As a player, you might forget some of your big hundreds or double centuries, but certain knocks stay with you — especially the ones where you’ve had to fight hard,” Nayar said.
“Rohit Sharma may not remember this innings for the runs, but he’ll take great satisfaction from it. He worked for every single run today. His resilience stood out — that’s what defined this Indian team. Even when Australia looked comfortable, India kept fighting, and Rohit embodied that spirit.”
“Kuldeep Yadav Must Play the Third ODI”: Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel emphasized the importance of India maintaining the right team balance ahead of the final ODI in Sydney.
“We will definitely see Kuldeep Yadav playing the next match. India needs to trust its top order and not add an extra batter for security. Kuldeep provides those crucial middle-over breakthroughs we’ve been missing,” said Patel.
“On a lighter note, I’d say the support staff should make Captain Shubman Gill practice the coin toss! The toss has played a massive role in both games.”
Patel also credited India’s competitiveness despite limited preparation time, saying, “Even though Australia have sealed the series, India’s overall cricket has been commendable.”
“Hazlewood’s Spell Set the Tone”: Varun Aaron
Former India pacer Varun Aaron analyzed the defeat, praising Australia’s disciplined bowling effort.
“There’s never one single reason for a loss, but Josh Hazlewood’s spell was outstanding. India couldn’t get off to a quick start, and partnerships never built up the way Australia’s did,” Aaron said.
“India had just one 100-run stand while Australia kept building through the innings. A few overs, especially Harshit Rana’s expensive spell, changed the momentum. Also, Sundar should have bowled more to Connolly.”
On Kuldeep Yadav’s omission, Aaron was clear: “Kuldeep should have played from Game 1. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice a batter for a wicket-taking bowler. India seem to be waiting for batters to make mistakes, but Kuldeep creates those mistakes.”
“India Learning to Adapt in Non-Subcontinental Conditions”: Shane Watson
Australian legend Shane Watson said India are in a learning phase as they transition to playing consistently in foreign conditions. “India are figuring out their best combinations outside Asia. Here, the ball has swung and seamed — something they don’t encounter often. Building the right mix for these conditions will be key, especially ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa,” said Watson.
On India’s bowling, he added: “Siraj bowled brilliantly with late swing and could’ve had four or five wickets on another day. Harshit Rana, though young and talented, was tactically off at times. Missing Bumrah and Hardik Pandya is a big blow, but India’s depth is promising. The key is to keep exposing these bowlers to overseas conditions.”
Despite the series loss, India’s spirited display at Adelaide showed flashes of promise — Rohit’s fighting knock, Iyer’s stability, and moments of sharp bowling from Siraj and Sundar underscored a team still evolving. With Sydney’s spin-friendly surface up next, the stage is set for a tactical reshuffle — and perhaps, a strong comeback to end the series on a high.
