In a stunning reversal of fortune, India suffered a historic defeat at the Adelaide Oval—losing to Australia for the first time in 17 years in ODIs at the venue. The hosts sealed a commanding 2-0 series win on Thursday, October 23, 2025, after chasing down India’s 264 with clinical composure .
The loss marks a rare stumble for the Indian team in a ground where they’ve long held the upper hand. Since their last ODI defeat here in 2008, India had won every match at Adelaide—including memorable victories in 2016 and 2019. But this time, Australia’s blend of disciplined bowling and steady batting proved too much to handle.
How Australia Turned the Tide
India’s innings started shakily as Australian pacers struck early, removing openers cheaply. But a resilient 98-run stand between captain Rohit Sharma (67 off 78) and Shreyas Iyer (54 off 61) steadied the ship and pushed India toward a competitive total.
A late flourish from tailenders Harshit Rana (22* off 14) and Arshdeep Singh (18* off 10) lifted India to 264/9—a score many felt could be defendable under Adelaide’s evening lights.
Cooper Connolly: The Unlikely Hero
But Australia’s chase was never in serious trouble, thanks largely to a composed 73* from 21-year-old Cooper Connolly. The left-handed batter, playing only his third ODI, anchored the innings with maturity beyond his years, rotating strike intelligently and punishing loose deliveries.
He was well supported by Travis Head (45) and Marnus Labuschagne (38), who ensured there were no major collapses. Australia reached the target with 5.2 overs to spare and six wickets in hand.
Adelaide’s Changing Fortunes: A Statistical Shift
For over a decade and a half, Adelaide Oval had been a fortress for Team India in ODIs. Thursday’s result flips that narrative—and could signal a broader shift in momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy.
| Year | Result (India vs Australia, Adelaide ODI) | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Australia 269/8 vs India 238/9 | Australia |
| 2016 | India 321/7 vs Australia 288/10 | India |
| 2019 | India 340/6 vs Australia 267/8 | India |
| 2025 | India 264/9 vs Australia 265/4 | Australia |
What Went Wrong for India?
While the batting showed promise, India’s bowling lacked penetration in the middle overs. Spinners were underutilized, and the pace attack—despite early success—failed to build sustained pressure. Jasprit Bumrah, rested for this series, was sorely missed.
More concerning was the fielding. Two dropped catches in the first 15 overs gave Connolly and Head crucial breathing room. In a high-stakes chase, those lapses proved decisive.
Series Takeaways and What’s Next
Australia’s 2-0 series win isn’t just symbolic—it’s strategic. With the ICC Champions Trophy looming in early 2026, the hosts have sent a clear message: they’re peaking at the right time.
For India, the loss is a wake-up call. The middle order remains inconsistent, and the bowling unit still leans too heavily on individual brilliance rather than collective strategy.
Both teams now turn their attention to the T20I leg, starting October 26 in Perth. But the shadow of Adelaide will linger—especially for an Indian side that hadn’t lost here since the days of Ricky Ponting’s captaincy.
Sources
Times of India: Historic defeat! India fall at Adelaide for first time in 17 years; AUS win series