In a crucial second match of India’s tour of Australia at Adelaide Oval, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl. India, still reeling from their defeat in Perth, desperately need a win to level the series before the final match in Sydney.The Indian team kept its line-up unchanged, sticking to three pacers and two spinners – Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Nitish Reddy continues his role as a bowling all-rounder. The team opted not to include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven.
LIVE: India vs Australia 2nd ODIKuldeep’s absence followed by Xavier Bartlett’s inclusion in the Australian line-up has become a point of frustration for the Congress leader. Shashi Tharoor. The politician questioned the Indian selectors for not picking Kuldeep using the example of Bartlett, who took two wickets – of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli – in one.
Shashi Tharoor questioned the Indian selectors for not picking Kuldeep Yadav for the second ODI between India and Australia. (Image: X)
“So Xavier Bartlett took just four balls to show the Indian selectors the idiocy of their decision to leave out their team’s most powerful match-winner, @imkuldeep18, in favor of a journeyman like Rana. It was a mistake to omit Kuldeep in England and it is absurd not to pick him in Adelaide. Horrible!” wrote Shashi Tharoor on X.Australia, meanwhile, made three changes to their team. Alex Carey returns as wicketkeeper, while Adam Zampa returns as leg-spinner. Bartlett also joins the team. Josh Philippe, Matt Kuhnemann and Nathan Ellis have been excluded. The Australians aim to wrap up the series with another victory here.The Adelaide Oval pitch could work in India’s favor. It is known as one of Australia’s best batting courses and shares similarities with conditions on the subcontinent. This familiarity could give India the boost they need after their disappointing performance in Perth.The home side look determined to seal the series win before heading to Sydney for the final match. India, on the other hand, need to win to keep their hopes alive in the three-match series.
