ADELAIDE – Under Adelaide Oval’s lights, Adam Zampa turned the match with a clever leg-spin burst that ripped through India’s middle order and set up a tight two-wicket win. Australia chased 265, slipped to 132 for 4, then steadied through Matthew Short’s gritty 74 and debutant Cooper Connolly’s ice-cool 61 not out.
They finished the job with 22 balls left, sealing the three-match ODI series 2-0. Zampa, back from paternity leave and named player of the match, claimed 4 for 60, a reminder of Australia’s depth and India’s ongoing struggles away from home.
The contest, a decider in name only after Australia’s victory in Perth, had the feel of a classic India vs Australia one-dayer. India batted first on a surface that offered early movement and later some grip.
Rohit Sharma, looking fluent after his break, anchored with 73 from 97, striking seven fours and two sixes. He and Shreyas Iyer (61) added 118 for the third wicket, a stand that hinted at control. As the evening settled, the pitch quickened, and Australia’s attack hit back with precision.
Adam Zampa Took Charge
Adam Zampa took charge from the 21st over, mixing googlies and pace changes to unsettle set batters. He returned to the XI in place of Xavier Bartlett, who had already dented India with 3 for 39, including Shubman Gill and a first-ball duck for Virat Kohli.
Adam Zampa removed Iyer, then KL Rahul with a quicker one that cannoned on, trapped Rohit lbw after a failed review, and later added Shardul Thakur. India dipped from 135 for 2 to 174 for 5, then crawled to 264 for 9, thanks to Harshit Rana’s lively 30 from 24 at the death.
Josh Hazlewood did not take a wicket but strangled India with 0 for 29 in 10 overs, while Mitchell Starc’s sharp spells kept batters honest. Captain Mitchell Marsh hailed the discipline, noting Hazlewood’s control, the group’s intent to keep attacking, and the spark from newer faces like Short and Connolly. India’s attack, led by Arshdeep Singh (2 for 41), worked hard, though Axar Patel went wicketless for 49.
Australia’s reply was far from smooth. Arshdeep swung out Travis Head and Marsh early, then Axar removed Alex Carey. At 132 for 4, with a damp ball skidding, India sensed a chance. Short, dropped on 20 and 40, punished the lapses.
He compiled 74 off 85 with crisp drives and sweeps, while Connolly, promoted from No. 6, showed calm judgment. His 61 from 53 featured smart rotation and clean strokeplay, and the pair added 87 that broke India’s grip.
There was late tension. Starc holed out to Mohammed Siraj for 11 with five needed, then Zampa fell first ball. Connolly kept his nerve, threading two firm drives off Arshdeep to close it out as a crowd of around 40,000 roared.
India Slipped
This result, achieved without Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green, highlighted Australia’s bench strength. India slipped 0-2 going to Sydney, with questions circling form and selection.
Kohli’s lean run, a duck here after 9 in Perth, drew attention, and Gill’s 22 left the top order exposed. Acting skipper Gill acknowledged Rohit’s return to touch, praised Zampa’s smart use of pace, and admitted India must adapt quicker.
Reaction at home was fierce. Social feeds filled with frustration, second-guessing, and a grudging nod to Zampa’s spell. Many argued Kuldeep Yadav should not have been benched, calling a wrist-spin match-up the missing element.
Others pointed to dropped catches that let Short cash in, lamented the collapse after a strong platform, and worried over Kohli’s sequence. A few voices, though, saluted Zampa’s 4 for 60 and Australia’s poise without several first-choice names.
Focus now shifts to Sydney. Pride is on the line for India, and selection debates will rage. Australia will enjoy the breathing room, and Adam Zampa will enjoy the vindication. From IPL auctions to match winner in Adelaide, his story on the night summed up Australia’s grit. In a tight finish, he spun the key moments, and his teammates finished the job.
