IND Vs AUS Highlights, 2nd ODI: Short, Connolly Lead Australia To Two-Wicket Win

Greetings and welcome to everyone joining us this Thursday. After the setback in the first ODI, India are eager to bounce back against Australia today and we will bring to you the build-up, pre-match info, toss, playing XIs and live updates from the encounter in Adelaide.

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel

Australia: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Alex Carey(w), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis, Marnus Labuschagne, Xavier Bartlett

“I do and and they’ve sort of moved him around. I think he’s nearly batted in all 11 positions at some stage. It must be tough for him to adapt. But I guess, you know, he’s one of those versatile players. You know, he top-scored for India last night in fairly tough conditions. So he’s from opening down to I’m not sure where how low he’s got, but they’ve sometimes that can mess your confidence up, but I think for him I I maybe he’s just used to it and just adapts. Um, obviously keeps as well. So uh, he’s a very versatile,” said McGrath.

• Total matches: 159

• Australia won: 85

• India won: 58

• Tie/No result: 10

Virat Kohli loves batting at the Adelaide Oval especially in the ODIs. In 4 ODIs at Adelaide, Kohli has accumulated 244 runs at an average of 61.00, including 2 centuries.

Another toss that does not go India's way as Australia elect to bowl at the Adelaide Oval.

Australia (Playing XI): Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey(w), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

Shubman Gill: We would have bowled first as well. Happy to bat first. Never easy when it rains, starting and stopping. The weather looks good today, hopefully no stoppages today. Batting first, hopefully we’ll get plenty of runs on the board. And then get some movement under lights when we have the ball in our hand. We are going with the same team.

Mitchell Marsh: We are gonna bowl first. It was really pleasing (win in the 1st ODI). A lot of positives from last year. One of the better pitchers in the country this year. Everyone loves coming to play here. We always get amazing crowds, and hopefully both teams put on a great show for the big crowd today. Any time you get a chance to win a series in game two, it’s an awesome opportunity. We’ve got a lot of young guys, so I look forward to it. Alex Carey comes in for Philippe. Xavier Bartlett comes in for Ellis.

Players are out in the middle and it's bright and super sunny in Adelaide as we get ready for some action with Diwali season around.

Rohit Sharma gets off the mark in the first over, but Starc has been getting a lot of movement off the ball in the early stages at Adelaide – something that the Indian openers will need to be wary about.

That was TIGHT! A bit of a nudge from Gill towards the offside. Rohit was already half-way through the crease before being sent back by his partner. The veteran rushed back and put in desperate dive as there was a direct hit. It was close, but not close enough.

Unlike Gill at the other end, Rohit is really struggling to get going. He has been itching to hit a big one for some time, but is unable to pick the line and length of the seamers.

Hazlewood completely beats his swing and hits him on the pads, and there is a big LBW shout. Australia take the review after umpire says no, but UltraEdge shows a spike – an inside edge that saved the opener.

Bowling change by Marsh draws first blood for Australia. Bartlett invites Gill into playing that shot towards the offside, but the captain takes a terrific catch at mid-off. Gill departs cheaply.

Annd it's given!! Bartlett gets another big wicket, and it's two ducks in two matches for Kohli. A bit of movement, and it hits the batter straight on the middle of the pads. A lengthy chat with Rohit later, Kohli departs with disappointment.

Rohit Sharma has been supremely patient, allowing himself the time to settle down and find his rhythm. Fans got a sight of vintage Rohit as he lifts Hazlewood over over mid-off for a superb shot that ran away for four. The shackles might be coming off soon.

The end of the first Powerplay, and the run rate is below three at the moment.

Rohit Sharma is living on the edge. After a caught behind appeal is reviewed unsuccessfully by Australia, Hazlewood has another big shout – this time for LBW. The umpire is not satisfied, and the Aussies don't have any reviews left. Ball-tracking shows that it would have gone over the stumps anyway. The Indian batters, at the moment, are bereft of confidence.

Shreyas Iyer frees his arms, hitting it in the slightest bit of gaps between backward point and cover for a boundary. India can't afford to let the run rate drop even further in the second Powerplay, especially with Rohit yet to fire at the other end. Time for refreshments!

Fifty up for India in the 15th over. It has been a grind, really, with the run rate standing a touch below three-and-half. Either Rohit, or more likely, Shreyas, have to try some riskier shots to keep the scorecard ticking.

The Aussie bowlers are taking full advantage of the pitch, not needing to try anything fancy. Shreyas closes the 18th over with a terrific shot over the head of the fielders at mid-on, and it races away for four. A big confidence booster, this, for the batters.

Oh, Rohit is up and running now. Back-to-back sixes for the batter, picking up the short-ish deliveries and slogging in over the square leg ropes. This is more like the Rohit Sharma that we have seen over the years.

Owen seems to have learned his lessons, not bowling any more short balls, but Shreyas wraps it up with a thumping boundary.

Fifty for Rohit! It has been gruelling, and at times quite hard to watch, but the veteran has reached his 59th T20I half-century off 74 deliveries. He has been made to work hard for this milestone, but all he now needs to do is keep going and take India to a respectable 200-plus scoreline.

The conditions are visible better now, with the ball coming onto the bat beautifully. Rohit has sensed that and is switching into another gear, lifting Zampa over cover for a picturesque boundary.

18 runs in the last three overs, and the run rate is almost four-and-half. India are well poised to reach 250 at this rate.

A single off the first ball of Connolly, and Shreyas reaches a well-deserved half-century off 67 balls. Rohit, on the other hand, is in the mood, sweeping the spinner over short fine for a boundary, as square leg fielder was up. Indian fans are enjoying that at Adelaide.

Massive, massive wicket for Australia, as they get the danger man Rohit. He tried to hit Starc over the ropes. It was there for the taking, a shorter delivery, but Rohit somehow manages to hit it straight to Hazlewood at fine leg. He departs for 73 off 97

Zampa gets his man!! After being hit over extra cover for a boundary, the spinner bowls a slightly shorter one, spinning inside to get a big inside edge and hitting the stumps. Shreyas Iyer departs for 61 off 77 balls. KL Rahul is the new batter, and he is immediately off the mark.

It is up to the new batters – Axar and Rahul – to get a partnership going. No boundaries since the last wicket, but with 15 overs left, these two won't have a lot of time before they need to start taking risks if they want to reach 250.

Real credit to Zampa, who stuck to his guns despite being dispatched for a boundary off the very first ball by Rahul – not the first time that the spinner has done this today. A shorter one this time, and it sneaks in under the bat and hits the stumps. Washington Sundar is the new batter.

After a couple of tight overs, Axar hits Starc for two boundaries, relieving some pressure off the Indian batters at the crease. India need for this. Run a ball takes then to over 250, which will be very, very competitive on this pitch. Axar has to take charge, but a partnership will be crucial.

It has been a clever over from Bartlett, taking the pace off the ball. Washington attempts to flick it over the ropes, but he only manages to find Hazlewood at deep square leg. Nitish Kumar Reddy is the new batter.

Wow, just wow. All you can do is sit back and admire. Axar, feeling the pressure of hitting the big shots, tries to lift Zampa over the ropes but does not get the required elevation. Starc shows off supreme athleticism, lifting the ball back over the ropes and taking the catch.

Double whammy for India, as Nitish Kumar goes for just one. Full credit to Carey, who channels his inner MS Dhoni to take off the stumps as Nitish charged down attempting a big one. India's tail-enders are going down in a heap.

A bit of late flurry from Harshit Rana, hitting Zampa for back-to-back boundaries, using the field to find gaps. 16 runs off the over. Despite the sort of collapse that we saw in the last half-an-hour, this is much better from India, with 275 within touching distance.

A 37-run partnership between Harshit and Arshdeep is brought to an end in the penultimate ball of the innings by Starc, but they have contributed vital runs to take India to 264. It's just about par score at Adelaide, although Shubman Gill would have liked 10-15 runs more. However, it's something to defend for the bowlers, especially with the new ball.

Australia's chase have started, with Mitch Marsh and Travis Head opening for the hosts. Siraj has the ball for India. With the run rate around four, the Aussies have no reason to go big in the early stages. Wickets are the name of the game.

Massive respite for Head, as he is dropped at seven by Nitish Kumar. Arshdeep can't believe it! It was not the easiest of catches, with Nitish getting just one hand on it, but how costly will it be in the latter stages?

After a long period of quiet, Head finally gets going, flicking Siraj despite getting a touch on the pads. Six! Finally gets the home crowd going at Adelaide.

India draw first blood, with Marsh trying to wildly swing his bat after getting a four of the previous ball. This time, though, he gets a thick edge, and it flies to the wicketkeeper, who makes no mistake. Arshdeep's good record against Marsh continues.

Matthew Short is the new batter, and he gets off the mark immediately.

The first Powerplay is over, and Short wraps it up with a massive six off Arshdeep. It was short and there to be hit, and hit he does, pulling it over deep square leg as the ball disappears into the crowd. The required rate stays just a touch over five-and-half.

Head is the only one trying anything risky, getting a boundary after being afforded some room by Harshit. Other than that, the Indian seamers have been very economical, and Head – probably feeling the head – tries to go big. However, he can't quite get the connection, getting a thick edge, and it flies to Kohli.

Renshaw has been itching for a big shot, getting off his crease early a number of times. This time, he connects with a slower one from Reddy, and it finds the gap behind the square fine leg.

This is the over that Australia were waiting for, getting 12 runs off Reddy. This is a good partnership developing between Renshaw and Short, with neither player particularly afriad of taking risks – with eight wickets in hand.

Axar Patel strikes. After a brilliant innings with bat, Axar is now back at his job with the ball in hand. He sends Mat Renshaw back for a run-a-ball 30. The stumps are shattered as Axar takes his first wicket of the evening. Alex Carey now has joined a set Matt Short.

Fifty from Matthew Short. A crucial innings in the context of the game. Also, he takes just 49 balls to reach the landmark. Three fours and a six for the tall Australian and he has definitely put Australia in a good position to take control of this game. India will want his wicket as soon as possible.

We are at an important juncture in this game. Australia do have some advantage but India can quickly turn the game around with the wicket of the set Matthew Short. Meanwhile, we have a drinks break as Short has been hit on the helmet trying to sweep Washington Sundar.

Despite the recent setbacks, Connolly has kept up his aggressive batting, with three boundaries in the last two overs. With Short pretty much settled at the other end, Australia are in prime position to put some runs on the board, with the required rate going over six.

Short is looking really dangerous, and, after a bit of quiet, he punishes a fuller delivery from Washington Sundar, hitting it over deep square for a six. Australia now need 90 runs from 90 balls – should be comfortable if these two stick around.

That's the wicket that India wanted! Short was looking nearly unplayable in the last few overs, but he finally takes one too many risks. A shorter delivery from Rana, but all he manages to do is find Siraj at deep square. Redemtion!

Owen, the new batter, has decided to come out swinging. Harshit Rana has been quite expensive today, and he sees two of his deliveries being picked perfectly by Owen, sending one of them over the park and another for a boundary. India desperately need wickets if they want to stay in this game.

The Indian bowlers are completely knackered. Rana is down, getting some attention from the physios, as does Arshdeep. They are eventually okay to continue. Australia, meanwhile, are running away with the chase. 49 needed now off the last 10 overs.

The sixes have started to rain at Adelaide, and Owen looks like he wants to end the chase early. If it continues like this, Australia look primed to make it two out of two. India need wickets, and they need it now. 22 runs needed off 48 balls now.

Lifeline for India!! Owen, who was playing in T20 mood out at Adelaide today, sees his luck run out. Sundar's ball was there to be hit, but Owen's connection is not proper, and it is taken by Arshdeep at long on. Will this turn the match around, or is it too little too late? Xavier Bartlett is the new batter.

Arshdeep adds one more to the stats, as Bartlett loses his wicket trying to hit a big one. Arshdeep mixes up the length a bit, and Bartlett, trying to hit it over the park, finds the onrushing Gill. Starc comes on as the new batter, with just 10 runs needed for the win.

Starc thought he would be the one getting the winning runs for Australia after hitting a powerful boundary off Siraj. Another shortish one from the pacer, and Starc attempted to pull it for a six. Instead, he holes it to Axar, who takes an easy catch. Adam Zampa is the new batter.

A coupe of doubles levels the score, and Arshdeep helps Australia over the line with a wide. It was tighter than Australia would have liked, but ultimately, they secure a two-wicket win.