New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was visibly emotional after her team’s defeat to India at the DY Patil Stadium, which ended their hopes of reaching the Women’s ODI World Cup semi-finals. The loss also marked the beginning of the end for Devine’s illustrious career, as she prepares to retire from the 50-over format after New Zealand’s final league game against England on Sunday.

Reflecting on her team’s campaign, Devine admitted the disappointment was hard to process but expressed immense pride in the younger players coming through. “I’m incredibly proud of where this team’s going,” she said. “When you think about the likes of Izzy Gaze, Brooke Halliday, Melie Kerr, and Eden Carson, the way they’re starting to grow into themselves makes it easier when I do step away after the next game.”

The White Ferns’ journey came to a halt after a challenging match against India. Opting to bowl first, New Zealand restricted the hosts early but couldn’t contain the middle overs as Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal powered India past 300. Chasing a revised target of 325 in 44 overs, the Kiwis never quite found momentum despite fighting knocks from Halliday and Gaze.

ALSO SEE: 'Truly respect woman..."- Yuzvendra Chahal's sister drops emotional post amid Dhanashree Verma's comments

Sophie Devine reflects on New Zealand’s World Cup exit and hopes to finish her ODI career on a high

“It’s frustrating and gutting to lose any game of cricket, but especially when you still had a chance of making it to the semi-finals,” Devine said. “We did a lot right early, but a big partnership put us under pressure. That’s cricket.”

Devine also touched on the mental side of leadership, admitting that dealing with heartbreak is the hardest part of sport. “You can work harder than anyone, do all the right things, but it doesn’t guarantee results,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

Looking ahead, Devine praised India’s rise and the success of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), calling it a game-changer. “I think India can be at the forefront of where women’s cricket can go,” she said. As she prepares for her ODI farewell, Devine hopes her team can finish on a high. “We’ll dust ourselves off and go hard against England. Hopefully, we can leave with our heads held high.”

Rohit Sharma silenced all critics with a solid batting display in the second ODI match against Australia at Adelaide on Thursday, October 23. The former captain of India, who had been questioned about his batting form and fitness, scored a confident 73 runs to re-establish that he is still one of the game's best in the 50-over format.

After the match, a funny video went viral on social media featuring head coach Gautam Gambhir and Rohit. In the clip, Gambhir jokingly teased Rohit, saying, “Rohit, sabko lag rha tha ki aaj farewell match thha, ek photo to lagaa do,” which means, “Rohit, everyone thought today was your farewell match, put up a photo at least!" The light-hearted banter brought smiles to fans, especially after Rohit’s brilliant innings that ended recent talks about his retirement.

Rohit’s 73 came off 97 balls on a tricky pitch that offered swing and bounce for Australia’s fast bowlers. The star player from Mumbai began slowly and made a well-deserved half-century in 74 balls, his slowest ODI half-century since 2015, and adjusted well to the conditions—an experience and skill that has served him well.

Rohit and Shreyas Iyer Build an Important Partnership

Rohit and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer scored an important 118-run partnership in making 264 for 9, (Iyer) making 61. Although India lost in the end after Australia chased down the target with two wickets left in the match, Rohit's innings was one of the highlights of the series.

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A post shared by Rohit Sharma (Fan Page) (@rohit_cha_fans45)

See Also: Star player set to returns from injury to lead Bangladesh in T20Is vs West Indies

The knock also marked several milestones for Rohit. He became the first Indian batter to score 1000 ODI runs against Australia in their own backyard and moved up to become India’s third-highest run-getter in ODIs. This performance was particularly important, as he returned to the national side after a seven-month break and had scored only eight runs in the first ODI at Perth.

The third and final ODI of the series will now be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, October 25, with India looking to bounce back and Rohit aiming to continue his fine form.

Virat Kohli’s comeback series has started on a challenging note. Two consecutive ducks in the first two ODIs against Australia were far from what his fans had hoped for. However, Kohli’s sharp instincts in the field during the second ODI in Adelaide drew attention and highlighted his cricketing acumen.

As India defended 265, cameras captured an interesting moment between Kohli and Australian batter Travis Head, who was on 28 at the time. Indian fans still remember Head’s explosive 137 off 120 in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which shattered India’s dream of winning the trophy for the third time.

Aware of Head’s potential to dominate the game quickly, Kohli approached the Australian opener, placed an arm around his shoulder, and said something. Moments later, Head miscued a shot off Harshit Rana and was caught by Kohli himself. Though the exact words remain unknown, the incident highlighted Kohli’s psychological sharpness on the field.

Kohli Equals Yuvraj Singh in Most Ducks for India in ODIs

Despite the fielding highlight, India lost the match by 2 wickets, with Australia sealing the series 2-0. For the first time in his career, Kohli scored two back-to-back ducks in ODI cricket. In 304 matches, he has now recorded 18 ducks, equalling Yuvraj Singh, who played 301 ODIs to achieve the same.

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Virat Kohli's strategic distraction! Travis Head was out next ball. Master of the mind games. 😉

​#ViratKohli
​#TravisHead
​#CricketBanter
​#MindGames
​#Cricket
​#INDvAUS
​#Wicket
​#OnFieldFun
​#Goat
​#CricketFever pic.twitter.com/DBWtp9q9j8

— Umesh patel (@umesh_pate26949) October 24, 2025

See Also: Cricket Australia launches Hindi commentary on CA live app for in-stadium cricket fans

While Kohli and Yuvraj are joint-4th on India’s list of most ducks in ODIs, the 3rd position belongs to Anil Kumble with 18 ducks in 269 matches. The 2nd spot is held by Javagal Srinath with 19 ducks in 229 matches, while the record is held by Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 20 ducks in 463 ODIs.

Though India has already lost the 3-match series 2-0, the Men in Blue will look to restore pride in the third ODI. The final match of the series will be played on October 25 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. Fans will be keen to see if India makes any changes to the squad and whether Kohli can regain his form with the bat while continuing his brilliance in the field.

Shreyas Iyer made a heroic half-century in the second ODI between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, October 23. The right-handed batsman contributed significantly to settling the Indian innings by adding a vital 118-run partnership off 136 balls for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma. Their association followed early losses when Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli were sent packing in the seventh over by Xavier Bartlett. Due to their consistent effort, India was able to register a fighting score of 264/9 in the first innings.

In spite of India's solid comeback, Australia chased the score in 46.2 overs with two wickets remaining. Iyer's calm innings was one of the few positives for India on an otherwise challenging day. His condition-sensing ability to play with patience was enjoyed by supporters as well as pundits.

Talking after the game, Shreyas revealed his new batting stance, which has been a subject of debate among cricket fans. The Mumbai batter revealed that he wanted to return to a more upright stance to help him handle extra bounce on certain pitches.

Shreyas Iyer Explains His Upright Stance and Key Partnership with Rohit Sharma

“Well, this technique which I've got lately, it's not that I've changed over the time, but since last year, I wanted to have an upright stance where the bounce is a little bit more than expected. And based on that, I worked with my coach and we developed this new technique and it was kind of suiting me pretty well. And the way I grew up playing, it was very much that I predominantly had an upright stance,” Iyer said at the post-match press conference.

See Also: WATCH: Rohit Sharma’s sweet gesture for young fan in Australia goes viral after AUS vs IND 2nd ODI

He further added, “And I just was like, let's go back to my old technique and see how it paces up. So yeah, I backed myself and then from there on, I started in the domestic. And then till now, I've been continuing with the same stance.” Speaking about his partnership with Rohit, he said it was crucial to steady the innings against Josh Hazlewood’s fiery spell. “It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on, especially at the start, so we decided to rotate the strike and build momentum. Even in Mumbai, on red-soil wickets where there’s extra bounce, this stance helps. You’ve got to keep changing depending on the pitch, and right now, I feel I can adapt anywhere.”

Rohit Sharma found his touch in one-day cricket again in the second India-Australia ODI at the Adelaide Oval. Indian captain Rohit scored a serene and elegant knock of 73 runs from 97 balls, which helped his team come back from an early wicket fall. His innings was reminiscent of his signature style steady early on, then forceful with his signature pull shots and elegant sixes.

Though Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill departed soon, Rohit appeared as confident and calm a player as one could ask for at the crease. Each time he hit a decent-looking shot, the in-charge Adelaide crowd went into ecstasies. The fans were treated to a classic Rohit Sharma show as he orchestrated India's innings with patience and composure. His placement and timing demonstrated that the "Hitman" was back in form.

The stands filled with Indian fans chanting, "Mumbai cha Raja," and waved flags in honor of their hero. One could see Rohit's vast popularity in Australia. There is no question he is a world star. His calm leadership, with his smiling, playful presence, made the night a special occasion for everyone in the stadium.

Rohit Sharma's Sweet Moment with Young Fan Goes Viral

After the game, Rohit Sharma proved why fans love him, not only for his batting but also because he is kind. On leaving the stadium, he went about greeting fans with a smile and accepting gifts from them. In one clip, which went viral, Rohit hugged a young girl and clicked photos with her and her sisters. The adorable moment won hearts online, as the kids looked thrilled to meet their idol.

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Craze for Rohit Sharma at Adelaide Airport.🔥

pic.twitter.com/GjWkcWqk5n

— Rohan💫 (@rohann__45) October 24, 2025

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Yet another fan gifted Rohit a hand-taken collage, which he accepted gleefully before taking some more selfies with the audience. Now, as the series moves to Sydney, Rohit will aim to continue his good form at a ground where he averages 66.60. His last knock there was a brilliant 133, and fans hope for another big innings in the final ODI on October 25.

India opener Rohit Sharma faced an unusual challenge with the bat in the ongoing second ODI against Australia in Adelaide, drawing a candid remark from 2007 T20 World Cup winner Irfan Pathan. Australia, after winning the toss, chose to field first in the three-match series, putting India into bat.

Rohit, making his return to international cricket after 220 days, had a slow start against the Australian pacers. He struggled to score freely early on, surviving the probing spell from Josh Hazlewood, and was on 14 off 40 balls at one stage. His cautious approach reflected the pressure of coming back after a long break and recovering from a low score of 8 runs in the series opener.

The veteran batsman, however, gradually got into his rhythm. He hit two sixes off Mitchell Owen in the 19th over and reached a half-century off 74 balls, showcasing his experience and temperament. Irfan Pathan took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight Rohit’s rare struggle against the white-ball: "Never seen Rohit Sharma get beaten or struggle so much, but this half-century should give him much-needed confidence."

Never seen Rohit sharma got beaten or struggled so much but this half century should give him much needed confidence.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 23, 2025

ALSO SEE: IND vs AUS 2nd ODI: Rohit Sharma OUT, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood combine to stop him

Rohit Sharma’s Crucial Partnership and Struggle Highlight India’s Fightback

Rohit’s innings was pivotal as he shared a 118-run partnership with vice-captain Shreyas Iyer for the third wicket, stabilizing India’s innings after early setbacks. Yet, he couldn’t convert his start into a bigger score. Mitchell Starc broke through in the 30th over, dismissing Rohit with a short-pitched delivery. Rohit attempted a pull shot but was caught by Hazlewood at long leg, finishing on 73 runs off 97 balls, with two sixes and seven fours.

At that point, India were 143/3 after 31 overs, with Shreyas Iyer unbeaten on 56 off 72 balls and Axar Patel on 2 off 4 balls. With the series currently at 0-1 in favor of Australia, the second ODI has become crucial for India.

Despite his struggles, Rohit’s innings offered confidence for the remainder of the series, proving that even the most accomplished batsmen sometimes need time to find their rhythm. His performance will be key as India aims to bounce back in the series decider.

During a recent match between India and Australia, cricket star Rohit Sharma reached a special milestone. He became the first Asian player to hit 150 sixes which is when a batter hits the ball out of the field without it touching the ground in the countries of South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. The achievement was especially nice because he had a slow start in the game and his powerful hits helped get India's momentum going.

The game took place in Adelaide, where Rohit hit a half-century and also became the first Indian player to score 1000 ODI runs against Australia in Australia. His big hitting helped get his team back in the game and showed his experience on the difficult field. He is only the second visiting batsman ever, after Chris Gayle, to reach this 150-six landmark in these countries.

ALSO READ: When was the last time Virat Kohli scored consecutive ducks in top level cricket before AUS vs IND 2025 series?

Twitter reactions after Rohit Sharma becomes the first Asian to hit 150 sixes in SENA countries

🚨 HISTORY BY ROHIT SHARMA 🚨

- Rohit Sharma becomes the first Asian batter to complete 150 sixes in SENA in History. pic.twitter.com/FB1qStX8r9

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 23, 2025

55* sixes in 🇦🇺
48 sixes in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
31 sixes in 🇳🇿
16 sixes in 🇿🇦

Rohit Sharma — rewriting power-hitting records overseas! 🚀

150 sixes in SENA nations — and counting! 💥

The undisputed Hitman of world cricket! 🇮🇳💙#RohitSharma #ODIs #T20Is #Tests #SKC #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/afWHiy4k1B

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) October 23, 2025

ROHIT SHARMA COMPLETES 150 SIXES IN SENA NATIONS. 🤯🔥pic.twitter.com/9fo9VPq3Uv

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 23, 2025

🚨 ROHIT SHARMA MAKES HISTORY 🚨

Rohit Sharma is the first Asian batter to hit 150 sixes in SENA countries.

A milestone that showcases his incredible power and skill! #RohitSharma #ViratKohli #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/fCOQM7ScAp

— Arshit Yadav (@imArshit) October 23, 2025

🚨 HISTORY BY ROHIT SHARMA 🚨

- Rohit Sharma becomes the first Asian batter to complete 150 sixes in SENA in History. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4NBRLNoXvw

— #AUSvIND #INDvAUS (@SonyTen_Cricket) October 23, 2025

🚨 HISTORY BY ROHIT SHARMA 🚨

- Rohit Sharma becomes the first Asian batter to complete 150 sixes in SENA in History. pic.twitter.com/TE6RqVobvX

— Troy 2.0🦁 (@kalyan_331) October 23, 2025

Virat Kohli, one of India's best-ever batters, is having a rare lean patch. In the current ODI series against Australia, Kohli was dismissed for a duck in back-to-back matches in Perth and Adelaide. In fact, this is the first time in his entire international career Kohli has recorded back-to-back ducks at the international level, which has shocked many fans and analysts alike.

Although Kohli has gone through poor form before, his drop in form during the 2022 IPL season provides a view into a similar run of form. Kohli gave up the captaincy at the end of the 2021 season and had to play purely as a batter for RCB. In 16 matches played in the 2022 season, Kohli managed just 341 runs, averaging 22.73 at a strike rate of 115.99. In that season, Kohli recorded three golden ducks, two of which came in back-to-back matches, but in his illustrious career the two matches were a brief blip.

Kohli’s Rare Lean Patch: IPL Struggles to ODI Ducks Against Australia

The first of those IPL ducks came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), hwas caught at point off Dushmantha Chameera. The next game, he was dismissed by Marco Jansen as RCB had been bowled out for just 68 runs. Kohli's third duck of the season came against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the reverse fixture. In hindsight, he went on the RCB Insider and quipped, "First-ball ducks. After the second one I actually understood how it feels to be helpless. It has never happened to me in my career... now that I have seen everything. It has been a long time and I am now seeing everything in this game."

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Rohit Sharma celebrates 59th ODI fifty on his return during AUS vs IND 2nd ODI in Adelaide

Since that IPL incident, Kohli has enjoyed a streak of three seasons without a duck, so a pair of consecutive ODI failures against Australia in 2025 would mark a major shift for virat. Kohli's slump does not minimize all that he is and has done. Kohli is still one of the most feared batters in world cricket: fans should expect him to return to form soon, continuing to reset the benchmarks in international cricket.

When a player experiences a rough patch, it is not the first or the last, but with Kohli's experience, it is likely that it will not be too long before he returns to form. The cricketing world will be watching closely to see if he can put this double failure behind him and affirm his place among modern greats.

Veteran Indian opener Rohit Sharma has rewritten the record books once again, claiming a historic benchmark during the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. The 38-year-old is now the first Indian batter to accumulate 1000 ODI runs against Australia, on Australian shores, cementing his spot as one of the modern greats.

Rohit entered the game needing just two runs to reach the milestone and did so with his very first boundary of the innings. With this accomplishment, Rohit wrote another gleaming testament to his illustrious ODI career, continuing to showcase his class in conditions away from home.

Surpassed Sourav Ganguly's Number

Earlier in the innings, Rohit broke Sourav Ganguly's record of 9,146 runs, making him India's second-highest run-scorer as an ODI opener, and fifth in the overall history of the country. Of the 54 openers who have surpassed the 3000-run mark in ODIs, Rohit remains the only one with an average exceeding 50, affirming the type of consistency and dominance he has shown at the top.

ALSO SEE: WATCH : 'No Handshake' ends? Shubham Gill spotted in viral video ahead of IND vs AUS 2nd ODI

Rohit’s One-day International Record in Australia

Rohit has not recently found success Down Under. He has always shown an ability to adjust well to Australian conditions while playing against pace and bounce, and produce against high-quality bowling attacks. He is one of India's steadiest performers abroad. In 20 ODIs played on the territory, he has now cracked the 1000-run mark, including four 100s and two 50s, more than any other Indian batter has.

Eyes on Another World Record

Rohit is also on the verge to break another history making record. The right-handed batter currently has 344 sixes in ODI cricket, just seven short of 351 held by Pakistan legend, Shahid Afridi - the most in the history of ODI cricket. Given that there are still two matches to play in the series, Rohit has a real chance to break Afridi’s record and become the all-time leader in sixes across all ODI matches.

As India try to level the series after losing the first ODI, Rohit’s form and experience will be vital. After making history in Adelaide, the captain of the Indian team will now be looking to turn his history making effort into a match-winning one for his team.

As Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss at the Adelaide Oval, he elected to bowl first against India in the second ODI of the series. Australia currently has a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and have made three changes to their playing XI, whilst India has once again elected to stick with the same XI, despite suffering a crushing loss in the first ODI at Perth.

Australia have replaced Josh Philippe, Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Ellis with Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett, respectively. Carey's inclusion brings further depth into the middle order, and experience behind the stumps after a good stint for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. Zampa bolsters their spin options, and Bartlett takes the place of Ellis whilst adding a little extra pace to the mix.

Australia's pace attack has a big boost with Bartlett, as India look to square the series

The omission of Nathan Ellis raised a few eyebrows, especially given the reasonable pickup he had in Perth – he bowled a couple of brilliant deliveries which had ending Gill's innings, as well as taking 1/29 off five overs. However, Bartlett is in line with the Australian mindset and tactic thinking. Bartlett is renowned for his ability to swing the new ball and working to fuller lengths, both aspects that can translate positively on the Adelaide surface. His tall height and skillset can create an uncomfortable state for the Indian top order, who struggled against pace and bounce in the 1st ODI. 

ALSO SEE: McGrath, Gillespie, Fleming share their favourite Indian fast bowlers

Another reason for a change in pace bowling is Australia's rotating squad policy. They have several pacers like Pat Cummins, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Ben Dwarshuis on the recovery from injury, and the management are being conservative  in terms of load management. Ellis is also a member of Australia's T20I squad for the upcoming series against India, therefore he is being managed for the shorter format where his ability will be more viable at the death.

There were no changes to India's playing XI after the loss. The experienced top order of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill are once again expected to set the tone, and keep the side alive in the series. 

With cool conditions and early movement anticipated, Australia's choice to bowl first may pay off. India, on the other hand, will hope to counter early swing and post a competitive score on a ground that is generally a high scoring one.

Playing XIs:
Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.