Aussie Batters Shine in Adelaide as Series Defeat Stings: Iyer Reflects on Resilient Performance

India’s batsman Shreyas Iyer commended Australia’s middle-order for their role in securing a narrow two-wicket victory in the second One-Day International at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

“Credit where it’s due, I think they played brilliantly. Their ability to rotate the strike and play sensibly was exceptional. Cooper [Connolly], in particular, displayed tremendous maturity in finishing the game, which speaks volumes about his character,” Iyer mentioned at the post-match press conference.

Connolly’s contribution of an unbeaten 61 off 53 balls, along with the efforts of Matthew Short and Mitch Owen, enabled Australia to chase down the target of 265 runs by the 47th over.

Despite falling short in defense, Iyer expressed that India was confident about having a competitive total. Contributions from Rohit Sharma and Iyer, each scoring half-centuries and establishing a pivotal 118-run partnership for the third wicket, set a strong foundation for India’s innings.

“We focused on building momentum. [Josh] Hazlewood was bowling well, and with the ball seaming, it wasn’t easy to bat initially. Scoring runs was challenging, so we aimed to rotate the strike effectively and reach a total we believed our bowlers could defend,” Iyer explained.

Iyer also noted Australia’s advantage in utilizing bowler-friendly conditions, which helped them secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

“It certainly stings. The first game wasn’t entirely persuasive due to the rain, which favored Australia. Entering this match, it was a must-win for us, and we wanted to give it our all.”

“Losing two key wickets early on required significant effort to rebuild the innings, and credit to how Australia bowled, they capitalized on the conditions well,” Iyer commented.

The series was eagerly anticipated, marking the international return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli since their ICC Champions Trophy win, alongside Iyer’s comeback after his exclusion from the T20 squad for the Asia Cup despite a strong IPL performance with the Punjab Kings.

Reflecting on his preparation, Iyer said competing in the India A series and domestic games during his break helped maintain his form.

“My stint in the domestic season was outstanding. Performing domestically boosts confidence due to the runs behind you.”

“Opportunities are beyond my control, but I’ll focus on my performance. I was fortunate to get the opportunity in the Champions Trophy, and I made the most of it.”

Before returning in Australia, Iyer played in the India A squad against Australia A but withdrew due to a recurring back injury, missing the home Test series against West Indies.

Explaining his decision, Iyer remarked: “In red-ball cricket, I noticed my intensity dipped after fielding, which is crucial at the international level. ODIs offer rest and recovery, so I decided to focus on that format.”

Furthermore, Iyer discussed his upright batting stance, contributing to his improved form over the past year.

“I adopted an upright stance last year to handle unexpected bounce better. Collaborating with my coach, we developed a technique that really suited me. I reverted to this stance, which I was comfortable with growing up, and it has worked well since.”

Published on Oct 23, 2025.