India opted to drop Kuldeep for a second straight game despite the series on the line.
Gautam Gambhir could come to regret his decision to not play Kuldeep Yadav in the IND vs AUS 2nd ODI. India were put into bat on Thursday with the series on the line in Adelaide. And while Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were at their usual best, it was Adam Zampa who ran through the Indian middle order to put the hosts on top.
India were pegged back early in Adelaide with Xavier Barlett striking twice early. Led by Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, India resurrected their innings to find themselves in a position to impose themselves on the game. However, Adam Zampa had other ideas as he continued his fantastic record against India.
Zampa coped some punishment early on but grew into the game. He adjusted his lengths quickly and had his first scalp in Shreyas Iyer. The India vice-captain edged one onto his stumps. Zampa then castled KL Rahul with an absolute peach. The India keeper looked to pull, but Zampa's flipper arrived flatter and quicker to send his stumps rocking.
His third scalp was the well set Axar Patel who tried to take the aerial route. With India under pressure to score quickly, Zampa baited the left-hander with a tossed up delivery outside off. Patel took the challenge and went over long off, with Mitchell Starc taking a fine catch on the boundary. Nitish Reddy did not last too long, with Zampa foxing his SRH teammate with a quick legspinner.
Zampa enjoys a fine record against India in ODIs. It was his 3rd 4-wicket haul against the Men in Blue, with 41 wickets in 25 matches. He enjoys a positive match up against both Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, and broke the back of India's batting in the middle overs.
Zampa's masterclass will serve as a cruel reminder to Gautam Gambhir, who opted to drop Kuldeep Yadav for the second consecutive game. Yadav has been in and out of the side under Gambhir's tenure, struggling to find regular game time. The head coach's preference for all rounders mean Washington Sundar and Axar Patel have moved ahead in the pecking order in the IND vs AUS ODI series.