Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan showered praise on Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood for his exceptional yet wicketless spell during the second ODI between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval. Despite Hazlewood’s relentless accuracy and movement off the seam, he couldn’t find a breakthrough, prompting Pathan to label it one of the unluckiest spells he had ever witnessed.
“The way Josh Hazlewood bowled 10 overs for 29 runs but no wicket. I doubt I have seen such an unlucky spell because he bowled 60 balls out of which he could have gotten Rohit Sharma’s wicket in any of the 20 balls. Even when he was bowling the 35th or 36th over, he was consistently beating the bat,” said Pathan.
Hazlewood, who had already troubled India’s top order in the opening game in Perth, once again dominated with his line and length. Although he delivered two maiden overs and constantly challenged Rohit Sharma, luck wasn’t on his side.
Pathan further highlighted the contrast in fortunes between Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, remarking,
“I haven’t seen forcing the batters to play 45% of false shots and not getting a wicket despite that. Mitchell Starc didn’t bowl that well but he got a wicket. It’s a game of luck sometimes. Wrist-spinner Zampa performed well, took four wickets.”
Cooper Connolly Impresses with Match-Winning Knock
The former Indian cricketer also applauded Cooper Connolly for his calm and composed innings of 61 not out, which helped Australia seal the series 2–0. Pathan analyzed Connolly’s unique batting style and his potential as a long-term prospect for Australian cricket.
“Cooper Connolly, in particular, his bat comes from down. If you see batters in Australia, they always stand pre-loaded. But very few batters keep their bat down when the bowler is at the top of his mark. He looked like a different batter, taking singles and doubles, rotating strike,” Pathan explained.
Connolly’s maturity stood out as he built crucial partnerships with Matthew Short and Mitch Owen, guiding Australia home with two wickets in hand. His recent performances for Australia A have also been impressive — scoring nearly 150 runs in three innings against India A.
Pathan Reflects on India’s Missed Opportunities
India’s defeat in Adelaide marked their first ODI loss at the venue since 2008. According to Pathan, the main issue was the lack of runs on the board, despite bowlers putting up a spirited effort.
“We saw one more time how much we needed a wrist-spinner on this pitch because the ball was not gripping. After 2008, we lost a match in Adelaide and lost the series too. When India look back, they will say we came close, took wickets. But the runs were not enough. If there were more runs, it would’ve been better,” he said.
With Australia clinching the series 2–0, India will now look to salvage pride in the third and final ODI scheduled to take place in Sydney on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
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