Hosts maintain their perfect 8-0 pink-ball record at Adelaide Oval; third Test to begin in Brisbane on December 14
Australia delivered a commanding performance to defeat India by 10 wickets in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The match showcased a counter-attacking century by Travis Head and devastating bowling spells from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. With this victory, Australia leveled the five-match series 1-1, maintaining their unbeaten streak in pink-ball Tests at Adelaide Oval with eight wins in as many matches.
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Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India faltered against the pace and precision of Mitchell Starc, who wreaked havoc with figures of 6/48. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had impressed with 161 in Perth, was dismissed for a golden duck by Starc. A 69-run partnership between KL Rahul (37) and Shubman Gill (31) provided some stability, but their dismissals triggered a collapse. Virat Kohli (7), Rohit Sharma (3), and Rishabh Pant (21) failed to build partnerships, leaving India reeling at 109/6.
Ravichandran Ashwin (22) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (42) offered some resistance, but the visitors were bowled out for 180 in 44.1 overs. Alongside Starc’s brilliance, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland chipped in with two wickets each.
In response, Australia overcame an early loss of Usman Khawaja to build a solid innings. Nathan McSweeney (39) and Marnus Labuschagne (64) steadied the innings with a 67-run partnership, and despite Steve Smith’s early dismissal for just 2, Travis Head took charge.
Head’s counter-attacking 140 off 141 balls, featuring 17 fours and four sixes, dismantled India’s bowling attack. A 74-run partnership with Alex Carey (15) further strengthened Australia’s position before they were bowled out for 337 runs in 87.3 overs, securing a significant 157-run lead. Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were the standout bowlers for India, supported by Ashwin and Reddy with a wicket each.
India’s second innings followed a similar script as the Australian pace trio of Cummins, Boland, and Starc dominated. Despite brief starts from Jaiswal (24) and Gill (28), the Indian top order failed to capitalize. KL Rahul (7), Virat Kohli (11), and Rishabh Pant (28) were unable to mount a fightback. India ended day two at 128/5 and was bowled out for 175 on the third morning, setting Australia a target of just 19 runs.
Also See: India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) Series Schedule | India Cricket Schedule| Australia Cricket Schedule
Cummins led the charge with a stunning five-wicket haul (5/67), his eighth as captain, while Boland (3/51) and Starc (2/60) provided excellent support.
Chasing a modest target of 19, Khawaja (10*) and McSweeney (9*) sealed the win in just 3.2 overs without losing a wicket.
“Australia were better than us”: Indian skipper Rohit after 10-wicket loss at Adelaide
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged Australia’s superior performance after their dominant 10-wicket victory in the second Test at Adelaide Oval, leveling the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series 1-1. Australia’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, dismantled India’s batting lineup, continuing India’s inconsistent record in pink-ball Tests.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rohit admitted India fell short in crucial moments. “Disappointing week for us; we did not play well enough to win the game, and Australia played better than us,” he said. “There were times in the game where we could have grabbed those opportunities, but we failed, and that cost us the match.”
Rohit, who returned to the middle order for this match, struggled with the bat, managing only single-digit scores in both innings. Reflecting on the challenge of playing with the pink ball, he added, “Every Test match has its own challenge. We knew it was going to be tough with the pink ball. Like I said, Australia was better than us.”
Rohit expressed optimism about the team’s prospects in the upcoming match. “We are quite looking forward to it (the third Gabba Test),” he said. “There’s not much time in between. We want to go out there and think about what we did right in Perth and what we achieved last time we were here. There are some really good memories there, and hopefully, we understand the challenges of every Test match. We want to start well and play well.”
Also See: India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) Upcoming Matches Schedule
Pat Cummins Reflects on Australia’s Commanding 10-Wicket Victory Over India
Australian skipper Pat Cummins expressed satisfaction with his team’s comprehensive 10-wicket triumph over India in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide Oval. The victory not only leveled the series 1-1 but also restored Australia’s dominance after a heavy 295-run defeat in the first Test at Perth.
Speaking after the match, Cummins described it as a “great week” for the team, highlighting the stark improvement in performance compared to the opening Test. “We were far from the team we want to be in Perth, but this was good. It’s great to get a few wickets myself, and the team really pulled together,” he said.
Cummins reserved special praise for pace spearhead Mitchell Starc, whose devastating spells dismantled the Indian batting lineup. Starc’s six-wicket haul in the first innings was instrumental in restricting India to just 180 runs. “He is amazing. He has done it for over a decade now. I feel very lucky and privileged to have him in the team,” Cummins said.
Travis Head’s counter-attacking 140 proved to be a turning point in the match. “The game could have gone either way when Head went out to bat, but he shifted the momentum in our favor. He loves batting here,” Cummins noted.
Cummins also commended Scott Boland, who delivered an impressive performance after being brought into the playing XI. “Scotty just fitted in straightaway, like he always does. He probes with every ball, hitting the top of off. He was fantastic,” Cummins said, adding that he hopes Josh Hazlewood will return for the next Test but acknowledged Boland’s incredible contribution.
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