India faced a crushing 10-wicket defeat against Australia in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide Oval. The loss, which leveled the series at 1-1, highlighted key vulnerabilities in India’s performance, particularly their batting under day-night conditions. The team struggled against Australia’s relentless pace attack, with the defeat sparking discussions about the reasons behind the collapse.
Failure of Top Batters
India’s top-order batsmen, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and skipper Rohit Sharma, were unable to deliver significant contributions. Across both innings, the team failed to surpass the 200-run mark, with established players succumbing to the Australian pacers. Their inability to adapt to the pink-ball conditions proved costly.
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Ineffectiveness Against the Old Ball
While the pink ball is often challenging early on, it was the old ball that posed the most problems for India. Australian pacers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland exploited the worn-out ball to take 14 wickets, conceding just 159 runs. In contrast, India managed only four wickets with the old ball, allowing Australia to score at an economy of 4.27 per over.
Also See: India vs Australia (IND vs AUS) Series Schedule | India Cricket Schedule| Australia Cricket Schedule
Travis Head’s Impactful Knock
Travis Head’s explosive 140-run innings turned the game decisively in Australia’s favor. His aggressive approach on a challenging wicket ensured Australia gained a significant first-innings lead of over 150 runs, leaving India with little room to recover.
Unfamiliarity with Day-Night Conditions
India’s limited experience with pink-ball Tests was evident in their performance. The day-night format exposed weaknesses in both their batting and bowling, particularly when facing the Australian attack under lights.
Momentum Shift After Perth Victory
Despite a strong start to the series with a win in Perth, India failed to carry that momentum into Adelaide. Australia, on the other hand, made adjustments after their opening loss, emerging as a revitalized side and capitalizing on India’s mistakes.
India and Australia third Test is set to begin in Brisbane on December 14.
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