Team India faced a crushing 10-wicket defeat against Australia in the Adelaide Test. In this pink-ball day-night Test, the Indian team appeared disorganized in all departments—batting, bowling, and fielding.
The match, which lasted just over two days, saw India lose all 20 wickets in just 81 overs. The team scored a combined total of 355 runs in both innings, while the Australian team scored 337 runs in their first innings alone, losing only 10 wickets in the process.
In India’s second innings, no partnership managed to cross 30 runs, a major factor contributing to the defeat. Below are four key reasons behind India’s loss:
1. Indian Batters Struggled with Pink Ball’s Swing and Bounce
The pink ball’s swing and extra bounce troubled the Indian batters. On the first day, the ball was swinging up to 1.6 degrees, and India collapsed within the first two sessions after opting to bat first upon winning the toss.
KL Rahul, replacing the injured captain as an opener, and Virat Kohli were dismissed similarly by Mitchell Starc. Both were caught behind trying to play deliveries swinging away outside off-stump. Other batters also failed to handle the pink ball’s extra swing and bounce. At one point, India was 71/1 but lost Rahul, Kohli, and Shubman Gill for just 10 additional runs.
2. Bowlers Failed Under Floodlights
India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, failed to take wickets under floodlights. By the evening session of the first day, Australian batters were firmly settled at the crease. After India’s collapse, there was hope that the Indian pacers would trouble the Australian lineup. However, the opposite occurred, as Australia ended the first day at 86/1.
3. Indian Batters Struggled in Low-Light Conditions
By Saturday evening, Indian batters were at the crease in their second innings but struggled again under low-light conditions. By the end of the second day, India had lost half their team for 128 runs. KL Rahul (7), Virat Kohli (11), and Rohit Sharma (6) were dismissed cheaply. This time, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland claimed two wickets each.
4. Dropped Catches of Travis Head Proved Costly
Travis Head was given two lifelines, which proved costly for India. Mohammed Siraj dropped his catch when he was on 75, and later wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant failed to hold onto a catch off Harshit Rana’s delivery. Head capitalized on these chances, scoring 140 runs. His innings helped Australia post 337 runs, giving them a commanding 157-run lead. The Australians scored 251 runs in the first two sessions on the second day.
Series Update
Australia’s victory in the Adelaide Test leveled the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at 1-1. The host team chased the 19-run target without losing a wicket. The third Test of the five-match series is set to begin on December 14 at the Gabba in Brisbane.