AUS vs IND, 2nd Test, Day 1: Mitchell Starc's career best spell 6-48 folds India to mere 180 at Adelaide. Australia trail by 94 runs at the stumps on Day 1.
Brief Score: AUS 86/1 (McSweeney 38*, M Labuschagne 20*, J Bumrah 1/13) trail IND 180 (N Reddy 42, KL Rahul 37, M Starc 6/48) by 94 runs.
Skipper Rohit Sharma returned to the side after missing the opening game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 at Perth. The second test at Adelaide, which was a Day-Night affair, also saw the return of Shubman Gill and Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s Playing XI. The trio replaced Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, and Washington Sundar. On the other hand, Australia made only one change to their side as they roped-in pacer Scott Boland in the place of Josh Hazlewood.
Opting to bat first, India lost wickets in regular intervals. Nitish Kumar Reddy was the highest scorer for India with his 42 in 54 balls. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc finished with his career-best figures of 6/48 as the visitors were dismissed for 180 in their first innings.
Talking Point: Gill, Kohli and Rohit exhibit questionable shot-selection
Poor shot-selection remained one of the reasons behind India's batting collapse at Adelaide. This, in turn, led to a poor first-innings score for the Men in Blue. Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and skipper Rohit Sharma were the prime culprits. Despite good experience under their belts, the India batting trio is in need of higher focus levels in challenging conditions. Such unfortunate and avoidable dismissals often significantly impact team performances and results.
Kohli got out on a back-of-length delivery as he jibed a ball that could have been left. The India talisman was caught by Steven Smith at the slips. Soon after, Gill departed to a very good delivery from Boland. The ball jagged back in sharply and the young India batter had no answers. Meanwhile, Rohit got out on a fabulous delivery from Boland. The ball moved in subtly, trapping the India skipper in front of the wicket. India batters must refine their approach, playing with greater caution and shot selection in the remainder of the series.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 4: India beat Australia by comprehensive margin of 295 runs in Perth
Starc, Boland rattle India with quick wickets
Rohit’s call to bat first resulted in dismay as India lost their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first delivery of the game. Strac struck on the first ball as the visitors were pinned to the back-foot. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill staged a rescue act with their 69-run stand. However, that didn’t last long. Starc and Boland combined yet again to crush the hearts of the travelling fans. Three quick wickets by the Kangaroos meant that the control was back with Pat Cummins’ men. The Aussies ended the first session with an advantage as India reeled at 82/4.
Starc lodges career-best 6/48; Reddy, India’s only spark
Mitchell Starc's impressive bowling helped Australia bundle India out for 180 in the first innings in Adelaide. Nitish Kumar Reddy squeezed out as many runs as possible from the tail. He fell for 42 off 54 balls, becoming the sixth man to fall to Starc on the day. Starc finished with career-best figures of 6/48, continuing his domineering run at home in pink-ball Tests. The left-arm quick got the big wickets of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal on an eventful opening day. He struck twice in an over to scalp Ravichandran Ashwin and tailender Harshit Rana’s wickets with searing yorkers.
Labuschagne, McSweeney’s caution takes Australia to 86/1
Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney batted with caution in the final session against a strong India pace attack. Their unbroken 62-run stand under the night sky gave the hosts the upper hand. Jasprit Bumrah did manage a wicket in the form of Usman Khawaja but that was the only success India had in the final session. Although the home team still trail by 94 runs, theirs will be the happier dugout at Stumps on Day 1.
Statistical highlights from Australia vs India, 2nd Test, Day 1
Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for the fifth time by left arm pace in overs 1-10 of a Test match.
With the wicket of Virat Kohli, Mitchell Starc reached the 50-wicket mark in his 10th Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Shubman Gill was dismissed for the third time by Scott Boland in Tests.
Mitchell Starc registered his 15th fifer in Tests, his first against India.
Starc (57) has overtaken Josh Hazlewood (56) to become Australia's second-highest wicket-taker against India in Tests.
Starc registered figures of 6-48, his best ever in Tests.
India's first innings total of 180 is the lowest bat first score in D/N Tests at the Adelaide Oval.
Jasprit Bumrah became only the third India pacer to pick 50+ Test wickets in a calendar year after Kapil Dev (twice) and Zaheer Khan (once).
What’s next
Well-set Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne will start the second day’s play for the home team. Meanwhile, India will eye a few early breakthroughs. The Men in Blue need things to go in their favour to get back in the Test. Not to forget, a World Test Championship (WTC) Final qualification remains at stake for Rohit and Co. There’s no room for complacency, whatsoever.
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