36-all out a distant memory, India aim to challenge Australia's pink-ball supremacy
The past is in the past, said Rohit Sharma when asked about India’s horror show with the bat during a pink-ball Test in Adelaide in 2020. India have been repeatedly reminded of their Adelaide history in the build-up to the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While assistant coach Abhishek Nayar brushed off the comparisons, Rohit Sharma displayed a steely determination when addressing the topic.
Rohit highlighted the example of the Perth Test and emphasised that the young Indian team had not travelled with the baggage of the past. He lauded players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal for their mental resilience and ability to focus obsessively on preparation while tuning out external noise.
“We are mentally strong, and for us, adaptation is not a problem. We try to give our best in difficult situations. At the highest level of cricket, you will not get easy things. Even in Perth, we did not have all our players, but everyone kept their heads down, played their part, and the result was in our favour. We have to approach this Test match in the same way. If all eleven play their roles, the result might be in our favour,” Rohit said at the pre-match press conference in Adelaide.
And why not? India had hammered Australia in the opening Test match of the series playing at the Optus. On a wicket that was conducive to pace and bounce, not only did Indian batting outperform Australia’s, but India’s bowling under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah was also miles ahead of the hosts.
Yes, India might not play as many Test matches as Australia with the pink ball, but come into the 2nd Test with much more confidence than the hosts. Of the four day-night Tests that India have played, the only loss came in the Adelaide Test in 2020 in which they were bowled out for 36, the lowest Test total for the Asian giants.
That solitary defeat, given its freakish nature, hardly defines their record.
THE JASPRIT BUMRAH FACTOR
This is probably the first tour of Australia where an Indian team has been given an overwhelmingly positive reception from the Australian media. At the forefront of this adulation is Jasprit Bumrah, whose performance has garnered as much attention as Virat Kohli.
Bumrah, who claimed eight wickets in the Perth Test, has been treated like a demi-god. He has neither been sledged by the Australian team nor targeted in any war of words. The closest to a challenge has been Travis Head’s comment that he was familiar with Bumrah’s bowling and ready for the contest in Adelaide.
Bumrah’s growing reputation in Australia and the world as the greatest bowler of all time might turn out to be a mental block for Australia by the end of this series. A hint of that was seen in the first Test match itself, where nearly no Australian batter wanted to target Bumrah, bar Travis Head.
By the looks of it, at the end of this series, Bumrah might even have a stand named after him in Australia!
RAHUL-KOHLI-JAISWAL
The Australian bowling order was run straight onto the ground in the Perth Test by the trio of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Funny that Kohli was suffering from the worst of forms in the New Zealand Test series, and that KL Rahul was dropped from the side. Jaiswal is perhaps the only batter earmarked for a big series in Australia and the young opener lived up to the hype.
The Adelaide Test might pan out in a similar way as Australia are looking for a sporty surface in Adelaide that does not seam till infinity. If the wicket and conditions are indeed balanced in nature, India can expect at least one of these players to score big runs.
INDIA VS AUSTRALIA, 2ND TEST TEAM NEWS
Australia have already announced their playing XI. They have made just one change, with Scott Boland coming in place of Josh Hazlewood. Australia batters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were able to overcome injury scares to be in contention for the second Test.
ROHIT, ASHWIN RETURN?
India captain Rohit Sharma will return for this Test match after having confirmed that he will be batting in the middle-order. The best guess is that Rohit Sharma replaces Dhruv Jurel in the line-up and Shubman Gill replaces Devdutt Padikkal.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 16 wickets in 3 Tests at Adelaide, may return to the fray in this Test match. In case that happens, he will replace Washington Sundar. | Predicted XI: Aus vs Ind |
If horses for courses is the way to go, another change could be made in the bowling department. Akash Deep might get a look in, replacing Harshit Rana. The KKR pacer, who despite making a tremendous debut in Perth, might not be the ideal choice for the pink ball Test match. Akash Deep has impeccable lines and lengths and can prove to be very nagging with the pink ball.
IND vs AUS, 2nd TEST: PREDICTED XIS
INDIA: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, R Ashwin/Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana/Akash Deep.
AUSTRALIA: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon
IND vs AUS, 2nd TEST: PITCH & WEATHER CONDITIONS
Adelaide Oval’s pitch curator Damian Hough has confirmed that the wicket will have an even covering of grass – 6mm to be exact in the 2nd Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Speaking to the press on Wednesday, 4 December, Hough said that the conditions will help the seamers.
Asked if the conditions would be overwhelmingly favourable for fast bowlers in Adelaide, Hough said that him and his team were trying to make a balanced wicket where batters, pacers and spinners can impact the Test match. However, the curator added that under certain parameters such as under the lights or overcast conditions, the seamers will get a lot of help from the wicket.
Thundershowers are expected on Day 1 of the Adelaide Test match, with 88 per cent chance of rain predicted on December 6. Hough said that in those days, the ball will swing and seam but it will not be because of the pitch, but due to the conditions, on the venue.
“History suggests that it is hard to bat under lights in Adelaide. The pitch will have 6mm of grass. We are trying to produce a pitch that would be a good contest. The pitch did not play a part in the Test match finishing in 3 days last time India were here. I thought that it was really good bowling from Australia. As long as there is something in it for all aspects of the game, I am happy, I just want a good contest,” Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough told the press on Wednesday, 4 December.
“The ball hooping around has got nothing to do with the pitch. Under the right conditions, right weather, the ball will move,” he further added.
Can India pile up pressure on Australia, overcoming the scars of 36-all out? A 2-0 lead would give them a huge mental edge for the rest of the series. Rohit Sharma and his men will be pumped up to seize the big moment in the series.
