Team India Struggles on Day One in Adelaide; Gavaskar Voices Concerns
The second Test match between India and Australia in Adelaide started on a challenging note for Team India. Despite a dominant 295-run victory in Perth, the Indian team found themselves on the backfoot on the opening day in Adelaide, drawing sharp criticism from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.
Batting Collapse After a Bold Decision
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision made with high hopes. Significant changes were made to the playing XI, including Rohit batting in the middle order after years of opening. However, the day started disastrously for India when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed on the very first ball by Mitchell Starc.
Super Starc ⭐ Here's every call of the stunning start to the second #AUSvIND Test!@FoxCricket @7Cricket @triplemcricket @abcsport @SEN_Cricket @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/5F4GnjDXuz
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2024
Starc’s exceptional bowling continued to dismantle the Indian batting lineup, with both Virat Kohli and Rohit failing to make an impact. The lone bright spot in the innings was young Nitish Reddy, who played a composed knock of 42 runs, helping India post a modest total of 180 runs.
Gavaskar’s Criticism
Speaking to Star Sports after the first innings, Sunil Gavaskar pointed out the flaws in India’s approach. “The bowlers need to force the batsmen to play more deliveries. Success comes when you make the batsman engage with the ball. As Jasprit Bumrah showed in Perth, strategically using the pink ball can trap key players. Unfortunately, the Indian bowlers didn’t capitalize on this,” he remarked.
He's got a new generation of batters desperate to take him down, but Mitchell Starc showed he is still at the peak of his powers in Adelaide.@LouisDBCameron's story: https://t.co/l2LH2BqQKC #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/GZSsPfphh2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 6, 2024
Bowlers Face a Tough Challenge
Australia began their innings confidently, ending the day at 86/1. Young Nathan McSweeney led the charge with an unbeaten 38 runs, while star batsman Marnus Labuschagne held firm at 20. With a promising start for the hosts, the pressure now shifts to the Indian bowlers on Day Two. They face the daunting task of restricting Australia to 200 runs or less to keep India in the game.
The match in Adelaide has proven to be an early test for Team India, with their batting, bowling, and fielding under scrutiny. As the second day unfolds, the team will need a collective effort to turn the tide and keep their hopes alive in the series.