Border-Gavaskar Series: A team bowled out on the first day of a Test match significantly reduces its chances of winning, especially when playing with a pink ball under changing light conditions. This scenario unfolded for India in the Adelaide Test, where their inexperience with the pink ball under floodlights was exposed, culminating in a crushing 10-wicket defeat to Australia.
Australia dismissed India for 175 in their second innings before comfortably chasing a 19-run target to win the Pink-ball Test by 10 wickets, levelling the five-match series 1-1 at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on Sunday.
Pink Ball Challenges
India’s struggle to adapt to the pink ball was evident, as the team failed to gauge its movement and trajectory. The key to mastering the pink ball lies in tracking its black seam till the last moment—a skill Indian batsmen could not effectively execute. In contrast, Australia, with greater experience, leveraged the ball's dynamics to their advantage.
Australian bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc, consistently pitched the ball slightly fuller outside the off stump, compelling Indian batsmen to play and resulting in multiple dismissals behind the wicket. Starc dismissed the pink ball’s complexity, stating, “The pink ball is just like the white and red ball. We bowled and batted with a very positive mindset.”
Ineffective Indian Bowling
India’s bowlers also failed to adapt to the demands of the pink ball. Key bowlers, including Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, bowled a significantly lower percentage of full-length deliveries compared to their performance in the Perth Test, where they had executed better lines and lengths.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel acknowledged the team's shortcomings, saying, “The Australian bowlers bowled brilliantly from the first day and prevented us from scoring runs. This ball becomes harder to handle in the night session, and the team is still learning to play with it.”
Batting Woes Continue
The Indian batting lineup faltered again, with skipper Rohit Sharma's poor form further exacerbating the situation. Rohit’s batting average for 2024-25 stands at a dismal 11.83, marking his weakest performance as a captain among the top six batsmen. In his last 12 innings, he has failed to score more than ten runs in eight of them.
Virat Kohli’s struggles added to the team’s woes. Frequently caught on the inside edge or behind the wicket, Kohli’s inability to contribute significantly in such a crucial match left the Indian team vulnerable.
Travis Head, on the other hand, continued to haunt India with his aggressive batting. Despite the challenging conditions, he played a match-winning innings of 140 runs off 141 balls, highlighting Australia's ability to seize opportunities.
Looking Ahead
Rohit Sharma admitted the team's shortcomings, telling commentator Isha Guha, “We did not play well. The Australian team played much better than us. We missed many opportunities to come back in the match. Now, our full focus will be on the next match.”
India’s pink-ball journey remains a work in progress. As they prepare for the next Test, understanding the nuances of the pink ball and addressing both batting and bowling inefficiencies will be crucial. With lessons learned from Adelaide, an improved performance can be anticipated in the matches to come.
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