Pink-ball Test: Late wickets put Australia ahead 

by Sahil Jain
Australia vs India - 2nd Test 2024 - Adelaide

Things were motoring along very nicely for India. It looked like they are continuing the good work from Perth. However, Australia bounced back magnificently 20 minutes before the interval. And the game changed upside down. 

India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. Mitchell Starc gave Australia a perfect start as he got rid of last game’s centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first ball. The premier left-arm pacer bowled a beautiful outswinger that tailed back from outside the leg-stump to trap Jaiswal plumb LBW. 

But that was the only success Australia had for three-fourths of the session. Skipper Pat Cummins took the new ball in the absence of Josh Hazlewood. A watchful KL Rahul played out three maidens from Cummins. However, Gill looked very fluent as he was not afraid to drive on the up and pounce on anything loose.  

Scott Boland came into the attack in the seventh over and bowled a highly eventful first over. He had Rahul nicking to the keeper but the Karnataka batter got a reprieve as Boland overstepped. A few balls later, Usman Khawaja dropped Rahul in the cordon.

Starc helps Australia bounce back after solid start from India

Mitchell Starc dismisses Virat Kohli
Mitchell Starc dismisses Virat Kohli

After that, Rahul freed up a touch and complemented Gill well. Both batters scored freely and the scoreboard ticked along nicely. The duo added 69 runs for the second wicket. It was Starc once again who gave Australia the breakthrough. He got one to kick up from a length as Rahul (37) edged one to gully where Nathan McSweeney took an excellent low catch.  

Kohli walked out and looked a touch nervous. The former India skipper drove one away from his body which went to the fence. He looked in better control on another drive through the covers but didn’t last long as Starc got the better of the India No. 4.  

It was an identical dismissal to the first innings in Perth where indecision caused his downfall. Starc got one to go across Kohli and the latter was late to withdraw his bat as he edged it straight to second slip.  

Things went from bad to worse for India as Gill was out plumb LBW to Boland who got reward for some consistent bowling. Gill was out for 31 as India slipped to 81/4.  

India lost three wickets in the space of 12 runs and 15 balls. Australia were under a bit of pressure when Rahul and Gill were going well.

Rohit Sharma arrived at the crease and Starc bowled a testing over before lunch where the Indian captain played and missed a few times. Along with Pant, he will be crucial for India. 

BRIEF SCORES: India 82/4 (KL Rahul 37, Shubman Gill 31, Mitchell Starc 3/31, Scott Boland 1/24) vs Australia.  

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