Rohit is Back, But Team India Suffers Heavy Defeat in Adelaide
India’s hopes of sealing the series early were dashed as Australia defeated Team India convincingly by 10 wickets in the second Test match at Adelaide. With this loss, the series stands leveled 1-1, and serious questions are being raised about the leadership and future of senior players in the Indian Test team.
India’s Batting Collapse: A Match to Forget
Team India’s struggles began from the first ball of the match when Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw by Mitchell Starc without scoring. The Indian batting order crumbled under relentless Australian pace. KL Rahul (37) and Shubman Gill (31) showed promise, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Virat Kohli contributed just 7, while captain Rohit Sharma managed only 3 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy fought back with 42, and Ravichandran Ashwin added 22, but India was bowled out for 180.
Mitchell Starc was the star with the ball, picking up 6 wickets for 48 runs. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland supported well with 2 wickets each.
Australia’s First Innings: Travis Head Shines
Australia’s reply was led by a magnificent 140 from Travis Head, earning him the Player of the Match award. Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with 64, while Nathan McSweeney contributed 39. The Australian team posted a strong 337, gaining a massive 157-run lead.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) were the only bowlers who managed to make an impact. Ashwin and Nitish Kumar Reddy took a wicket each, but debutant Harshit Rana went wicketless.
Also read: Border Gavaskar Trophy: India won the first test match against Australia by 295 runs, taking a lead of 1-0 in a 5-match series
India’s Second Innings: No Fightback, Only Collapse
Facing a big deficit, India needed a strong response. However, their second innings was disappointing. The team approached the innings with T20-style aggression, which backfired. Jaiswal (24), Gill (28), Pant (28), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (42) tried, but no one could play a match-saving knock. Rohit Sharma failed again, scoring only 6.
Pat Cummins ran through the batting order, picking up 5 wickets for 57 runs. Scott Boland took 3 wickets while Starc claimed 2.
Australia’s Easy Chase
Chasing just 19 runs, Australia achieved the target without losing a wicket. Nathan McSweeney remained unbeaten on 10, and Usman Khawaja was on 2 when the winning runs were scored.
Time for Bold Decisions: Senior Players Under Scanner
This loss has sparked debate on the future of senior players. Rohit Sharma, at 37, continues to struggle in overseas Tests. His Test average in Australia is a modest 27.80 across 8 matches. As captain, he has now lost four consecutive Tests. Many are calling for his retirement from the longest format.
Similarly, other senior players like Virat Kohli (36), Ravindra Jadeja (37), and Ravichandran Ashwin (38) may need to consider stepping aside. Ashwin, in particular, has not performed well overseas in recent years. The decision to drop Washington Sundar for this match was seen as a mistake, considering his potential with bat and ball.
Rethinking the Batting Order
There is also growing consensus that Rishabh Pant, though a talented player, should bat at number 7. His aggressive style, more suited for limited-overs cricket, has not helped India’s cause in Tests recently. If he continues to underperform, selectors might look at alternatives like Dhruv Jurel.
Final Scorecard Summary
India 1st Innings: 180 all-out
Top scorer: Nitish Kumar Reddy (42)
Australia Bowling: Starc 6/48
Australia 1st Innings: 337 all-out
Top scorer: Travis Head (140)
India Bowling: Bumrah 4/61, Siraj 4/98
India 2nd Innings: 175 all-out
Top scorer: Nitish Kumar Reddy (42)
Australia Bowling: Cummins 5/57
Australia 2nd Innings: 19/0
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
This heavy defeat highlights the need for fresh blood and bold decisions in Indian Test cricket. The BCCI must now look beyond senior players and build a team for the future. The first Test win under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy showed what a young and fearless team can achieve. It’s time to back that vision and plan for success.