December 6, 2024: India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and opted to bat first in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at Adelaide Oval, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling pink-ball, day-night contest.
Rohit expressed confidence about the pitch, describing it as dry with enough grass covering to offer something for both batters and bowlers. With India leading 1-0 in the series after a resounding 295-run victory in Perth, the visitors enter this Test with both momentum and a psychological advantage. However, there’s added motivation for India to exorcise the ghosts of their disastrous 2020 pink-ball Test at Adelaide, where they were bowled out for a humiliating 36, a record low for India in Tests. That memorable defeat was led by Australia’s pace duo Pat Cummins (4/21) and Josh Hazlewood (5/8), and the visitors will be keen to avoid a repeat.
India have made three changes to their lineup, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill returning to the side after injuries. Gill missed the first Test due to a thumb injury but is back for this critical match. Ravichandran Ashwin also returns to the playing XI, bringing with him a solid record in day-night Tests, having taken 18 wickets in four such matches at an incredible average of 13.83. The players missing out are Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, and Washington Sundar.
Speaking at the toss, Rohit mentioned the team’s upbeat mood, especially after their dominant performance in Perth. He emphasized that the team was ready for the challenge and would look to carry forward the momentum. Rohit himself is batting in the middle order for this Test, a tactical move aimed at strengthening the Indian lineup.
Australia also made one change to their side, with pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to a side strain. Scott Boland, who is known for his impressive performances with the pink ball, comes in to replace Hazlewood. Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, acknowledged that the conditions could be tricky with the pink ball but expressed confidence in his team’s preparations. He highlighted that the conditions were “pretty muggy” and emphasized the freshness of the team going into the Test.
The Playing XIs:
India:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Harshit Rana
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
Australia:
- Usman Khawaja
- Nathan McSweeney
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steven Smith
- Travis Head
- Mitchell Marsh
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Mitchell Starc
- Nathan Lyon
- Scott Boland
As the second Test unfolds, all eyes will be on how India handles the pressure of repeating their dominant performance, while Australia looks to bounce back with a strong showing at home. The Adelaide pink-ball Test is always a unique challenge, and both teams are set to face it with high stakes and plenty of determination.
