December 8, 2024: Rohit Sharma was candid in his assessment following India’s heavy loss to Australia in the second Test at Adelaide, acknowledging that his team was outplayed by the hosts. India was defeated by 10 wickets, with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins playing pivotal roles in dismantling India’s batting lineup. This loss came after India had suffered a 295-run defeat in the first Test at Perth, which left the series tied 1-1.
In his post-match presentation, Rohit took full responsibility for his team’s underperformance, admitting that India failed to capitalize on key opportunities during the match. “Disappointing week for us, we did not play well enough to win the game and Australia played better than us,” he said. He added that there were crucial moments where India could have seized control but failed to do so, which ultimately cost them the match. Rohit also acknowledged the challenge posed by the pink ball, a factor that had been widely discussed leading into the match. “We knew it was going to be challenging with the pink ball,” he remarked, noting the difficulty of playing under these conditions.
On a personal note, Rohit, who returned to the middle-order in this match, was unable to make an impact with the bat, registering a string of single-digit scores. However, despite the tough loss, the Indian skipper maintained a positive outlook for the remainder of the series. Reflecting on the team’s victory in Perth, Rohit expressed confidence that they could bounce back and take lessons from their previous performance. “We want to come out here and do that again,” he said, highlighting the need to take the positives from the past and apply them to the upcoming games.
Looking ahead to the third Test at the Gabba, Rohit mentioned that the team was eager to learn from their mistakes and build on the good memories from their previous visit to Brisbane, where India had achieved a memorable series win in 2021. He emphasized the importance of starting strong and understanding the unique challenges each Test match brings. “We want to start well and play well,” he concluded, signaling India’s intent to turn the page and bounce back in the series.
With the series tied at 1-1 and the third Test fast approaching, Rohit and his team will be keen to regroup, re-evaluate their approach, and put up a strong fight against an Australia team that has shown its resilience and strength in the first two Tests.
