India lost the Adelaide Test in less than seven sessions. Even taking into account that they rarely play pink-ball cricket, it was an implosion. It gave that 2011-12 vibe under MS Dhoni, when India were losing Tests Down Under for fun.
The ongoing five-match series currently stands at 1-1. But Australia have smelt blood and India will have to do an awful lot to bounce back from here. The Indian team of the 2020-21 vintage did that under then head coach Ravi Shastri and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, spectacularly recovering from a 36 all out. Can Gautam Gambhir do a Shastri? It would be a test of resolve and character.
The problem this time is that India have a weak captain. As a batsman, Rohit Sharma has scored 142 runs in his last 12 Test innings. His red-ball captaincy has been reactive - the Adelaide Test providing the latest example. This takes us to the question, are India better off without Rohit in the Test side?
Australia win the second Test and level the series.#TeamIndia aim to bounce back in the third Test.Scoreboard https://t.co/upjirQCmiV#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/Tc8IYLwpanBCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2024
In Perth, the tourists looked a lot more positive, even after being bowled out for 150 in the first innings. Jasprit Bumrah was proactive as a captain. More importantly, he bowled arguably the spell of the series to bring his side back into the contest. Bumrah can't play a lone ranger every game. Collective effort is needed for India to pull things back in the next Test in Brisbane that starts on December 14. The game is going to be very important for both sides. From India’s perspective, batting improvement has become imperative.
India’s resounding win at Perth had created confusion in the Australian camp. There were murmurs of a rift even. The pink-ball Test in Adelaide couldn't have come at a better time for the hosts. They had won seven day-night Tests on the spin at this venue. On Sunday, they had their eighth.
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Pat Cummins’ five-wicket haul (5/57) in the second innings capped Australia’s dominance. India had all but lost it on the second day itself, conceding a 157-run first innings lead to their opponents and then losing the top half for 105 runs in their second innings. Still, Rishabh Pant was at the crease and there was an outside chance of a fightback. But Mitchell Starc struck in the first over on Day 3, with a good length delivery that Pant nicked to Steve Smith at slip for his overnight score of 28. That was that.
India folded for 175 and Australia knocked off the 19 runs needed to win in 3.2 overs without losing a wicket. They will have the momentum going into the next Test, although red ball will offer a more level playing field.
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