India’s defeat in the just concluded pink-ball Test at Adelaide against Australia was not entirely unexpected. A lack of preparation, inexperience with the pink ball, and tactical stumbles, contributed to their downfall. Coming off a resounding 295-run victory in the preceding test match held at Perth, India seemed to have momentum on their side, but it evaporated quickly under the night sky in Adelaide. This loss has exposed several cracks in the Indian team’s armor that need immediate attention.
The Preparation Paradox
One of the most glaring questions is why India didn’t prepare for the pink-ball Test by scheduling similar matches during their recent home series against England, Bangladesh, or New Zealand. The lack of exposure to the pink ball, especially under lights, proved costly. While the SG pink ball is used in India and the Kookaburra pink ball in Australia, the fundamental challenges—dealing with movement under lights and adapting to the different rhythm of day-night cricket—remain similar. Australia, on the other hand, have a rich history with pink-ball cricket, having played 12 day-night Tests and won 11. Their familiarity with the nuances of the format was evident in their precision with both bat and ball.
Team India’s shoddy preparation in the lead-up to the Pink ball Test match effectively handed the initiative to Australia on a silver platter. It was a gift-wrapped opportunity for the hosts, and one that they gleefully accepted, leaving India to rue their subpar build-up to the series.
A Tale of Two Bowling Attacks
India’s bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, failed to replicate Australia’s discipline. On Day 1, when Australia batted under lights, Indian pacers struggled with their lines and lengths, allowing Australia to escape unscathed. In stark contrast, Australia exploited the twilight period on Day 2, reducing India to a disastrous 105 for 5 in their second innings. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland displayed a masterclass in pink-ball bowling, forcing Indian batters to defend or perish.
The numbers tell the story: Starc picked up a career best 6/48 and a total of eight wickets in the match while Cummins and Boland combined for 12 wickets in the match. On the other hand, India’s pace bowlers managed only one wicket in the night session of Day 1 and except Bumrah, none looked threatening enough. The lack of incisive plans and adaptability was evident.
Travis Head: The Nemesis India Ignored
Travis Head’s scintillating form continues to haunt India. With words like ‘bugbear’ and ‘Head-ache’, splashing across news pages, Travis Head is literally India’s biggest adversary, in current times.
After scoring a century in the World Test Championship final and the ICC Cricket World Cup final, Head’s 141-ball 140 in Adelaide was a brutal reminder of his prowess. Surprisingly, India’s bowlers offered just four bouncers in his innings—a glaring practical mistake. Wow, what a brilliant display of strategic genius by the Indian team !
Who needs data analytics, right? Or video footage? Or, you know, basic cricketing strategy? Certainly not the Indian cricket team, who decided to ‘wing it’ in the Adelaide pink-ball Test against Australia. Why bother with pesky things like studying opposition weaknesses when you can just… vibe your way through the game?
Travis Head’s vulnerability to short-pitched bowling was practically a headline during the West Indies’ pink-ball Test, where Shamar Joseph delivered a peach of a yorker after setting him up for a short pitch barrage. Head’s discomfort was also an open secret in Australia’s domestic cricket, the IPL, and possibly in every cricketing WhatsApp group. But why let facts and patterns get in the way of a perfectly good game plan, which seemed to be: “Let’s see what happens if we don’t bowl bouncers to this guy, who struggles with them ?”
The Indian management must have thought, “Who needs surprise tactics when we can stick to predictability?”
The Familiar Batting Collapse
India’s batting woes at the top again unfolded, after a strong display at Perth. Inconsistent performances from all top order batters have become a recurring issue. While Shubman Gill showed flashes of brilliance in both innings, but his lack of temperament in challenging conditions & carrying on to a big score, is a big concerning matter. Rohit Sharma carried the dual responsibility of leading from the front and stabilizing the innings in a middle order slot, but his failure in Adelaide—where he scored just 3 and 6 —left India vulnerable. KL Rahul once again displayed his “infamous inconsistency”, after looking like a million bucks at Perth.
Virat Kohli, too, faces a daunting task at Brisbane & beyond ; to rediscover his Midas touch under pressure. Despite a sparkling century in the Perth Test, Kohli’s performances against top-tier Test nations, including Australia, have been surprisingly subdued in pivotal moments. The ability that once defined him – to rise to the occasion and shepherd his team from precarious to prosperous – has been conspicuous by its absence in the Test arena of late. Notably, Kohli’s recent big scores have come in relatively benign conditions, which have allowed him to flourish without being truly tested. The question now is: can he reclaim his status as a pressure-absorbing, match-winning batsman in the cauldron of Test cricket?
Australia’s top-order, despite their own struggles, found a way to adapt. Usman Khawaja hasn’t fired yet, but he is showing signs of regaining form in Adelaide. Labuschagne’s patient 64 in the first innings steadied Australia, especially when they were batting under lights. Importantly, he & the young rookie opener Nathan McSweeney, considerably negated Bumrah’s threat by playing him out cautiously, forcing other Indian bowlers to step up—a challenge they failed to meet.
The Rohit Sharma Test
Leadership in Test cricket is as much about tactical acumen as leading by example. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy has come under scrutiny, particularly for his inability to adapt quickly to game situations. His defensive field placements allowed Australian batters to rotate the strike, and his bowlers lacked clear plans to counter the opposition’s strengths.
As a batsman, Rohit’s role becomes even more critical. With the last rites of the Adelaide Test over and as the Brisbane Test looms on the horizon, memories of Sourav Ganguly’s iconic 144 at the Gabba in 2003-04 have resurfaced in my mind. That courageous knock set the tone for a thrilling series, where Team India, inspired by their captain’s heroics, pushed the Australians to the limit.
The likes of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Anil Kumble all played pivotal roles in that memorable series, which ultimately fell just short of a historic series victory. The nostalgia is palpable, and one can’t help but wonder if the current Indian Test Captain can draw inspiration from Ganguly’s bravery in the upcoming Brisbane Test, and emulate the success of that formidable 2003-04 squad.
Rohit must reproduce such performances to lift his team, especially as the series moves to the fast paced Gabba, a venue where India scripted a spectacular victory in 2021. There is no doubt, that the upcoming third test will be Rohit’s biggest examination, both as a batter and as a leader of the squad. Remember, he will be coming into this test match with four losses on the trot !
Where Does India Go From Here?
The road ahead is daunting. Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will host the remaining matches, all to be played with the traditional red ball. India’s excuses for their pink-ball struggles won’t hold water anymore. To compete, they must address the following:
1. Top-Order Stability: The opening partnership needs to set the foundation. The role of young Jaiswal, as the strikeforce at the top, will be critical to Team India’s success.
2. Bowling Support for Bumrah: India’s reliance on Bumrah is unsustainable. But Mohammed Siraj and other pacers need to step up, while spinners, whether it is Ashwin /Jadeja/ Sundar must be utilized effectively, especially on tracks offering turn (SCG might !)
3. Tactical Improvements: The team management must develop clearer plans, particularly against players like Head, who can change the momentum of a game within a session. Studying scoring patterns and setting fields accordingly can make a significant difference.
4. Batting Consistency: India’s middle-order, comprising of Virat Kohli, and the mercurial Rishabh Pant, must shoulder more responsibility. Quick collapses, like the one in Adelaide, are unsustainable in a five-Test series.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy holds a unique place in cricketing folklore, and this series is no exception. For Rohit Sharma and India, it’s more than just another bilateral contest. It’s about reclaiming pride, proving resilience, and staying relevant in the World Test Championship race. The memories of India’s historic triumph at the Gabba in 2021 serve as inspiration, but without immediate course correction, a repeat seems unlikely. The Brisbane Test will be a litmus test for India’s character. If they fail to respond, the series might slip away, leaving more questions than answers for Indian cricket.
