India’s impressive home record in Day-Night Tests instills confidence, but conquering foreign soil under the pink ball remains an elusive challenge
After a historic win in Perth in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, India is gearing up for the second and arguably the most challenging game of the series: the Day-Night Test in Adelaide. Scheduled to begin on December 6, 2024, the pink-ball Test will be preceded by a two-day practice match against the President’s XI on November 30, 2024.
#India will play a pink-ball warm up game in #Canberra on Nov 30-Dec 1, to prepare for the D/N Test in #Adelaide from Dec 6-10.
— Walking Wicket (@WalkingWicket2) November 27, 2024
What are the difficulties in facing the pink ball & what are the adjustments required?
Read: https://t.co/luMWoFp3vI#INDvsAUS #BGT #WTC #Cricket
Let’s delve into the performances of three present Indian players who are set to play the second Test and were also part of the pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide. It was a game no Indian cricket fan wishes to remember, given that India was bundled for 36 runs in the second innings. However, let us look at how the three players performed four years ago.
That famous run out of Virat Kohli at 74, who top scored in Adelaide still gets blamed for 36/9. Now wait for media to safeguard Rohit Sharma for 46 all out pic.twitter.com/kcGpheZcpw
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) October 17, 2024
In the 2020 Adelaide Test, Virat Kohli played a captain’s knock in the first innings, scoring a composed 74 off 180 balls. Facing a challenging Australian attack, Kohli’s innings included eight crisp boundaries and a strike rate of 41.11. Unfortunately, a mix-up with Ajinkya Rahane led to his run-out at a crucial juncture, leaving India at 188/4. Kohli’s dismissal shifted the momentum, but his effort stood out in India’s total of 244.
The second innings was a different story. Kohli managed just four runs off eight balls before falling prey to a full delivery by Pat Cummins. A rare lapse saw Kohli slice the ball to Cameron Green at gully, reducing India to a precarious 19/6. His contributions with the bat in the first innings showcased his skill, but the collapse in the second innings underscored the team’s collective struggle.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s performance in the 2020 Adelaide Test was a tale of two halves. With the bat, he scored a quick 15 off 20 balls in the first innings but fell to Pat Cummins, edging a fuller delivery to Tim Paine. His second innings was brief, as he departed for a golden duck to Josh Hazlewood, whose delivery kissed Ashwin’s edge to hand Australia a critical breakthrough. With the ball, Ashwin was India’s standout performer in the first innings, claiming 4 wickets for 55 runs in 18 overs.
He dismissed key players like Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Cameron Green, using variations in flight and spin to outfox the batters. His spell restricted Australia to 191, giving India a slender first-innings lead. Ashwin dismissed Marnus Labuschagne in the second innings with a brilliantly tossed-up delivery that forced an aerial shot. Despite his efforts, India’s batting collapse left little room for heroics.
Jasprit Bumrah’s all-around contributions in the 2020 Adelaide Test highlighted his versatility. In the first innings, Bumrah remained unbeaten on 14 off 7 balls, providing a late flourish to India’s total. He delivered a strong spell with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 52 runs in 21 overs. His victims included Matthew Wade and Joe Burns, both dismissed lbw by Bumrah’s pinpoint deliveries.
In the second innings, Bumrah’s stint as a nightwatchman was short-lived. He scored just 2 runs off 17 balls before being caught and bowled by Pat Cummins. With the ball, Bumrah bowled seven overs but went wicketless, maintaining an economy rate of 3.85. Despite his efforts, the team’s lack of support in both innings left him without the desired impact.
Bumrah and Virat have already found their forms but Ashwin wasn’t part of the Perth party. It will be interesting to see if Ashwin gets a chance in the playing XI and the Indian trio can finally get their hands on a much desired revenge.