Day 1 of the second Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval had a dream start for the hosts. Mitchell Starc struck with the very first delivery, removing the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal. The early setback put India on the back foot, leaving KL Rahul to steady the ship, along with incoming batter Shubman Gill, in a bid to rebuild in tough conditions.
Rahul, who initially appeared uneasy at the crease, gradually found his rhythm as his innings unfolded. Meanwhile, Gill looked composed from the outset, confidently playing each delivery on its merit as the duo worked to steady the ship. Scott Boland, however, kept the pressure on with his disciplined line and length, consistently testing the batters. Rahul had a couple of fortunate escapes early on — once when Boland overstepped, negating a dismissal, and again when a catch was put down, giving the Indian opener a much-needed reprieve.
Just as Gill and Rahul appeared to be building a promising partnership, Starc delivered a game-changing blow. A delivery with just enough movement surprised Rahul, leading to his dismissal. True to the adage that one wicket often brings two, the left-arm quick struck again, removing Virat Kohli with a sharp delivery that resulted in a straightforward catch to Steve Smith at slip. To compound India’s woes, Boland joined the party by dismissing a well-set Gill, leaving the India reeling with the loss of three quick wickets just before the dinner break.
India’s struggles continued immediately after the break as well, with Boland sending Rohit Sharma packing, leaving the visitors in deep trouble at 87/5. Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy provided some respite, stitching together a brief partnership to push India past the 100-run mark. However, Pat Cummins struck with a sharp bouncer, dismissing Pant as the ball rose unexpectedly and caught the southpaw off guard.
Ravichandran Ashwin joined with Reddy to add vital runs, steadying the innings temporarily. Ashwin, looking assured at the crease, fell victim to a brilliant delivery from Starc, trapped leg-before. Harshit Rana didn’t last long either, as Starc cleaned him up, reducing India to 146/8.
Reddy then shifted gears, showcasing an array of aggressive strokes to briefly put the pressure back on Australia. His counter-attack provided some much-needed momentum, but his attempt to slog Starc proved costly, resulting in his dismissal. India managed to reach a total of 180, courtesy of Reddy’s late resistance, but the Aussies remained firmly in control.
The Australians adopted a measured approach with the bat despite losing the early wicket of Usman Khawaja. The latter fell to a moment of brilliance from Jasprit Bumrah, leaving Australia in an uneasy situation. Marnus Labuschagne, entrusted with the responsibility of steadying the innings, displayed admirable composure, ending the day unbeaten on 20. Partnering him was Nathan McSweeney, who played a crucial role in anchoring the innings. His gritty knock of 38 not out, under challenging conditions, was a testament to his resilience and skill.
At stumps on Day 1, Australia were in a strong position, trailing by just 94 runs with nine wickets in hand.
5@5 | IND vs AUS: Australia takes the reigns on Day 1 | Champions Trophy decision taken https://t.co/jkDgZ18vSV
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 6, 2024
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