If you were expecting another Perth-style masterclass from India, Adelaide was a cold, pink-ball reality check. Honestly, the mood shifted the second Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped LBW by Mitchell Starc on the very first ball of the match. One ball. That’s all it took for the momentum of the entire series to tilt back toward the hosts.
The India vs Australia 2nd Test 2024 wasn't just a cricket match; it was a three-day demolition job that leveled the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at 1-1.
Australia won by 10 wickets. It sounds brutal because it was. India folded for 180 in their first innings and barely managed 175 in the second. When you set a target of 19 runs for a team like Australia, you’re basically just asking them to finish their warm-ups. Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja knocked those off in just 3.2 overs on Day 3, leaving the Indian camp with a lot of soul-searching to do before Brisbane.
The Travis Head Factor and India's Batting Woes
While the Adelaide Oval is known for its picturesque sunsets, for the Indian bowlers, it was mostly a view of Travis Head’s bat through the air. Head’s 140 off 141 balls was the defining performance of the match. He didn't just score; he attacked. He treated a world-class attack like a club side, smashing 17 fours and 4 sixes.
It’s kinda crazy how much one player can change the vibe. When Head walked out, the game was arguably in the balance. When he left, Australia had a massive 157-run lead. India’s response? A collective stutter.
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The top order, which looked so invincible in Perth, suddenly looked fragile under the lights.
- Virat Kohli: 7 and 11.
- Rohit Sharma: 3 and 6.
- KL Rahul: 37 and 7.
Basically, the big names didn't show up when the pink ball started nipping around. Mitchell Starc was the primary tormentor in the first innings with a career-best 6/48. He made the ball talk.
Why the Pink Ball Changes Everything
There’s a lot of talk about "twilight" in Day-Night Tests, and for good reason. The period where the sun goes down and the stadium lights take over is a nightmare for batters. The ball seems to pick up an extra yard of pace and swings late.
India’s regular collapses during this phase aren't just a coincidence. Since the infamous "36 all out" at this same venue years ago, there’s been a visible tentativeness. Pat Cummins exploited this perfectly in the second innings, picking up 5/57. He wasn't even bowling at maximum speed; he was just hitting that "corridor of uncertainty" with surgical precision.
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Key Moments You Might Have Missed
It wasn't all doom and gloom for India. Nitish Kumar Reddy is quickly becoming the find of the tour. The young all-rounder showed more fight than most of the veterans, scoring 42 in both innings. He’s got that "don't care who you are" attitude that you need to survive in Australia.
Then there was the Mohammed Siraj saga. Siraj was booed by the Adelaide crowd after some heated exchanges with Travis Head on Day 2. He ended up taking 4 wickets in the first innings, proving that he thrives on conflict. But by the time he came out to bat on Day 3, he was just a target for the Aussie pacers. He holed out to Head (of all people) to end the Indian second innings, which felt like a scripted moment of irony.
The Scoreboard Realities
To understand how lopsided this was, look at the time spent at the crease.
India’s first innings lasted just 44.1 overs.
The second? Only 36.5 overs.
You can’t win Test matches in Australia if you can’t bat for at least two full sessions.
What’s Next for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
The series is now tied. Australia has their swagger back. India has their captain, Rohit Sharma, back in the side, but his form is a glaring concern.
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Actionable Insights for the Next Test:
- Top Order Stability: India needs to decide if KL Rahul belongs at the top or if Rohit should move back up. The current shuffling is creating instability.
- The Ashwin vs Sundar Debate: Ravichandran Ashwin played in Adelaide and took a wicket but didn't offer much with the bat. With the Gabba up next, India might look for more batting depth.
- Handling the Bounce: The Gabba is traditionally a "bouncy" track. India’s batters need to stop poking at deliveries outside off-stump—a habit that cost them dearly in Adelaide.
If you're following the India vs Australia 2nd Test 2024 aftermath, keep an eye on the injury reports. Josh Hazlewood missed this game with a side strain but might be back for the third Test. If he joins Cummins and Starc, India's task gets even harder.
Key stats to remember:
- Travis Head: Player of the Match (140 runs).
- Pat Cummins: 13th career five-wicket haul (5/57).
- Series Status: 1-1.
Keep your calendars marked for the Gabba. It’s usually where Australia feels most at home, but as we saw in 2021, India knows how to break a fortress.