India vs Australia 2nd Test Highlights: AUS thrash IND by 10 wickets in Pink Ball Test

IND vs AUS 2nd Test FULL SCORECARD: Resuming at 128 for 5, India lost their remaining five wickets for just 47 runs in 12.5 overs on Day 3, with Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scoring with a 47-ball 42.

9:03 AM

Hayden on Rohit Sharma amid India captain's criticism for his batting

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden weighed in on the artistry of Rohit Sharma and the harsh realities of facing the pink ball under lights. In a vivid metaphor, Hayden likened Sharma’s graceful style to the effortless comfort of relaxing in a leather lounge chair, contrasting it with the intensity brought by other batting greats.

 

"Rohit, the connoisseur of elegance”

"Rohit Sharma plays cricket like he’s reclining in a leather lounge chair with a cup of coffee in his hands," Hayden quipped on Star Sports, capturing the effortless elegance that defines Sharma’s batting. "You’ve got to admire the different styles that grace Test cricket. Virat Kohli—hard at the ball, a busy player, always looking to impose himself. Rohit, on the other hand, is too easy. He’s in the category of players like Mark Waugh or Shubman Gill, those who make cricket look deceptively simple."

 

Hayden acknowledged that such a languid style often invites criticism when dismissals seem avoidable. "It’s very easy for us to call it a soft way to get out. But that ease is precisely what we admire most about someone like Rohit Sharma, who appears to have so much time to play," he said, defending the opener’s approach.

 

The pink ball’s unforgiving spell

Turning to Sharma’s dismissal, Hayden emphasised the brutal challenge posed by the pink ball in night conditions. "Folks, don’t be too disappointed. He got an absolute jaffer of a delivery," Hayden remarked, referring to the peach from Pat Cummins that uprooted Sharma’s stumps. "In fact, he faced a great sequence of deliveries in the short time he was out there under these lights."

 

Hayden drew on years of experience to underscore the pink ball’s treachery. "When it comes to the night game with the new pink ball, it is horrendous. Technically, it’s so difficult. It exposes everyone and anyone," he explained, lending context to Sharma’s struggles.

 

Early blow in a high-stakes battle

Rohit Sharma’s dismissal for just 6 runs in the second innings proved to be a significant setback for India. Facing relentless pressure from Australia’s pace attack, India found themselves on the back foot, grappling with the unforgiving conditions.  

 

As Hayden dissected the moment, he left viewers with an appreciation of Sharma’s artistry and a reminder of the merciless nature of pink ball cricket under the Adelaide lights. For Rohit, the dismissal may sting, but for the audience, his effortless style remains a testament to the beauty of Test cricket’s varied forms.

8:47 AM

Starc to Bumrah: Top 10 highest wicket-takers in India vs Australia Test series 2024-25

Top 10 highest wicket-takers in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
	Player	Matches	Overs	Balls	Wkts	Avg	Runs	4-fers	5-fers
1	Jasprit Bumrah	2	53	318	12	11.08	133	1	1
2	Mitchell Starc	2	60.1	361	10	22.2	222	-	1
3	Mohammed Siraj	2	51.3	309	9	18.78	169	1	-
4	Pat Cummins	2	60.4	364	7	32.43	227	-	-
5	Josh Hazlewood	1	34	204	5	11.4	57	1	-
6	Harshit Rana	2	45	270	4	50.75	203	-	-
7	Scott Boland	1	20	120	4	23.25	93	-	-
8	Mitchell Marsh	2	21	126	3	34.33	103	-	-
9	Nathan Lyon	2	45	270	2	62.5	125	-	-
10	Washington Sundar	1	17	102	2	24.5	49	-	-

8:28 AM

IND vs AUS LIVE UPDATES: Day 3 weather forecast of Adelaide

There is a bright sunshine in Adelaide at the moment. The strong wind, which was present yesterday, is not their today.

8:12 AM

Hayden uses Murphy Law to explain Aussies dominance in Pink Ball Test

Hayden unpacks the drama: How 'Murphy's Law' tilted the second Test Australia's way

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden delivered a riveting analysis of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, dissecting the sequence of events that shifted the game in Australia's favour. Hayden, known for his astute cricketing insights, described the chain reaction as a classic case of "Murphy's Law" – where anything that can go wrong, does.

 

Murphy's Law unfolds in Australia’s favour

Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden remarked on how a series of pivotal moments swung the game’s momentum. "It's Murphy's Law. It's a sequence of events that has unfortunately swung the momentum in favour of Australia," he explained, setting the tone for his deep dive into the unfolding drama.

 

India’s bold decision to bat first

Hayden stood firmly behind India’s choice to bat first, emphasising the strategic advantage such a decision typically offers in Test cricket. "It was a good decision to bat. It had to be there," he affirmed.

 

Drawing on statistical insights, Hayden elaborated, "Teams brave enough to bat first on slightly greenish conditions reap the benefits in the third innings, where batting becomes exponentially tougher. Diminishing returns with the bat make it imperative to bat first."

 

Parallel narratives: Perth and Adelaide

Hayden likened the dismissals of both teams to what transpired in Perth, a scenario that had allowed Australia to navigate the crucial final overs on the previous evening. "The way the game turned out yesterday, both sides being dismissed similarly to what was in Perth, meant that Australia was able to hang on for those final few overs last evening," he said, underscoring the symmetry of the contests.

 

Conditions: A dramatic shift in fortune

Hayden painted a vivid picture of how the conditions dramatically improved for batting the following day, giving Australia a vital edge. "They got this great day today. It was a totally different day – more wind, blue skies, and a better track," he noted, hinting at nature’s intervention in the game's narrative.

 

Australia's ruthless acceleration

The former opener praised Australia’s ability to adapt and seize the moment, accelerating their innings to pile pressure on India. "They actually went through the gears so quickly that they may as well have declared in many ways, because it meant India then were under pressure," he said, highlighting Australia's tactical brilliance.

 

A game of momentum and mastery

Hayden’s analysis spotlighted the ebb and flow of Test cricket, where momentum can shift with the slightest tweak in conditions or strategy. For Australia, the stars aligned, and for India, a series of unfortunate events ensured that the balance tipped firmly against them, leaving fans to wonder how the drama of the series will unfold next.

7:55 AM

Head to Pant: Who is highest run-getter in India vs Australia Test series?

Top 10 highest run-getters in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
	Player	Matches	Inns	Runs	Avg	Sr	4s	6s
1	Travis Head	2	3	240	80	94.12	10	-
2	Yashasvi Jaiswal	2	4	185	46.25	54.9	19	3
3	KL Rahul	2	4	147	36.75	45.37	9	-
4	Nitish Kumar Reddy	2	4	136	68	88.31	12	3
5	Virat Kohli	2	4	123	41	66.85	9	2
6	Rishabh Pant	2	4	87	29	61.27	8	1
7	Alex Carey	2	3	72	24	59.5	5	-
8	Labuschagne	1	1	64	64	50.79	-	-
9	Mitchell Marsh	2	3	62	20.67	55.36	4	2
10	Shubman Gill	1	2	59	29.5	72.84	3	-

7:36 AM

Bumrah's brief injury scare ignites tension, but he emerges unscathed

India held its breath on Saturday as pace maestro Jasprit Bumrah sent a ripple of concern through the camp, clutching his adductor muscle during a fiery spell against Australia. For a moment, the sight of India’s bowling spearhead in visible discomfort brought a hush over the Adelaide Oval. However, the tension proved short-lived, as bowling coach Morne Morkel swiftly dispelled fears, assuring fans that it was nothing more than a cramp.  

 

Drama unfolds in the 81st over
  

The incident occurred during the 81st over of Australia’s innings. Bumrah, who has been the cornerstone of India's bowling attack, paused mid-spell as physio Nitin Patel rushed onto the field. Spectators and teammates watched with bated breath as the pacer received treatment. But the resilience that defines Bumrah soon took centre stage. He completed his over and returned to bowl three more overs, displaying the determination and grit that make him a stalwart of Indian cricket.

 

Morkel provides reassurance

Post-match, Morne Morkel addressed the press, bringing much-needed clarity to the situation. "Firstly, with Bumrah, he's fine; it was just this cramp," Morkel stated, his words a balm for Indian fans. "Even after that, you know, he bowled and got wickets twice. There's nothing to worry about."  

 

A match-winning performance despite the scare

Bumrah’s brief scare did little to dim his brilliance on the field. The pacer returned figures of 4 for 61, further cementing his reputation as a match-winner. His victims included Australia’s opener Nathan McSweeney (39), the ever-dangerous Steve Smith (2), captain Pat Cummins (12), and Usman Khawaja (13), whom he had dismissed on Friday.

 

This performance followed Bumrah’s stellar eight-wicket haul in India’s emphatic 295-run victory in the series opener, underlining his pivotal role in the team's success.

 

A resilient leader in India's pace attack
 

Despite the momentary alarm, Bumrah’s ability to shrug off discomfort and deliver yet another impactful performance highlighted his unmatched determination. As India strives to maintain their dominance in the series, Bumrah remains the cornerstone of their attack, unyielding and ever-reliable in the face of challenges.

7:23 AM

WATCH IND vs AUS Highlights: Here's what has happened on Day 2

7:13 AM

IND vs AUS LIVE UPDATES: Day 3 action begins at 9:30 AM IST

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of India vs Australia 2nd Test Day 3 proceedings. India are still trailing by 29 runs with just 5 wickets in hand. All the premier batters were back to the hut and all eyes will be on Pant and Reddy's magic. 

If the duo spark some life into the Indian innings, fans can hope for a game out of the Pink Ball Test. But the way Australia used the Pink Ball in their favour, it seemed the match might end today itself.

Fingers crossed!!