IND vs AUS: After a dominant 295-run victory in the first Test at Perth Stadium, India faced a heavy defeat in Adelaide, as Australia bounced back with an emphatic 10-wicket win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India’s inability to post competitive totals, failing to cross the 200-run mark in both innings of the pink-ball Test, was a major factor in their dismal performance.
Despite this, India is unlikely to make drastic changes to their batting order, despite underwhelming performances from senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. However, the bowling lineup could see a couple of changes for the upcoming Brisbane Test.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Underperformance
While Kohli and Sharma are India’s batting stalwarts, both players failed to deliver in Adelaide. Despite their struggles, the Men in Blue may not make changes to their top-order, as India is expected to remain loyal to its senior players. However, questions surrounding the form of the lower-order and bowling attack could prompt some reshuffling.
Nitish Reddy’s Batting Shines Amid the Chaos
One bright spot for India in Adelaide was Nitish Reddy, who displayed resilience with the bat. Despite concerns over his bowling, Reddy’s solid batting form makes him unlikely to be dropped. The focus will likely shift to making changes in the bowling attack rather than the batting lineup.
Possible Changes to the Bowling Attack
Given the struggles in Adelaide, two key bowlers—Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana—are expected to lose their spots in the playing XI for the Brisbane Test.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Lack of Impact: Will Sundar Replace Him?
Ashwin, who was preferred over Washington Sundar for the pink-ball Test due to his experience, struggled to make an impact in Adelaide. Despite being a key figure in India’s Test setup, Ashwin could only claim a single wicket at a disappointing strike rate of 108, which raised doubts about his place in the side.
In contrast, Washington Sundar, since his return to the squad, has been in excellent form with the ball, claiming 18 wickets in just six innings. Additionally, Sundar offers valuable lower-order batting, making him a strong contender for a spot in the XI. His ability to generate overspin, especially in seam-friendly conditions, could make him a better fit for the Brisbane pitch. Given Sundar’s current form and Ashwin’s struggles, it’s likely that Sundar will replace Ashwin for the upcoming Test.
Harshit Rana’s Inconsistency: Will India Opt for Akash Deep or Mukesh Kumar?
Harshit Rana was one of India’s standout performers in Perth, taking four wickets across both innings. However, he was exposed during the Adelaide Test, where the Australian batsmen took advantage of his lack of consistency. Rana’s poor economy rate of 5.37 runs per over in Adelaide, coupled with his inability to maintain a disciplined line and length, was a major concern for India.
Despite his pace and ability to generate bounce, Rana’s lack of control in the day-night conditions at Adelaide left India with little choice but to reconsider his spot. In Brisbane, where conditions are expected to be more seam-friendly, India may opt for a more controlled bowler like Akash Deep or Mukesh Kumar, both of whom have the precision and accuracy that could make a difference in the Gabba’s challenging conditions.
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