Australia needed just two and a half days to shatter India’s confidence and storm back into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. With a belligerent century from Travis Head and hostile spells by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Australia thrashed India by 10 wickets to level the five-match series 1-1, securing a dominant victory on Day 3 — Sunday, December 8. | Scorecard |
Fired up after the sting of their 295-run drubbing in the series opener in Perth, Australia came out all guns blazing to defend their pink-ball fortress. And they did so in emphatic style, ripping through the Indian batting line-up on Sunday afternoon. India were bundled out for 175, adding just 47 runs to their overnight total, as captain Pat Cummins joined the pink-ball party with a five-wicket haul.
AUS vs IND, pink-ball Test Day 3 Highlights
With this emphatic win, Australia extended their unbeaten streak in pink-ball Tests at the Adelaide Oval to eight matches. For India, it marked a second consecutive pink-ball Test defeat in Australia. In 2020, they suffered an eight-wicket loss at the same venue after being infamously dismissed for 36 in their second innings.
Although India avoided a similar humiliation this time, their performance was uninspiring throughout the Test match, lacking the energy and spirit seen in their thrilling victory in Perth.
Starting Sunday afternoon at 129 for 5, India were expected to put up a fight and delay the inevitable. However, the visitors showed little of the resolve they displayed on their previous two tours of Australia, capitulating in just over an hour during the first session.
Mitchell Starc struck a decisive blow early, removing overnight batter Rishabh Pant in the very first over of the day. Some optimistic Indian fans might have hoped for a miracle partnership between Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy, but Starc ensured Australia dominated proceedings from the outset.
Ravichandran Ashwin lasted just 14 balls before being dismissed, offering no resistance in the lower order. Nitish Reddy fought valiantly, topping the Indian batting charts again with a spirited 42, but India could only set Australia a paltry target of 19 runs.
Australia needed just x.x overs to cruise to victory, levelling a series that now promises three thrilling contests ahead. With the sledging battle between Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head taking centerstage, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy certainly seems to have spiced up and the next Test, starting December 14 in Brisbane, will be crucial.
