IND vs AUS 2nd Test Highlights: Mitchell Starc's 6-wicket haul pushes India on backfoot on Day 1

Jasprit Bumrah bowled 11 off the 33 overs that India managed on Day 1. And he got the only wicket -- Usman Khawaja -- that fell in the Australian innings. 

It seemed as though Harshit and Siraj were trying a bit too hard, especially towards the end of the day. India needed Bumrah to sustain the pressure on the Australian batters, who grew increasingly confident as the evening progressed.

Rana, who was frustrated by a floodlight failure during his over, bowled with great intensity, but luck deserted him as he narrowly missed the edges of the two Australian batters. Mohammed Siraj, meanwhile, began with a miserly spell but conceded a boundary in each of his last three overs, finishing the day visibly frustrated.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy started with a maiden but failed to maintain control during his three-over spell.

Mitchell Starc resumed his love affair with the pink ball, putting India on the back foot for the first time in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series. Riding high on confidence after their dominant win in Perth, India were brought back to earth by the brilliance of the left-arm fast bowler, who let the ball do the talking in response to the sledging battle from the series opener

Mitchell Starc claimed six wickets, orchestrating India’s collapse on a gloomy Friday at the Adelaide Oval. The visitors were bundled out for 180, the lowest first-innings total in a day-night Test at the iconic venue. In reply, the under-pressure Marnus Labuschagne and young opener Nathan McSweeney resisted the Indian pace attack, helping Australia end the day on a high at 86 for 1 in 33 overs.

(AUS vs IND, 2nd Test Day 1 Report) 

Australia are firmly on top after Day 1 as they trail India by just another 94 runs having nine wickets in hand. The day began in the most perfect manner for the hosts with Mitchell Starc dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first ball of the match. From there on, there was no coming back to the Australian speedster who picked up the 15th five-wicket haul of his Test career. Starc finished with figures of 6/48  which were also his best figures in an innings of his career. Nitish Kumar Reddy (42 off 54) was the top scorer for India while KL Rahul (37 off 64) also made a valuable contribution. In reply, Jasprit Bumrah got Usman Khawaja (13) cheaply but  Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney batted through the day and took Australia to stumps on 86/1 with an unbeaten 62-run partnership. Day 2 promises to be another enthralling day of Test cricket as India aim to make a comeback in the game.

Australia finish Day 1 in a mighty strong position as Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney bat through the day for their team after Umsan Khawaj's wicket. The duo have added 62 runs for the second wicket while Bumrah finished with figures of 1/13 in 11 overs. LIVE SCORE: AUS (86 for 1 in 33 overs), trail IND (180) by 95 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (20*), McSweeney (38*).

India speedster Jasprit Bumrah ends his proceedings on Day 1 with figures of 1/12 in ten overs. AUS (85 for 1 in 31 overs), trail IND (180) by 95 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (19*), McSweeney (38*).

The speed-o-meter showed Mohammed Siraj bowling at over 180 kph during one of his overs from the day. The clip has been going viral on social media.

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been bowling his heart out as he continues to challenge the Australian batters. However, the pace spearhead hasn't been able to find support from the other end. AUS (77 for 1 in 29 overs), trail IND (180) by 103 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (18*), McSweeney (32*).

India went upstairs for lbw appeal against Nathan McSweeney but the umpire didn't raise his finger. India decided to go upstairs as the ball tracking showed that the ball would've missed the stumps. Another disappointment for India, nothing seems to be going their way. AUS (74 for 1 in 27.1 overs), trail IND (180) by 106 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (17*), McSweeney (31*).

Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney have added 50 runs for the second wicket and have successfully negated the new ball threat of the Indian bowlers. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack as India look desperate to end the  partnership. AUS (74 for 1 in 26 overs), trail IND (180) by 106 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (17*), McSweeney (31*).

Marnus Labuschagne moves away from the crease just before Siraj was supposed to deliver the ball as a fan runs behind the sight screen. However, the India seamer wasn't too pleased with the Australia batter as he tried to hit the stumps in frustration while mouthing some words to Labuschagne.  AUS (70 for 1 in 25 overs), trail IND (180) by 110 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (17*), McSweeney (27*). 

Youngster Nathan McSweeney has finally found his groove after a disappointing outing the first Test in Perth. The right-handed batter took on Nitish Kumar Reddy in his third over and smashed him for back to back boundaries. Ominous signs for India who continue to search for wickets. LIVE SCORE: AUS (66 for 1 in 24 overs), trail IND (180) by 114 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (13*), McSweeney (27*). 

Mohammed Siraj has continued his 6th stump line as Labuschagne looks confident at the crease. Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been wayward at the other end and the crowd has gone silent in Adelaide. LIVE SCORE: AUS (58 for 1 in 23 overs), trail IND (180) by 129 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (13*), McSweeney (19*). 

Well, Ben Jones, a noted journalist, sees the funny side of things. Or has he? 

Australia have crossed the 50-run mark having lost just one wicket. Both Siraj and Rana haven't been able to trouble the Australian batters much and Australia are seen running away with the game. They trail by just 129 runs with nine wickets in hand. India are in desperate need of a wicket.  LIVE SCORE: AUS (51 for 1 in 21 overs), trail IND (180) by 129 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (9*), McSweeney (16*). 

The pair of Mohammed Siraj and Nathan McSweeney have been bowling in tandem after Bumrah's first spell got over. However, the duo haven't been able to trouble the Australian batters much with both Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney looking comfortable at the crease. The fast bowling unit looks heavily dependent on Bumrah to script his magic. LIVE SCORE: AUS (47 for 1 in 20 overs), trail IND (180) by 142 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (9*), McSweeney (12*). 

After 18 deliveries, Marnus Labuschagne is finally off the mark. Runs for two quick runs off Mohammed Siraj's first delivery. The batter went on to hit a four and followed it up by running 3 runs in the next delivery. 

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin is back on the field. he faced trouble in his foot while batting in the 1st innings. India introducing spin soon from now? 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (47 for 1 in 19 overs), trail IND (180) by 142 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (9*), McSweeney (12*). 

In a bizarre fashion, the play was halted briefly as the floodlights got turned off. Its twilight period and the lights are one. However, for a brief period, the floodlights soon went off, which resulted in the match taking a pause for few moments. However, within a minute, the lights were back at Adelaide Oval. . A break in play. The crowd entertain themselves with their mobile phone torches on. 

Here we go, the lights went off and Harshit Rana seems visibly pissed. The lights are back on. 

 LIVE SCORE: AUS (38 for 1 in 17.2 overs), trail IND (180) by 142 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (0*), McSweeney (12*). 

Australia has navigated a testing phase, losing just one wicket, though it was avoidable. Khawaja fell after chasing a wide delivery outside off, a shot he could have left alone. India's bowlers have not targeted the stumps enough, allowing McSweeney to leave several deliveries comfortably. While McSweeney was given a reprieve, the dropped catch by Pant was challenging due to the ball’s late swing. Despite the pressure, Australia has held firm.

LIVE SCORE: AUS (38 for 1 in 17.2 overs), trail IND (180) by 142 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (0*), McSweeney (12*). 

Yes, he is low on confidence after a difficult start to the series. However, Marnus Labuschagne seems to be repeating the same mistake that he committed in Perth. He is not helping move the scoreboard. There's no strike rotation when he's around. Pundits and former cricketers and even captain Pat Cummins urged Labuschagne to be more proactive in the middle. 

He has faced 18 balls and is yet to open his account. 

It's drinks break, the final one of the day. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (38 for 1 in 17 overs), trail IND (180) by 142 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (0*), McSweeney (12*). 

Kohli is very active on the field. He jumped off the slips and went to mid-off position to have a word with Mohammed Siraj. The duo share a special bond, having shared RCB dressing room for 7 years. The former India captain is hyping up te bowlers and truly charged up to create pressure on the Australian batters. 

Once again, the two teams are struggling to keep up the over-rate. Only 60 overs have been bowled so far in the day. With only 50 minutes left for the scheduled close of play, it's impossible to cover the rest. The play can be extended until 5 pm IST. India would want to make the most of the twilight period on Day 1. Harshit Rana and Mohammed Siraj have been bowling in tandem. Will we see Nitish Kumar Reddy into the attack? 

LIVE SCORE, 2nd Test: AUS (37 for 1 in 15.4 overs), trailing IND (180) by 143 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (0*), McSweeney (11*). 

How Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja with a beaut of a delivey

Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri pointed out a major gap in Australian batting line up with the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Speaking on air, Shastri pointed out how someone of Warner’s calibre used to come out with an all attacking approach and whittle away whatever small total teams used to post in really quick time. Shastri feels Australia are lacking that approach ever since his retirement from the longest format.

Marnus Labuschagne is on the crease and Virat Kohli is pumped. A little bit of chatter is on as Labuchagne tried to tease Bumrah, who laughed off with a smile. 

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Labuschagne has a word with the square-leg umpire. Maybe about the noise from behind the stumps. India very loud.

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Test cricket at its absolute best.. Harshit Rana on the other end, trying to get under the skin of McSweeney

Indian seamers with 50+ wickets in a calendar year
74 Kapil Dev (1979)
75 Kapil Dev (1983)
51 Zaheer Khan (2002)
50 Jasprit Bumrah (2024) *
Bumrah's current average of 15.14 is the best among the 16 instances Indian bowlers who have picked 50+ wickets in a calendar year.

LIVE SCORE: AUS (24 for 1 in 12.2 ov), trail IND (180) by 176 runs. At the crease: Labuschagne (0*), McSweeney (6*). 

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Sixth over for Bumrah in his opening spell. An absolute cracker from Bumrah as he finally gets the first scalp for India. 

A well-executed delivery from Jasprit Bumrah on a testing fifth or sixth-stump line produced a crucial breakthrough for India. Bumrah bowled a short-of-length ball that moved away slightly, luring Usman Khawaja into a defensive push. However, Khawaja failed to cover the movement fully, and the ball caught the thick outside edge of his bat.

The edge flew quickly to Rohit Sharma at first slip, traveling with pace. Rohit, positioned slightly to his right, reacted sharply and took the catch with both hands, making it look easier than it was. The dismissal left Khawaja shaking his head in frustration as he walked back to the pavilion. Despite removing his bottom hand from the bat in an attempt to control the shot, Khawaja couldn't avoid edging the ball. Given the wide line, he might have been better off leaving it alone.

Bumrah celebrated the wicket, ending Khawaja’s cautious knock of 13 runs off 35 balls, which included two boundaries. A timely strike for India with Bumrah showcasing his accuracy and ability to extract movement off the surface.

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Harshit Rana introduced into the attack. Comes round the wicket for Usman Khawaja.. The sun is setting and its a beautiful sight in Adelaide.The Indian team will be aiming to make the most of the twilight period as the ball nips and moves around the most at this time. Khawaja and Mcweeney continue to battle out the testing period.  India in search of early wickets after getting bundled out for 180 runs in 1st innings.

 LIVE SCORE: AUS (22 for 0 in 10 ov), trail IND (180) by 159 runs. At the crease: Khawaja (13*), McSweeney (5*)

Bumrah to McSweeney, 2 runs, a dramatic moment unfolds! Jasprit Bumrah bowled a delivery that induced an edge from McSweeney’s bat, but the chance was squandered behind the stumps. The ball flew towards Rishabh Pant, who couldn’t hold on to the catch. Adding to the chaos, the ball deflected off Pant’s gloves and struck Rohit Sharma on the right wrist at first slip.

Rohit, caught off guard by the ricochet, winced in pain but managed to recover quickly. Meanwhile, McSweeney took advantage of the fumble, running two crucial runs. A missed opportunity for India, with a dose of unintended drama in the field.

 LIVE SCORE: AUS (21 for 0 in 7.2 ov), trail IND (180) by 159 runs. At the crease: Khawaja (12*), McSweeney (5*)

The light is just beginning to fade. Jaspri Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have bowled four tight overs. After Usman Khawaja flicked Bumrrah for a boundary in the first over, there have been three maidens. India are not searching for wickets. They are bowling a tight line. It's a good move to build pressure on the two Australian openers, who are well aware that the middle-order batters, especially Marnus Labuschagne, are not high on confidence. 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (4 for 0 in 4 ov), trail IND (180) by 176 runs. At the crease: Khawaja (4*), McSweeney (0*). 

Justin Langer and Sunil Gavaskar heaped praise on Nitish Reddy after the all-rounder's audacious knock of 42. Langer and Gavaskar were involved in a bit of banter as well. 

"Are you not impressed? He played shots that Sunny and I used to play in our heyday. He can play the straight drive and then he is reverse sleeping and hitting him. And it's the magic of the modern game. I mean, look at some of these shots. He played some very orthodox, some, he is hitting over mid off, magnificent! This is the sort of stuff you and I used to those Sunny in our heyday," Langer said. 

"I do it in my dreams," Gavaskar joked. "It’s unbelievable, it’s just the right shot selection."

Jasprit Bumrah has been flicked to the leg-side boundary. He went searching for inswing and was punished for missing the mark. A good first over, though. He took a couple away from the left-hander and got one to swing in sharply. Bumrah spoke about the importance of staying calm and not go searching for wickets in Perth. Can he do it here? 

LIVE SCORE: AUS (4 for 0 in 1 ov), trail IND (180) by 176 runs. At the crease: Khawaja (4*), McSweeney (0*).

Mohammed Siraj, from the other end, for India with the pink ball. 

Rohit Sharma is done with the pep talk. Jasprit Bumrah has the new ball in his hands. Can he do what he did to Australia in Perth? With the pink ball, Bumrah can be lethal. India need him to be at his best. The twilight session is approaching and India would love to see the back of at least one of these two openers before that. 

A terrific effort from Mitchell Starc. He spoke to the broadcasters about his six-wicket haul and his love affair with the pink ball. 

"I don't know. I can't tell (the secret to success with the pink ball). I feel like the ball has been coming out well," he said. 

"Not that much to be honest. Nothing really changes game by game, was a nice start," he said, when asked if he was envisioning the first delivery to Yashasvi Jaiswal. 

"Yes, very, very competitive score. When Australia come into bat, they will be batting in the twilight. It will be very hard. If India can cash in and get some early wickets, it will be fantastic," Gavaskar told the broadcasters. 

Keep in mind, the pink ball tends to do more off the pitch and in the air in the twilight. When the floodlights are on, it will be a delight to watch the battle.  

First innings totals in DN Tests in Adelaide

- by Aus: 442/8 D, 589/3 D, 473/9 D, 511/7 D

- vs Aus: 202, 259/9 D, 244, 180

Mitchell Starc picks a six-wicket haul as India were bundled out for 180 runs in 44.1 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy showcased some resistance and he packed a punch back at the relentless Aussies. However, e all-rounder was dismissed for 42 runs. Starc wrapped up India's proceedings as he finished as Australia's top bowler in the innings. 

Time for dinner break.. 

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">LIVE SCORE: India (181 all-out in 44.1 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide.

Pat Cummins managed to get the edge of Jasprit Bumrah and was caught at slips by Usman Khawaja. 

Cummins delivered a full ball just outside off stump at 137.1 kph, tempting Jasprit Bumrah into a loose push. Bumrah was aiming to play a defensive stroke, but was unable to control the shot, which resulted in a thick outside edge.

Bumrah’s 8-ball stay at the crease ended without scoring, as Cummins claimed another wicket with disciplined line and length. A textbook dismissal for a lower-order batter, brought about by relentless pressure from the bowler.

LIVE SCORE: India (176 for 9 in 43.4 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. At the crease: Nitish (42*), Siraj (0*)

Nitish was hit on the helmet off Mitchell Starc's delivery, who has been wreaking havoc with his five-wicket haul in the pink ball Test. 

Starc unleashed a fiery bouncer at 142.5 kph, aiming it right at Nitish Reddy’s helmet. The ball rose sharply and proved too quick for Reddy, who attempted a pull shot but missed it entirely. It sailed over the top edge of his bat and struck the badge of his helmet with a loud thud.

The impact momentarily stunned the crowd, but Reddy quickly nodded to indicate he was fine. Starc, showing good sportsmanship, immediately checked on Reddy to ensure he was okay. A tense but respectful exchange in a high-pressure moment. 

 LIVE SCORE: India (176 for 8 in 43.4 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. At the crease: Nitish (42*), Bumrah (0*)

Quite an eventful over as Nitish broke Boland's rhythm, who bowled two no-balls in the same over. Nitish realises he needs to put the pressure back on the Australians with India left only 2 wickets in their hands. Nitish hit an audacious six, followed by a four and then hit another maximum of the no-ball delivery in the same over. 

LIVE SCORE: India (176 for 8 in 42.3 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. At the crease: Nitish (42*), Bumrah (0*)

Nitish Kumar Reddy channelled his inner  Rishabh Pant to score a reverse scoop off Scott Boland's delivery. 

It was a moment of audacious brilliance from Nitish Reddy as he executed a stunning reverse scoop over the slips. The delivery was a length ball around off stump, but Reddy surprised everyone with his innovative stroke. Instead of playing a conventional shot, he switched his grip and angle to reverse-scoop the ball.

The timing and connection were impeccable, sending the ball sailing over the slip cordon and all the way for a six. Even Jasprit Bumrah, standing at the other end, couldn’t help but break into a grin, appreciating the sheer cheekiness of the shot.

LIVE SCORE: India (164 for 8 in 41.3 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. At the crease: Nitish (33*), Bumrah (0*)

Mitchell Starc completes his fourth five-wicket haul in pink-ball Tests. It's the most for a pacer in the day-night format of Test cricket. The pink-ball destroyer has hurt India's chances here. 

- Mitchell Starc (AUS): 13 matches, 4 five-wicket hauls  

- Trent Boult (NZ): 2 matches, 2 five-wicket hauls  

- Josh Hazlewood (AUS): 8 matches, 2 five-wicket hauls  

- James Anderson (ENG): 6 matches, 1 five-wicket haul  

- Jasprit Bumrah (IND): 4 matches, 1 five-wicket haul  

- Pat Cummins (AUS): 8 matches, 1 five-wicket haul 

Mitchell Starc proving to be unplayable in Adelaide with the pink ball. His 15th five-wicket haul as he bowled Harshit Rana out. A double wicket maiden over for man of the moment- Mitchell Starc. 

Mitchell Starc completed his five-wicket haul in style with a classic inswinging yorker. After unsettling Harshit Rana with a sharp bouncer, Starc followed up with a trademark delivery that was simply too good to handle. The full, inswinging ball, delivered at blistering pace, sneaked past Rana's attempted defence and missed the inside edge by a significant margin. It crashed into the base of the off-stump, leaving no chance for the batter.

Starc's ability to execute such pinpoint yorkers under lights with the pink ball showcased his mastery in this format. 

LIVE SCORE: India (141 for 8 in 37 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. At the crease: Nitish (22*), Bumrah (0*)

Mitchell Starc comes in and so does a wicket for Australia, Starc's love-affair with pink ball continues...

Ashwin's counter-attacking knock comes to an end as he was caught plumb before the wickets. 

Mitchell Starc produced a sensational inswinging yorker to dismiss Ravichandran Ashwin. The delivery, bowled at pace, swung in sharply late, targeting the middle stump. Ashwin, caught off guard by the late movement, was slow to bring his bat down. The ball struck him on the pads while he was off-balance, leaving the umpire with little hesitation in raising the finger.

Ashwin opted to review the decision, but replays confirmed there was no bat involved. Ball-tracking showed the delivery crashing into the middle stump, sealing his fate. A brilliant piece of bowling by Starc, who claimed his fourth wicket with this unplayable delivery.

The Indian fans are also turning up the heat to give it back to the Aussies. The Indian crowd in the stands engaged in a playful banter with Mitchell Starc, who was breathing fire with the pink ball in Adelaide. The fans teased and enquired about Starc's auction price with chats of KKR franchise.

"Ravichandran Ashwin is proving his worth as an all rounder as he throws his bat around to add some crucial runs for the team. India desperately need to keep the scoreboard moving and get as close as possible to 200 before the night session comes in. India getting all out today could well be a blessing in disguise as Jasprit Bumrah will surely make the pink ball dance under lights. Terrific approach by Ashwin who continues to prove his worth despite being sidelined time and again," opines Rishabh Beniwal. LIVE SCORE: India (133 for 6 in 37 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. 

Rishabh Pant's dismissal explained here.

Nitish Kumar Reddy has looked solid at the crease so far. The Indian fans must be thanking the SunRisers Hyderabad for unearthing a talent like him. Despite Indian batters falling like a pack of cards, Nitish has looked confident at the crease so far. Playing only his 2nd Test match, Nitish has showcased some glorious drives and good defence.

Nitish claimed to be a big Virat Kohli admirer and also opened up how the star batter had an impact and influence on his cricketing career. The shots that he played today, were truly a reflection of that. 

The sun is out and the conditions might be good for batting. However, India are under pressure after having lost six wickets for a bit over 100. Nitish Kumar Reddy is now facing some chin music from Pat Cummins. The Australian captain is going for the helmet after getting the big wicket of Rishabh Pant. 

Can India survive the burst and head to dinner? It's drinks in the second session.

LIVE SCORE: India (118 for 6 in 35 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. 

Nitish Reddy played  glorious straight drive, but it was a great defence from Pat Cummins in his follow-through. 

This is the last recognised batting pair for India. Ashwin has a highest score of 62 which came in Sydney in 2012. India will be doubly delighted if he can get 62 today. Can young Nitish Kumar and the experienced Ashwin steer India out of trouble? 

It's going to be a tough test for these two as the Australian bowlers are breathing fire at the moment. 

LIVE SCORE: India (112 for 6 in 33.4 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. 

Rishabh Pant has to depart. Extra bounce off Pat Cummins does the trick for Australia. 

Pat Cummins delivered a fiery back-of-a-length delivery at 143.5 kph. He extracted a sharp bounce off the surface. Rishabh Pant found himself in an awkward position as he hopped in an attempt to defend . The ball climbed unexpectedly and got big on him, striking the shoulder of the bat. It ballooned up towards Labuschagne, who made no mistake in completing the catch. Pant’s promising knock of 21 off 35 balls, which included two boundaries, came to an end as Cummins struck with a well-executed short ball.

2nd Test, Live Score: India (111 for 6 in 33.4 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. 

After 31 overs, Australia have turned to their fifth bowler. Mitchell Marsh is the new man in. There were concerns about his ability to bowl in this match after the workload in Perth Test. It will be interesting to check his speeds today. Can Marsh do the holding job well? 

2nd Test, Live Score: India (100 for 5 in 31 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide. 

Hundred up for India with a glorious cover drive from Nitish Kumar Reddy. The partnership between Pant and Nitish will be key from here for India if they aim to do some damage control. 

 2nd Test, Live Score: India (100 for 5 in 31 overs) vs Australia in Adelaide

X (formerly twitter) can go wild during such high-profile Test series. As you all hope for Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy put India out of trouble, here are some light-hearted memes for you to have a good laugh. 

It's a packed house at the Adelaide Oval for Day 1 of the second Test. Who says Test cricket is dead? We have witnessed good crowds across the globe in 2024. Keep in mind, only one Test was drawn in the whole year and that was a rain-affected game in Trinidad. Mark Nicholas said Test cricket is thriving and this year has been a good example of it. 

What are your thoughts on it? Has the World Test Championship added more context to bilateral series? 

Rohit Sharma fails on his return to number 6. The last time he batted at that position was coincidentally against Australia during the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 at the MCG. The India skipper failed to read the incoming delivery from Boland which crashed into his pads. Rohit has been susceptible to in-swinging deliveries in recent times and will need to work on his weakness with three more matches remaining in the series. India now find themselves in a similar position as they were in Perth.

-My colleague Rishabh worries. 

As India lose half of their side within 87 runs, the question lingers- How much can India score from here. I would like to use a cliché line here. "Why fear when Pant is here?" 

Rishabh Pant has seen off many tough phases for India over the years . Infact, in 1st innings of the 1st Test as well, it was Pant who played a counter-attacking knock to help India each a respectable total of 151 runs. 

Moreover, Pant thrives in such kinds of situations. Where he puts pressure back on the opposition with his fearless batting. It will be interesting  to see what he would do in such overcast conditions, where the Aussie bowlers are breathing fire. 

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">There was an appeal for  LBW by Mitchell Starc and Co. vs Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, it was turned down by the umpires. It was an inswinger by Starc and Nitish missed it. Its getting intense in here. Every ball has something to offer. 

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Can Nitish Kumar Reddy hang around? Playing only his second Test, the young all-rounder is under tremendous pressure. Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are zoning into good lines and lengths. 

The one that got Rohit Sharma nipped back sharply and hit the top of the leg-stump. Rohit was caught in no man's land as he did not move his feet. Is the Indian captain going through a lean patch? He managed just 91 runs in the 3-Test series against New Zealand. Was Dhruv Jurel a better option at No. 6? 

LIVE SCORE: India (89 for 5 in 26.4 overs) vs Australia in pink-ball Test. 

Oh no!! The Indian captain Rohit Sharma has been adjudged LBW off Scott Boland's delivery. 

Rohit Sharma fell to a sharp nip-backer from Scott Boland. He was trapped in his crease and failed to account for the ball’s inward movement, while trying to attempt a defensive shot. The ball zipped past his inside edge and struck him plumb in front. With this dismissal, India lose half their side. Rohit departs for a struggling 3 off 23 balls. Brilliant display of bowling from Boland!

LIVE SCORE: IND-(87/5 in 25 overs) vs AUS in Adelaide

Australia need these half chances.. Boland bowled a full delivery outside the off and Rishabh Pant, standing outside the crease drives with hard hands.He got a thick outside edge. McSweeney dived to his right gully and went for a one-handed catch. How costly will it prove?

The battle between Boland and Indian captain Rohit Sharma will be the one to watch out for. He has been susceptible vs the swing lately and Boland trying to exploit the overcast conditions. He is constantly trying to swing the ball in and Rohit remains careful.. 

LIVE SCORE: IND-(84/4 in 24 overs) vs AUS in Adelaide

After a 40-minute tea break, the players are back on the field. During the tea break, there were some passing showers. However, the play resumed well in time. Boland with tehe ball, Rohit on strike . 

It's time to resume action. There was a bit of rain during the Tea break, but it has stayed away. We are ready for resumption again. The Australian players have a spring in their step. India went from 69 for 1 to 82 for 4 in the last 30 minutes of the first session. 

Can Pat Cummins and his men seize the situation? 

Pressure on Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant. Rohit needs to think like an opener and see off the first 20-30 minutes of the session. 

Anyone up for an early prediction? What will be the score at the end of this session? 

LIVE SCORE: IND-(82/4 in 23 overs) vs AUS in Adelaide

What makes the pink-ball behave differently in Test cricket?

The pink ball is known to assist bowlers a lot more than the red ball even more so during the night session played under flood lights. Hence, it’s often a herculean task for the batters to see off the bowlers under lights making their stay at the crease all the more miserable. Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee also recently explained how does a pink ball behave differently than a red ball calling it a Rosé.

The legendary fast bowler recalled how he loved to bowl under lights with the white ball and explained how the humidity at night makes the ball shape a lot more.

“It is the pink ball test of what I like to call the Rosé. Not quite red, not quite white, right in the middle rose. It definitely swings around a lot more, it shapes around. The pink ball test is under light, so generally when you're playing the lights it’s a bit more movement, it's cooler by night time as well in terms of heat. It can be a little bit more humid sometimes which makes the ball shape. So, I actually really enjoyed bowling with the white ball under lights. The pink ball, I'm heard and I'm hearing it's actually a lot better. So that would be a lot of fun for the fast bowlers,” said Lee on his YouTube channel.

"One important reason why Virat’s average has slipped to 48 now, is the unfortunate weakness outside off. But more crucially his adamance to not try another way to tackle it," tweets Sanjay Manjrekar. 

Virat Kohli was looking edgy, playing well outside his body while trying to drive the deliveries outside off. Australia kept tempting him with that line and it worked for Mitchell Starc. 

In the last half-an-hour, Australia seized the advantage and pushed India to the back foot. This is terrific stuff from Australian fast bowler, led by a lethal Mitchell Starc. 

Starc finishes with three in the session, including Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. There was extra bounce that troubled Kohli and Rahul.

Scott Boland joined in and got the big wicket of Shubman Gill. It was a nothing shot from the No. 3, who missed a straight delivery after going a bit too across the line.

AUS vs IND, 2nd Test Day 1 Live Score: India (82/4 in 23 ov) at Tea in Adelaide. Rohit (1*), Pant (4*); Starc (3/31).

Can captain Rohit Sharma help India survive this tricky phase. A couple of minutes to go for the Tea break and India are in a spot of bother. The skipper has walked in at No. 6. Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc are steaming in. Blockbuster Test cricket action this! 

WICKET! That was plumb. Scott Boland strikes, removes Shubman Gill for 31. A brainfade moment from the young batter. A half-volley from Boland and Gill, who walked across the wicket, misses it. It hits him flush on the pad. The umpire did not hesitate before raising his fingers. 

Gill walks up to Rishabh Pant to check if he needed a review. 'No', says Pant. Off goes Gill.

India are in a big spot of bother. 

AUS vs IND, 2nd Test Live Score: IND (81 for 4 in 21.1 ov) vs AUS.

Rishabh Pant has walked into the middle. Huge pressure on him. Can the young man steady the ship? India wouldn't want to lose anymore before the dinner break, which is just 10 minutes away. 

WICKET! What a huge blow! The Indian fans at the Adelaide Oval go silent. Mitchell Starc has his third wicket. A length ball from Starc and Kohli is not sure whether or not to leave that. A bit of extra bounce as well. The ball was in the uncertainty corridor and Kohli poked at it. A comfortable catch to Steve Smith in the slip cordon. 

This is big! A huge morale boost to Australia, who will be the happier of the two sides at the dinner break. 

2nd Test, Live Score: IND (77 for 3 in 20.1 ov) vs AUS in Adelaide.

Third time in as many innings this series Starc has dismissed KL Rahul-
61 balls
37 runs
Three dismissals

Rahul’s luck finally ran out. A short-of-length delivery outside off rises sharply and tempts Rahul into a loose poke. Unable to control the bounce, he edges it, and the ball flies towards gully. McSweeney dives forward to take a low catch, and after a brief check by the umpires, it’s confirmed that his fingers were under the ball. Rahul, visibly disappointed, walks back shaking his head. He batted well for his 37 off 64 balls, including six boundaries, but his innings had its share of fortune. 

 AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (74 for 2 in 19.3 overs). 

KL Rahul has to depart as Nathan McSweeney pulls a brilliant catch at the slips. After hitting the hard yards, blunting the new pink ball, Rahul gets out for 37. Mitchell Starc came in as a bowling change and struck in his first over to send the well-set batter back to the pavillion.

After 17 overs being dominated by the three pacers, it's time for some spin now. In order to rotate the three quicks, Lyon would need to bowl a lot of overs. Interestingly, Lyon is the joint-second highest wickettaker for Australia in pink ball Tests. Meanwhile, KL Rahul hit Lyon for a fantastic shot over the covers. 

AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (69 for 1 in 18.1 overs). 

Spin after 17 overs of pace in the pink-ball Test. Nathan Lyon, a pink-ball expert, is into the attack. It will be interesting to see how KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal bat against spin. There will be a bit of extra bounce for Lyon, who has relished bowling in Adelaide over the years. 

Pat Cummins has a long on for Shubman Gill. He tucks it away for a single to get off strike. David Warner, who is on air, is not happy with the field setting. He wants the long-on to come up and block the extra runs. 

50 up for India in no time after losing Yashasvi Jaiswal for 0 runs. It is a tricky passage of play as Rahul and Gill forge a 50-plus run stand. A couple of reprieves, solid defence and some glorious shots defined the session so far. The Indian team will look to build on their start and make use of the favourable pitch conditions before the twilight. 

AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (56 for 1 in 16 overs). 

Boland to Rahul, FOUR! KL Rahul showcases his class with a textbook cover drive. A full delivery outside off invites the shot, and Rahul doesn’t miss the opportunity. Leaning into the stroke, he gets his front foot forward and times it beautifully, keeping the ball along the ground as it races through the cover region. His technique is impeccable, with a high elbow, bent back knee, and perfect balance. Michael Vaughan sums it up perfectly on commentary, calling it "perfection." A stunning shot that exudes Rahul’s elegance and control!

AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (43 for 1 in 14 overs). 

Stat: In the first 10 overs, only 4.8% of Australia's deliveries—just three balls—were hitting the stumps. This is the second-lowest percentage for Australia in the opening 10 overs of a pink-ball Test innings. 

What an over it has turned out to be. Another life for KL Rahul! A good-length delivery outside off gets some extra bounce and away movement. Rahul, forced into playing, edges it towards first slip. Khawaja dives low to his right but can’t hold on, letting the ball slip through his hands. That’s three drops in two Tests for Khawaja. To be fair, the ball dipped and swung late, making it a tough chance. Rahul survives again as the ball rolls away for a single.

AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (29 for 1 in 9 overs). 

Scott Boland would have got KL Rahul very first ball, but the bowler overstepped. Rahul gets a lifeline. Absolute drama!! 

The 133.3 kph delivery was back of a length, nipping away outside off with extra bounce. Rahul, caught off guard, fended from the crease and edged it to Carey behind the stumps. Believing he was out, Rahul began walking back to the pavilion, but the umpire called Boland for overstepping. A huge let-off for Rahul, and Australia missed an early breakthrough!

 AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (23 for 1 in 8 overs). 

This is good batting in testing conditions from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. While Gill has not missed out on any loose balls, Rahul is looking compact and solid. The Karnataka batting star seems to know very well where his off-stump is -- he is leaving well and playing it late. 

Mitchell Starc was good in the first over of the match. However, he has sprayed it around ever since. He is trying to do a bit too much, over-pitching it often. Gill has been driving really well. 

Can India survive the opening hour with just one blow? 

AUS v IND, 2nd Test Day 1 LIVE SCORE: India (19 for 1 in 6.4 overs). 

Mitchell Starc to Shubman Gill, and it’s a boundary! A thunderous crack off the bat as Gill times a stunning drive. At 142.3 kph, Starc delivers full and wide outside off, but Gill steps forward with a big stride, showcasing perfect technique. With a high elbow and impeccable balance, he sends the ball racing through extra cover to the boundary. A textbook shot, oozing class!

 IND (15/1 in 6 overs) vs AUS in Adelaide. 

The Adelaide pitch looks pretty good to bat on, as it has been historically. No lateral movement, the pitch will only quicken up as the day progresses. It will all come down to how the Indian batters apply themselves on the track with pink ball ding its tricks. 

IND (15/1 in 5 overs) vs AUS in Adelaide. 

Stat: Taking a wicket first ball of a Test most times

Thrice each by Pedro Collins & Mitchell Starc

Twice each by Richard Hadlee, Geoff Arnold, Kapil Dev & Suranga Lakmal

No signs of rust from Shubman Gill, even though his missed the first Test. Mitchell Starc continues to swing the pink ball around, but Gill has looked solid with his technique so far. 

A fiery 140.4 kph delivery, pitched up and angling in from over the wicket, swung away late, catching Jaiswal off guard. Attempting a flick, he missed and was struck on the front pad in line with the stumps. The ball pitched around leg and would have gone on to crash into the stumps. After a brief discussion with KL Rahul, Jaiswal decided against a review. Interestingly, Jaiswal had cheekily commented in the previous Test that Starc was “bowling too slow,” but today, he fell for a golden duck to the same bowler. 

This is how you respond to a sledge! Yashasvi Jaiswal has gone for a golden duck. It comes 10 days after he sledged Mitchell Starc, saying he was 'too slow' in the Perth Test. 

How quickly have he fortunes changed! 

Mitchell Starc was pumped up after that wicket. He swung the ball from the leg-stump line. Was there a plan? Yashasvi tried to cover the line and was trapped in front. The celebration told the story. 

Mitchell Starc does it!!! First ball of the pink ball Test and Jaiswal departs for a golden duck. My days!! three reds and Jaiswal has to depart for 0. 

Watch the dismissal here-

We are all set to go.. Live action begins

Australia have batted first seven times in pink-ball Tests at home and they have never went on to lose the match.

Their only loss in a pink-ball Test came when they bowled first in Brisbane against the West Indies earlier this year. 

However, India batted first when they lost a pink-ball Test in Adelaide in 2020. 

What do you make of it? Can India put up a competitive score? 

The Australians are paying tribute to their former teammate Phil Hughes by wearing black arm bands. It was the 10-year death anniversary of Hughes on 25th November, who left for heavenly abode after getting hit by a bouncer on his neck. 

It seems like Rohit has slotted himself at No. 6 after sacrificing his opening slot for KL Rahul. Did you know he averages over 50 at this postion

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Pitch Report | Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden: Over the last few days, a lot of grass has been taken off. There's still a fair amount of grass there - 6mm of grass - which will mean the new ball bowlers will have plenty of help at the start while the ball is hard and new. It could actually seam around quite a lot. Pretty good conditions for day one ans two. Averages then go down.

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Rohit Sharma confirmed yesterday that the opening pair won't be disturbed which means the Indian captain will be batting 'somewhere in the middle' for the first time since December 2018. It'll also be interesting to see if India persist with Washington Sundar or bring back one of their experienced spinners (Ashwin/Jadeja). Kohli loves batting at this venue - 3 centuries, 1 fifty and averages 63.62 in four Tests. This is also Travis Head's home ground where he has a Test average of 70.57. And, Mitchell Starc has a brilliant record in pink-ball Tests - 66 wickets in 12 matches at an impressive average of 18.71.

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Pat Cummins: It's always good to have a fresh start. Pink ball can be a little bit different. It's been a really good preparation. It's pretty muggy today. Just one change. Josh Hazlewood misses out, Scott Boland comes in.

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Rohit Sharma: We are going to bat first. Looks a good pitch, looks a bit dry at the moment, enough grass covering as well. There will be something in it for everyone. I have been here for two weeks now. Ready to go now. The mood is good, pretty vibrant. What the boys did in Perth was superb. It's a long series, we'll try and do most things right. The fast bowlers are happy (with the break). We want tocarry from where we left. We have made 3 changes. I am back, Gill is back. Ashwin is back. I am batting in the middle order.

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

0 && comm[ts].geo.indexOf($root.$GEO.country) == -1" ng-if="comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:news' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:video' && comm[ts].evt != 'Plugin:comments'">India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Nitish Reddy, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is back at the helm as he joined Australian captain Pat Cummins at the toss. India win toss, opt to bat first

Bat first or bowl first? Your pick?

We have some live visuals from the ground, exclusively for you all. Its a gloomy afternoon in  Adelaide. 

Its our very own 'national treasure' Jasprit Bumrah's birthday.. What return gift has he planned for the fans I wonder..