India stares at pink-ball Test defeat in Adelaide

Australia continued their remarkable comeback in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, dominating the pink-ball Test in Adelaide on Day 2 with both bat and ball. First, it was the usual suspect, Travis Head, who dismantled India's hopes by erasing the first-innings deficit with a commanding 141-ball 140. Then, Mitchell Starc and the Australian quicks swung the pink ball viciously under the floodlights, leaving India in deep trouble at stumps on Saturday. 

All the anticipation of a Super Sunday evaporated, at least for Indian supporters, as Rohit Sharma's men teetered on the brink of a crushing defeat in the pink-ball Test. India were 128 for 5 at stumps on Day 2, still trailing Australia's first-innings total by 29 runs. Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten and had rookie all-rounder Nitish Reddy for company.

The Adelaide Test has been a wake-up call for India after their high in Perth. Poor batting, overreliance on Jasprit Bumrah, and some uninspiring captaincy from Rohit Sharma allowed Australia to seize the advantage. Pat Cummins and his men looked hungrier, fuelled by the sting of their first Test defeat, as they delivered a near-flawless performance over the past two days at the Adelaide Oval.

Travis Head has completed a trifecta of tormenting India on the biggest stages. He first struck in the World Test Championship final, a red-ball encounter. He followed it up by breaking a billion hearts with his white-ball heroics in Ahmedabad during last year’s World Cup final. And now, on Saturday in Adelaide, he delivered yet another masterclass, dashing India hopes of a 2-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by smashing the pink ball all around his home ground, the Adelaide Oval.