Over the years the rivalry between India and Australia has grown stronger, and the ongoing five-match series (Border-Gavaskar Trophy) has already provided thrilling action. As the second Test (pink-ball contest) approaches, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be another fierce clash in the series. The second Test will begin on Friday (December 6) in Adelaide, with India leading the series 1-0 after a dominant performance in the first Test.
India stunned Australia in the opening Test, defeating the full-strength Aussie side despite the absence of their own captain, Rohit Sharma. India proved their mettle, with stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah ripping through Australia’s batting lineup. Overall, India displayed a balanced performance, with their batters like Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stepping up to the occasion and remaining firm. The win in the first Test has given India a significant boost as they head into the second Test with a confident mindset.
Moreover, the second Test will also mark the return of Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, who missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child. Now that Rohit Sharma is back, the team will be eager to build on their strong start to the series and aim for a dominant 2-0 lead.
On the other hand, despite their defeat in the first Test, Australia remain a formidable opponent. With a squad that is packed with experienced players, including the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Pat Cummins, the Australian team will be determined to bounce back and level the series.
Their performance in the first Test was incredibly inconsistent, and key batting collapses, inability to handle the pressure at crucial moments allowed India to seize control of the match. Australia will be looking to adapt and bring their best game forward. Furthermore, they will be banking on their unbeaten record in the pink-ball game as they have never lost a pink-ball contest. Australia have also named their playing XI for the second Test, with Scott Boland being named as the replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood.
IND probable XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia XI : Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland