AUS vs IND: First look at Adelaide pitch ahead of pink ball test match

India are set to play their second Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. After winning the Perth Test Match by a massive margin of 295 runs, India will take on Australia against the pink ball, under the lights. Traditionally, pink-ball Test matches are Australia’s strength. The team has never lost a pink ball test match in its history.

The last time India played a pink ball Test match in Australia, they were bowled out for just 36 runs in the 2nd innings of the match. However, they completed a remarkable turnaround on this tour, winning the series 2–1. With the Adelaide ground expected to be spicy again, India Today has accessed footage of the ground where the wicket is currently being made.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: complete coverage

India played a pink ball warm-up match against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI to prepare for the Adelaide Test match. The 2 day match was shortened to a 50 over match due to rain in Canberra. India played well in phases, bowling out Australia for 240 runs, which they then chased down with ease.

Captain Rohit Sharma sacrificed his opener for KL Rahul who did a phenomenal job as an opener in the first Test in Perth. Hence, Rahul also continued to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the warm-up match. The duo continued from where they left off in Perth and added 75 runs for the first wicket.

Jaiswal was irritable at first but Rahul looked strong and was very alert at the crease. While Jaiswal was dismissed on 45 while trying to bowl big against Charlie Anderson, Rahul got out on 27 (44) as Rohit came in to bat. However, he could not survive more than 11 deliveries and was dismissed for 3 (11) edging Charlie Anderson to wicketkeeper Oliver Davies.

Following his dismissal, Nitish Kumar Reddy joined Shubman Gill at the crease and the duo added 92 runs together at the crease. Reddy played his big shots all over the field, smashing five fours and a six during his innings of 42 (32). On the other hand, Gill scored a sublime half-century after recovering from his injury and stepping aside to allow other players to practice batting.

After Reddy’s dismissal, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar came together on the field and involved themselves in another 37-run stand. While Jadeja was dismissed on 27, Sundar scored a brilliant unbeaten 42 as India finished at 257/5 in 46 overs.

Harshit Rana bowls with four wickets

Earlier, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bowl first and the Indian seamers took full advantage of the cloudy conditions from the start. Mohammed Siraj allowed Matt Renshaw (5) to take the lead at slips while Jayden Goodwin (4) edged wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to Akash Deep to leave the Prime Minister’s XI on 22/2.

After two opening shots, Sam Konstas and Jack Clayton forged a 109-run stand for the third wicket to take their team’s score past 130. Out of nowhere, Harshit Rana brought India back into the match by breaking the position of Jack Clayton (40 off 52) stumps. Olivier Davies suffered the same fate for a two-ball duck who left the PM’s XI on 131/4.