IND vs AUS Pink Ball Test Day 1 Highlights : Australia End Day 1 at 86/1; Starc Steals the Show

Mitchell Starc showed his mastery with the pink ball, making India defensive for the first time in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After the commanding victory in Perth, India's momentum was stopped by Starc's brilliance at the Adelaide Oval. The left-arm pacer let his bowling do the talking, silencing the sledging battles from the series opener.

The series changed momentum when Starc took six wickets, leading India to a dramatic collapse for 180 runs—the lowest first-innings total in a day-night Test at Adelaide. In response, Marnus Labuschagne and young opener Nathan McSweeney steadied Australia's innings against India's pace attack. By stumps, Australia reached 86 for 1 in 33 overs, trailing by just 94 runs with two well-set batters and nine wickets in hand.

Australia Ends Day 1 in Commanding Position

India managed a slightly better batting effort than in Perth, adding 30 more runs, but their bowling lacked the sharpness and control that troubled Australia in the series opener. On a more favorable surface for batters, Mitchell Starc’s fiery spell dismantled India, while the bowlers failed to capitalize on the twilight session, which often aids seamers.

India’s bowling was inconsistent in line and length, as they bowled slightly shorter compared to their disciplined display in Perth. This allowed Australian batters to confidently leave deliveries and survive LBW threats. Sunil Gavaskar pointed out India’s errors, stating on air, "Bowling on the leg-stump and trying to swing it makes it tough for the wicketkeeper when it swings late." India also conceded 15 extras in 33 overs, adding to their woes.

Jasprit Bumrah shouldered the bulk of the workload, bowling 11 overs, but Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney managed him well. After Usman Khawaja’s dismissal, the duo built a steady 61-run partnership over 20 overs, keeping the Indian attack at bay.

Earlier, India had a similar second-wicket partnership but lost three quick wickets before Tea, surrendering their advantage. McSweeney and Labuschagne ensured Australia finished strong, particularly during the challenging final hour under the floodlights.

Floodlight Drama and Near Misses for Harshit Rana

Young Harshit Rana bowled with impressive intensity, even during a frustrating floodlight failure in his over, but luck wasn’t on his side as he narrowly missed the edges of the Australian batters. Mohammed Siraj started with a tight and economical spell but lost rhythm towards the end, conceding boundaries in each of his last three overs and ending the day looking visibly frustrated.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy began with a maiden over but struggled to maintain control during his brief three-over spell, adding to India’s challenges.

Both Harshit and Siraj seemed to overexert themselves, especially in the closing stages of the day. With the Australian batters growing more confident under the lights, India relied heavily on Jasprit Bumrah to keep the pressure on, but the consistency needed to break through was missing.

Early Blow for India: Jaiswal Dismissed for Duck by Starc

India won the toss and chose to bat first in Adelaide, despite the overcast conditions in the afternoon. It was a bold decision, but India took confidence from their strong second-innings performance in Perth, hoping to put scoreboard pressure on Australia. With Australia never having lost a pink-ball Test when batting first, the statistic likely influenced India’s choice at the toss.

India also made a significant decision in their batting order, with captain Rohit Sharma coming in at No. 6, allowing Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to continue as openers after their success in Perth.

However, India suffered an early setback as Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off the very first ball of the Test by Mitchell Starc. The left-arm pacer, seeking revenge after Jaiswal had criticized his pace in Perth, sent a full outswinger that trapped the opener LBW.

KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, returning to the side after recovering from a fractured finger, steadied the innings with a 69-run partnership for the second wicket. Rahul had a bit of luck early on, being caught behind off a no-ball and then surviving a dropped catch by Usman Khawaja in the slips. He soon found his rhythm, playing some fluent strokes before Starc came charging back in his second spell.

Starc delivered a bouncer that rose sharply from a good length, getting Rahul to edge one. The ball was comfortably caught by Nathan McSweeney in the slips, sending Rahul back to the dressing room.

Kohli’s Struggles Continue: Dismissed for 7 After Brief Resistance

India's batting collapse in the first session was very fast and dramatic. The wickets came at the rate of three for just 12 runs before the tea break. Virat Kohli, despite his hundred in the series, struggled for form as he edged a delivery outside the off-stump to get dismissed for just 7 to Mitchell Starc. Shubman Gill, who seemed the most comfortable, committed a costly mistake by misjudging a half-volley from Scott Bolland just before the break.

Rohit Sharma, batting at No. 6, continued to struggle against the seaming deliveries, unable to find his rhythm with the red ball. He was dismissed after Tea, trapped on the front foot by a delivery from Boland that jagged back. Rishabh Pant was undone by a bouncer from Pat Cummins, but India managed to add valuable runs late in the session, thanks to a spirited cameo from Nitish Kumar Reddy.