India's Adelaide Struggles: Key Factors Behind the Crushing Test Defeat

Apr, 15 2025

India's 10-wicket defeat against Australia in the Adelaide Pink-Ball Test has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. This was no ordinary loss; it was a telling display of vulnerabilities within the Indian side. The game wrapped up in a shockingly short span of seven sessions, adding another victory to Australia’s streak at the Adelaide Oval. Let’s break down the major factors that led to this collapse.

The Batting Collapse

India's batting line-up seemed to crumble under the weight of pressure in both innings, registering scores of just 180 and 175. What hit the hardest was the sight of seasoned players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who couldn't seem to steady the innings, managing only single-digit scores over both innings. The standout innings were delivered by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who seemed to be in a league of his own, managing scores of 42 in both innings. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc's 6 for 48 and Pat Cummins' 5 for 29 proved too lethal to handle.

Strategic Misfires: Bowling and Selection

The bowling strategy seemed out of sync with what was required on the day. Jasprit Bumrah, who was crucial in the previous game in Perth, was surprisingly underutilized, bowling just 4 overs in a key session. This cautious strategy starkly contrasted with his successful, aggressive captaincy style that led India to a big win in Perth. Furthermore, Travis Head's dominating 140-run innings seemed to go unchecked, further slipping the game away from India’s grasp.

The strategy didn't just falter on the field; it began on the selection table. The decision to change the winning combination from Perth, swapping out three players including R Ashwin for Washington Sundar, left the team unbalanced. These changes, paired with Shubman Gill returning which forced KL Rahul to bat at an uncomfortable number three, created instability in the batting order. The absence of a specialist batsman, like Dhruv Jurel, particularly affected the lower order’s resilience.

Let's not dismiss Australia's brilliance here. Starc, Cummins, and Scott Boland formed a relentless pace trio that dug in deep, exploiting every advantage and not giving the Indian batters room to settle. Boland, though surprisingly effective with a ten-wicket haul at Sydney, continued to put the Indian side under pressure, executing with precision and swing that was tough to counter.

This match, steeped in setbacks for India, exposed the essentials that need to be addressed urgently—from strategic insights to on-field decisions to make way for a much-needed turnaround in the series.