3 things India need to do right to bounce back on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 Test in Adelaide
Team India endured a horrific Day 1 of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test in Adelaide. After winning a seemingly important toss, Rohit Sharma's men were jolted early with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for a golden duck.
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill weathered the new ball storm and began to look comfortable at the crease, propelling India to 69/1 in the 19th over. However, three quick wickets just before lunch doomed the visitors for good as they fell to 81/4 in no time.
Things continued to fall apart as the score soon read 141/8 before Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a valuable 54-ball 42 to lend some respectability to India's otherwise abysmal batting display. They were eventually bowled out for 180 in the 45th over.
Yet, the prospects of a repeat of the opening Test when India bowled Australia out for 104 after scoring only 150 had the Indian players and fans hopeful. Only this time the Aussies had other ideas as they mixed caution with some late aggression to finish the opening day on a healthy 86/1 in 33 overs.
Despite holding a 1-0 series lead, Team India is under immense pressure heading into the potentially decisive Day 2.
Here are three things they must nail to bounce back into the Adelaide Test on Day 2.
#1 India must remember 'one brings plenty' in D/N Tests in Adelaide
![Labuschagne boasts a stunning record in pink-ball Tests in Australia [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/33956-17334886843486-1920.jpg?w=500)
As bleak as the situation looks at the moment, Team India must remember things happen quickly in pink-ball Tests in Adelaide.
The famous cricketing cliche -'One brings two' must be constantly reminded to the Indian players overnight. Only that in the pink-ball Tests at this venue, one wicket brings more than just another, it often gives way to plenty.
Who better than India to know that fact, having been bowled out for 36 on the morning of Day 3 after starting on 9/1? They can look at just their own batting innings on Day 1 for a reminder of how things turn around in a hurry in pink-ball Tests at this venue.
From a comfortable 69/1, they lost the next seven wickets for 72 runs to slide to 141/8.
With the pink-ball ever-offering of movement, India's bowlers must get the mental aspects like belief right instead of allowing shoulders to drop at any point on Day 2. For starters, they will hope to see the back of Marnus Labuschagne, who averages an incredible 63.85 in pink-ball Tests in Australia.
#2 Trust their Plan B of keeping a lid on run-scoring in the first two sessions
As important as striking early and often is going to be on Day 2, the Indian bowlers must constantly be reminded of the criticality of keeping the Aussie run-rate in check.
While the ideal scenario may be to inflict a similar collapse on the Australians to the one they endured on Day 1, Plan B of controlling run-scoring could provide them a back-door entry into the contest.
Should India not allow Australia to not score at more than 2.50 runs per over, the hosts may reach only around 200 after 80 overs. The completion of 80 overs also means 47 overs would have been bowled on the second day, meaning the second session would be on the verge of completion.
India will then receive the double bonus of the bowling with the second new ball and under lights, both of which have historically proven to be nightmares for batters in day-night Tests in Adelaide.
Even if Australia are only two or three down for 200 entering the final session, India can dream about bowling them out without the first-innings deficit going over the dreaded 100-run mark.
#3 India must utilize Ravichandran Ashwin's experience and expertize with the pink-ball
There is a reason India brought in Ravichandran Ashwin for the in-form Washington Sundar at the cost of disturbing the bowling attack from the victorious Perth Test. The veteran off-spinner has been India's best exponent of the pink ball over the years irrespective of conditions.
Ashwin has played four pink-ball Tests and picked up 18 wickets at a stellar average of under 14. He was India's star the last time they played a pink-ball Test at the same venue in 2020-21 with overall match figures of 5/71, including a four-wicket haul in the first innings.
Incidentally, he removed Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne (all 3 playing in the ongoing Test) in that contest.
Despite these numbers, India used Ashwin for only the lone over in the 33 they bowled on Day 1, even as Nathan McSweeney and Labuschagne were getting settled in for the long haul.
As alluring as using pacers at all times might be, skipper Rohit Sharma must find a way to utilize Ashwin throughout the first two sessions on Day 2. Otherwise, why bring him in for Washington Sundar and break up a winning combination?