India vs Australia Match Prediction: Who will win the 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test?
The last time India played a Test in Adelaide, they were bundled out for 36 and went on to be thrashed in that game. Australia were the overwhelming favorites to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but the visitors pulled a miracle out of the bag, defying the odds to fashion a spectacular comeback series win.
Interestingly, India are making a habit of it. Few people gave them a chance of upsetting the Aussies in the opening Test at the Perth Stadium, but Jasprit Bumrah and his men did just that. Despite being without Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, the two-time World Test Championship finalists raced off the blocks to give themselves an important 1-0 lead in the series.
Action in the rubber now moves to Adelaide, where India have a few scars. Rohit and Gill will be back, and a batting order rejig has been announced by the visiting skipper.
Meanwhile, Australia will be without star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who was easily their best pacer in the first Test. And despite Mitchell Marsh struggling with his workload, the all-rounder has held on to his place in the side.
Pat Cummins and Co. are up against it, but they might still enter the second Test as the favorites. Australia have lost only one of their 12 pink-ball Tests at home and boast a spotless record at the Adelaide Oval.
Can the Aussies pull level in the series? Or will India continue to make the unthinkable possible?
IND vs AUS, BGT 2024-25, 2nd Test: Pink-ball challenge awaits the visitors
It must be said that as good as India played in the first Test, Australia were hard done by the conditions. Both seam movement and uneven bounce troubled them much more than the visitors, making their task much tougher.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul showed great application, though. If the Indian batters can get stuck in once again, with Rohit and Gill adding weight to the order, they will have an excellent chance of repeating the same feat, especially if the skipper wins the toss and opts to bat.
India's chances are enhanced by the fact that Australia have clear issues with their side. Steve Smith seems to be losing the eyes and hands that made him the best Test batter of his generation, while Nathan McSweeney has been thrust into the cauldron at the top of the order.
The usually metronomic Pat Cummins hasn't been at his unplayable best, and Hazlewood's absence will work against the Aussies. But Scott Boland is no slouch, particularly with a pink ball. There's enough talent across the board in the lineup, and India's middle order might not have the technical solidity needed to weather the moving ball under the lights.
The toss is likely to have a big say on the outcome of this encounter, with both teams being fairly even on paper. And while it's hard to pick a favorite for the second Test, Australia might still have more bases covered despite their convincing loss in the series opener.
Prediction: Australia to win the 2nd Test vs India.