"Not a single player played 50 balls" - Aakash Chopra on India's 2nd innings batting failure in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Aakash Chopra has attributed India's loss in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 to their batting failure in both innings. He was particularly disappointed with the visitors' second-innings batting, highlighting that none of their players lasted even 50 balls.
India suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8. Rohit Sharma and company were bundled out for 180 in 44.1 overs in the first innings and 175 in 36.5 overs in the second essay.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the cricketer-turned-commentator blamed India's batting, especially in the second innings, for their loss.
"Where did we go wrong? It's a big question. The truth is that it was a batting failure, not once but twice. The decision to bat first was absolutely right. In the first innings when you got out for 180, you could have said that it happens. However, the second innings, the pitch had become flat now," he said (13:30).
"There was some help in the first innings for sure. If you are not going to bat 80 overs across two innings in a Test match, that is the problem. There is not one person in the team who said he would play 80-100 balls. Not a single player played 50 balls. We are talking about 50 runs but no one played 50 balls," Chopra added.
Chopra pointed out that the pitch wasn't too bowling-friendly in the second innings.
"It wasn't a pitch where you couldn't have played 50 balls. It wasn't a pitch where you couldn't have survived for a slightly longer time. You have to bat at least one session without losing a wicket," he observed.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (42 off 47) faced the most balls in India's second innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 31), Rishabh Pant (28 off 31) and Shubman Gill (28 off 30) were the only other batters to play at least 30 balls.
"The Indian batting frailties were exposed once again" - Aakash Chopra
![Rohit Sharma lasted only 15 balls in India's second innings. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/dcbd5-17336638875833-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that India's middle order is found wanting when they lose early wickets.
"In the end, the Indian batting frailties were exposed once again. When wickets fall with the new ball, Virat Kohli is at No. 4, you are expecting a lot from Rishabh Pant but he hasn't played a big knock so far in this series, and Rohit Sharma at No. 6, it's not looking good. Our batting has let us down. That is the one big reason for India's loss at Adelaide," he said.
Chopra pointed out that India posted a mammoth total in the second innings of the first Test in Perth when their openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched together a 201-run partnership. He added that the visitors have been dismissed cheaply in their other three innings.