India's journey in pink-ball Test cricket has been quite the rollercoaster ride. With 3 wins and just 1 loss in 4 matches, it's clear that Team India knows how to handle the pink cherry on their home turf. Their standout victories include a historic win against Bangladesh at Kolkata's Eden Gardens back in 2019. The match saw India declare at 347/9, laying down a solid foundation for their pink-ball prowess.
The story continued as India claimed impressive home victories against cricket giants like England and Sri Lanka in 2021. Each win showcased the firepower of Indian cricket, with a solid squad that blends talent and strategy. However, when venturing overseas, the narrative takes a sharp turn. The nightmarish day in Adelaide 2020 casts a long shadow over India's pink-ball achievements. Canada predictably stumbled to an eye-watering 36 all out in their second innings, marking their first and only defeat under the pink lights.
Head-to-Head with Australia
When it comes to facing Australia in these unique matches, the memory of that Adelaide collapse is hard to shake. Australia, on the other hand, struts with an intimidating record: 11 wins out of 12, with an impeccable 7 out of 7 at the iconic Adelaide Oval. It's not all invincibility, though, as their sole pink-ball loss came pretty recently in 2024 against the West Indies, a testament that anything can happen in cricket.
The stats paint a competitive picture, but India's big guns like Virat Kohli, with his 277 runs at an average of 46.16, and Rohit Sharma, scoring 173 runs at 43.25, show glimpses of what the team can achieve with the right conditions. In the bowling department, Ravichandran Ashwin stands out with 18 wickets in these matches, proving crucial each time the pink ball was tossed his way.
The Recent Adelaide Encounter
Fast forwarding to the recent 2nd Test in Adelaide (Dec 6-8, 2024), we saw a familiar pattern of Indian struggles as Australia cruised to a 10-wicket victory, leveling the series at 1-1. India's batting woes were once again on display with collapses to 180 and then 175 across two innings.
Australia's bowlers shone brightly under the pink lights, with Pat Cummins and Scott Boland delivering crushing blows, taking 5/67 and 3/29 respectively. Meanwhile, Travis Head’s blistering century further cemented Australia’s dominance at the crease. With this kind of assertive play, Australia continues to be a formidable force in pink-ball cricket.
Despite this hiccup, India's pink-ball Test success rate of 75% remains impressive, although there's ongoing chatter about their ability to adapt internationally. With the series poised at an even keel, all eyes now shift to Brisbane for the upcoming 3rd Test. Cricket fans can only hope for a thrilling encounter, laced with the unpredictability that makes this sport so captivating.
