Sat Dec 07 16:04:38 UTC 2024: ## India’s Top Order Crumbles on Day 1 of Adelaide Test
**Adelaide, Australia –** India suffered a disastrous start to the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, losing four wickets before dinner on the first day. The team, winning the toss and electing to bat, managed only 180 runs by the end of play, a performance mirroring their humiliating 36 all out in their last day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
The collapse began immediately, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, centurion in the previous match, dismissed by Mitchell Starc off the very first ball. Further setbacks followed, with KL Rahul (37), Shubman Gill (31), and Virat Kohli (7) all failing to make significant contributions. Captain Rohit Sharma also disappointed, falling LBW to Scott Boland for just 3 runs. Only Nitish Kumar Reddy provided any substantial resistance with a fighting knock.
Starc was the pick of the Australian bowlers, dismissing Jaiswal, Rahul, and Kohli. Boland also played a crucial role, claiming Gill and Sharma’s wickets.
The Indian team made three changes to their playing XI from the previous match, bringing back Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Australia, missing the injured Josh Hazlewood, replaced him with Scott Boland.
The day-night Test, played under lights, presented a significant challenge for the Indian batsmen, given the pink ball’s tendency to swing and seam under the lights. The first day was also threatened by rain and thunderstorms, although play eventually proceeded.
India will be hoping for a significant improvement in their batting performance on day two to avoid a repeat of their disastrous last encounter at this venue.
First Piper 