Sun Dec 08 05:50:00 UTC 2024: ## Australia Levels Series with 10-Wicket Win Over India in Adelaide
**Adelaide, Australia** – Australia has leveled the five-match Test series against India with a resounding 10-wicket victory in the second Test at Adelaide Oval. Chasing a mere 19 runs for victory on Day 3, the Australian team completed the formalities with ease. The win comes after India’s dominant 295-run victory in the Perth Test.
India’s performance in Adelaide fell far short of expectations. Several key factors contributed to their defeat:
* **Brief Innings:** India’s batsmen managed only 81 overs across both innings, scoring a paltry 180 and 175 runs respectively. A significantly higher first-innings score was crucial, but the team’s total of 355 runs across both innings proved woefully inadequate.
* **Rohit Sharma’s Failure:** Captain Rohit Sharma, returning after missing the Perth Test due to family reasons, failed to deliver, scoring only 5 and 6 runs in the two innings. His decision to bat at number six also drew criticism.
* **Underutilized Ashwin:** While veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin replaced Washington Sundar, his impact was limited. He bowled late in the first innings and his overall contribution (1 wicket for 53 runs in 18 overs) was underwhelming. His batting also yielded only 29 runs across both innings.
* **Collapse of Perth Centurions:** Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who both scored centuries in the Perth Test, were significantly less effective in Adelaide. Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, and Kohli managed only 18 runs across both.
* **Lack of Short-Pitch Bowling:** Australia’s fast bowlers, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland, effectively used short-pitched deliveries to unsettle the Indian batsmen. In contrast, India’s bowling attack lacked the same aggression, notably failing to exploit Travis Head’s vulnerability to short balls, allowing him to score a crucial 140 runs.
The series now moves to Brisbane, where the third Test will begin on December 14th. India will be looking to bounce back strongly and regain the lead in the series.
First Piper 