AUS vs IND 2nd Test Highlights - Day 2 | Australia Tighten Grip Despite India Fightback

The second day of the 2nd Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval continued the gripping action under the pink-ball conditions. Australia extended their dominance, thanks to a breathtaking century by Travis Head, followed by a commanding bowling display under lights. By stumps, India were trailing by 29 runs with just five wickets in hand in their second innings.

Head’s Onslaught Propels Australia to a Big Lead

Australia began Day 2 on 86/1 and soon took control through contrasting batting approaches. Marnus Labuschagne’s resilient 64 anchored one end, while Travis Head, playing on his home ground, counterattacked with a blistering 140 off 141 deliveries. Head’s knock, laced with boundaries and aggressive intent, neutralized the Indian bowlers, who otherwise found success in pockets.

Jasprit Bumrah was once again the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets with his relentless line and length. Mohammed Siraj also impressed, picking up four wickets, though he struggled with consistency in the morning session. Nitish Reddy and Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Despite their efforts, the Indian bowlers could not contain the aggressive lower-order contributions. Australia posted 337, taking a substantial first-innings lead of 157 runs.

India’s Fragile Top Order Crumbles

India’s second innings began under ominous skies and a charged-up Australian attack. KL Rahul fell early for 7, nicking Pat Cummins behind. Yashasvi Jaiswal followed soon after, scoring a promising 24 before being caught behind off Scott Boland.

Shubman Gill looked in fluent touch with a brisk 28 but fell to a peach of a delivery from Mitchell Starc. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also failed to convert their starts, dismissed cheaply as Australia’s bowlers maintained a tight grip on proceedings. By the 21st over, India had slumped to 105/5, leaving their middle and lower order with a monumental task.

Pant and Reddy Provide Resistance

Amid the collapse, Rishabh Pant played a counterattacking innings, remaining unbeaten on 28 off 25 balls. His partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 15 off 14, showed glimpses of a potential fightback. The duo added 23 runs in quick time before stumps, reducing the deficit to 29 runs.

Australia’s Discipline with the Ball

Australia’s bowling in India’s second innings was markedly sharper. In the first 10 overs, 15% of their deliveries were aimed at the stumps—a significant improvement from their efforts in earlier innings. Pat Cummins led from the front with two crucial scalps, while Starc and Boland chipped in with a wicket each, exploiting the conditions under lights effectively.

With five wickets remaining and a deficit still to overcome, India face an uphill task to stay alive in the Test. For Australia, another strong bowling session on Day 3 could all but seal the match. The pink ball and favorable conditions make for a fascinating setup as the Adelaide Test approaches its midway point.

Stay tuned as Day 3 promises more drama and decisive moments in this engrossing contest.