The second test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will take place at the Adelaide Oval. The 2nd match of the BGT 2024-25 will be played with the pink ball. Last time India played a “Pink Ball Test Match” in Australia was also in Adelaide, where India was bundled out for their lowest test total ever, 36. But this time India has a better chance to overturn the previous record, as they are coming with a confidence-gaining win in Perth. And Australia is feeling under pressure due to various on- and off-field issues.
Following their thumping win in Perth, India has many positives coming to the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide; the opening pair of Jaiswal and Rahul is one of them. Now Rohit Sharma is back; it will be interesting to see whether the Indian team’s management disrupts a well-settled opening combination or chooses to go with the usual one. India will have more confidence in batting because of the long-awaited century of Virat Kohli. Nitish Reddy’s down-in-the-order cameos, and Rahul’s return to form.
On the other side, the Australian batting line-up is struggling with form; their so-called backbones of the batting line-up, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, are struggling. However, Australia’s lower-order batters showed some resistance in the second inning of the Perth Test, especially Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. In Adelaide, batting will remain the key focus, because the result of the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide depends on the batting performances of both teams.
Bowling is already a strong department of both Australia and India, and upon on that pink ball, it is not hard enough to imagine Bumrah and Strac wreaking havoc on their oppositions. However, the pitch at Adelaide Oval doesn’t have pace and bounce like Perth or Brisbane, but still, it has enough bite that can make Pink Ball playing unplayable. In short, the team performs better with the bat has a greater chance to win the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide.
Adelaide Pitch Report: Australia vs India 2nd Test, Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
The pitch at Adelaide Oval for the 2nd test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is expected to be a traditional test match track where the first two to three days pacers will rule and after that spinners play their role. However, the match is going to be played with the pink ball, which makes it necessary for the curator to leave a little bit longer grass compared to the usual length. The extra grass and batting under lights with the Pink Ball might make this encounter a tough test for batters.
According to Adelaide Oval’s pitch curator, Damian Hough, “The pitch will have 6 mm of grass. We’re trying to allow all facets of the game to shine at some stage during the game.” And history suggests that batting under lights with the pink ball has been a herculean task.
He further added, “What we’re trying to do is have a coarse mat grass—thatchy type of grass that’s dry and hard. And the reason we do that is we’re trying to get as much pace and bounce out of the pitch as what we can get for us, for Adelaide, which is a lower clay content.”
When asked about spinners’ role in the match, Hough said, “Sure Adelaide Oval traditionally plays a role, spinners play a role. So we don’t see that changing and I think history suggests that spin plays a role out here”
Australia vs India Head-to-Head Record in Adelaide (Test Matches)
| Total matches | 13 |
| Australia won | 8 |
| India won | 2 |
| Draw | 3 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
Australia vs India 2nd, Test, Probable Playing XI
Australia
Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Where to watch India vs Australia 2nd Test Match, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Star Sports Network will broadcast the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India. To watch India and Australia test matches on TV, simply tune in to Star Sports Network, and for live streaming, visit Disney Plus Hotstar.
