Indian captain Rohit Sharma appeared disheartened following his team's loss to Australia in the second Test at Adelaide. — AFP
India, feeling the weight of concerns over Rohit Sharma's form and Jasprit Bumrah's fitness, heads to Brisbane for the third Test starting on Saturday. Australia, on the other hand, seeks to capitalize on their recent momentum. Rohit, who missed India's victory in the first Test in Perth due to the birth of his child, struggled in Adelaide, scoring just nine runs as India suffered a crushing 10-wicket defeat within three days. His continued poor performance has fueled criticism, with some arguing that the 37-year-old is now a liability for the team. Former teammates have expressed concern, suggesting that his form is impacting his captaincy, especially after India's tactical decisions in Adelaide were scrutinized.
Rohit's place in the batting order remains a topic of debate, and further failures at the Gabba could intensify discussions in India. While Rohit was not the only one to struggle against the pink ball in Adelaide, his performance highlighted Bumrah's effectiveness in the series opener. Bumrah took four wickets in Adelaide but caused concern when he collapsed on the field clutching his inner thigh during his 20th over. Bowling coach Morne Morkel assured that Bumrah had only suffered cramp and was otherwise fine, but the pacer did not bowl in training until a brief session on Thursday.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting emphasized Bumrah's importance, stating, "I don't think India can win without him." India made several changes for the Adelaide Test and may continue to tweak their lineup, potentially recalling Akash Deep or replacing Ravichandran Ashwin with Ravindra Jadeja. Australia, meanwhile, faces its own selection dilemma, weighing whether to keep Scott Boland or bring back Josh Hazlewood after his recovery from a side injury. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who bowled four overs in Adelaide, declared himself ready to contribute significantly at the Gabba after recovering from a back injury.
Despite a 295-run defeat in Perth, Australia showed strong resilience in Adelaide. However, many players will remember their last encounter with India at the Gabba, where Rishabh Pant's 89 led India to a thrilling three-wicket victory, securing the series 2-1 and ending Australia's 33-year unbeaten streak at their home ground. With the five-Test series still in play, the stakes are high, particularly in the context of the World Test Championship. Another loss for India would jeopardize their chances of reaching the WTC final, while a win for Australia would bring them closer to the decider at Lord's next year.
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