Praise Turns to Criticism After Adelaide
In the Perth Test match, Team India earned widespread praise for their performance, but the narrative took a sharp turn after the Adelaide Test. While India dominated Australia in Perth, their performance in Adelaide fell short in both batting and bowling. The main challenge was the day-night Test format, played with the pink ball, which exposed India’s vulnerabilities.
This was not the first time India faltered in a pink-ball Test. On their last tour of Australia, India suffered a humiliating collapse, being bowled out for just 36 runs in the second innings—their lowest score in Test history. While this time was not as disastrous, the loss highlighted ongoing issues with preparation and adaptability, driven by the policies of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
BCCI’s Role in India’s Pink Ball Struggles
Batting and Bowling Missteps
In Adelaide, India’s batting lineup, including stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, struggled against the pace and movement of the pink ball. The bowlers, too, failed to maintain accurate line and length, often bowling outside off-stump, allowing Australian batsmen to score freely. These shortcomings pointed to a lack of familiarity and preparation for the pink-ball format.
Australia has silenced the critics with a crushing win over India in the second Test at Adelaide Oval. Hometown hero Travis Head was man of the match and at the centre of controversy. @Tom_Wilson7 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/lmNtJvLUZf
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) December 8, 2024
Lack of Practice Matches
India’s infrequent exposure to day-night Test matches is a critical factor. Unlike Australia, which has played 12 day-night Tests and lost just one, India has only played five, winning three and losing two. Most of India’s victories came on home soil, while they struggled in away conditions.
Sporadic Pink Ball Matches in India
Timeline of Day-Night Tests
- November 2019: India played their first day-night Test in Kolkata against Bangladesh and won.
- December 2020: The second pink-ball Test, played in Adelaide, ended in a heavy defeat.
- February 2021: India defeated England in Ahmedabad in their third day-night Test.
- January 2022: India won their fourth pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
- 2024: India faced Australia in Adelaide, marking their first pink-ball Test in nearly 32 months.
This timeline reveals long gaps between matches, which hinder players from gaining consistency with the pink ball. During this period, India played several Test series but did not incorporate day-night formats, limiting exposure.
The Domestic Cricket Gap
The lack of pink-ball matches at the domestic level compounds the problem. While India experimented with the pink ball in the 2016 Duleep Trophy, the format was abandoned in subsequent domestic tournaments. Regular use of the pink ball in domestic cricket could help players develop the skills and confidence needed for day-night Tests at the international level.
Conclusion
India’s struggles in pink-ball Tests stem from a combination of poor preparation and inconsistent opportunities. While other teams like Australia have adapted to the day-night format, India’s reluctance to embrace the pink ball—both internationally and domestically—has left its players underprepared. To address these challenges, the BCCI must prioritize incorporating pink-ball matches into domestic tournaments and increase the frequency of day-night Tests in India’s international schedule.
