Mitchell Starc delivered a stunning performance on the opening day of the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, dismantling India’s batting lineup with figures of 6/48. The Australian left-arm pacer struck with the very first ball of the match, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal, marking the third instance of Starc achieving such a feat. Despite a brief recovery by India through a 68-run second-wicket stand, Starc returned to trigger a dramatic collapse, bundling India out for just 180 runs.
Australia capitalized on India’s poor show with the bat, finishing Day 1 at a strong 86/1. Usman Khawaja was the only casualty, dismissed for 13 by Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed India’s sole wicket in the Australian innings.
Starc’s Witty Reply Stuns the Press
At the post-day press conference, Starc was asked whether he noticed any flaws in the Indian bowlers’ execution, especially given the criticism they faced for not making the Australian batters play. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar had highlighted the Indian bowlers’ inconsistent lengths as a key issue. However, Starc dodged the question in style with a sharp one-liner:
“I’m not their bowling coach,” he said with a grin, leaving the media room in laughter.
India’s Batting Woes Continue
India’s batting struggled after a promising start, with opener KL Rahul scoring 37 and Shubman Gill showing brief resistance. Starc’s brilliance, complemented by Pat Cummins and Scott Boland, ensured no Indian batter could settle in. Starc’s dismissal of Virat Kohli for just seven runs was a crucial breakthrough that put India firmly on the back foot.
The innings ended with Starc taking the final wicket of Nitish Reddy, who showed glimpses of fight while batting with the tail. Reddy, attempting to counterattack, mistimed a fuller delivery and handed an easy catch to Travis Head at mid-off.
Australia Holds the Edge
With a dominant performance on Day 1, Australia put themselves in a commanding position. India, leading the series 1-0 after a thumping 295-run victory in Perth under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy, now faces an uphill battle in Adelaide with Rohit Sharma back at the helm.
Australia’s bowlers, led by Starc, have laid down a strong challenge for the visitors, who will need a significant turnaround to retain their grip on the series.
