Despite being on the top after the first two day’s play, Team India suffered a humiliating 8-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday (December 19).
The visitors were 9 for 1 at the close of play on Day 2, with Prithvi Shaw being the only dismissed batsman. However, the Australian pace attack changed the course of the game in the first session on Day 3.
Josh Hazlewood (5 for 8) and Pat Cummins (4 for 21) were the chief destroyers with the ball as India recorded their lowest ever Test score of 36/9 (with Mohammad Shami retired hurt) in terminated second innings.
See Also: Tim Paine lauds Australian bowling attack after 8-wicket win in first Test
Chasing the target of 90 in the fourth innings, Australia got over the line with 8 wickets in hands thanks to Joe Burns’ half-century.
Reflecting on the loss, India skipper Virat Kohli at the post-match presentation ceremony said: “It really hurts. We probably didn't have enough intent in the batting today.”
“It's very hard to put those feeling into words. We had a lead of 60-odd when we arrived. And then we just collapsed. We played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lose it in an hour,” he added.
According to Kohli, the mindset of the batsmen led to their downfall in the second innings as they went into their shell instead of looking for runs.
"The bowlers bowled similar kind of areas in the first innings as well, but then our mindset was to get runs," he remarked. "There were some good balls but I don't think it did anything drastic. Just the atmosphere was created where runs were difficult to come by. I think it was a combination of both - lack of intent, and bowlers bowling in good areas."
Virat Kohli won’t be taking part in the remaining three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he will head back home on paternity leave.
Ajinkya Rahane will India in the remaining games as Kohli is confident of his side bouncing back in the series.
"I am confident the boys going forward will reflect on this and come up with a better result on Boxing Day," he stated.
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)
