AUS vs IND, 2nd Test: Rohit Sharma’s captaincy under the scanner after Day 2 blunders

Captain Rohit Sharma was under the pump after letting the game slip away in the morning session on Day 2 of the second Test between Australia and India. Australia scored 105 runs in 26 overs in the first session. Despite losing three wickets, Australia rode on some brisk batting from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to go past India’s first innings total of 180.

There were a couple of questionable calls apart from a lack of proactiveness in setting fields. India did not have a lot to defend, but it looked like there was no real pressure on the Australians except when Jasprit Bumrah was operating with the pink ball.

Pink-ball Test, Day 2: Live Updates

Bumrah got India the early wickets after Australia stitched a 65-run partnership for the second wicket through Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne. The Indian vice-captain struck early, not allowing Australia to put the pressure back on India early on.

Bumrah also got the big wicket of Steve Smith, who was caught down the leg side for 2.

Just when it looked like Bumrah would hunt for more, Rohit Sharma took the pace spearhead off the attack. Bumrah only bowled four overs in the morning session, which was crucial to India’s chances of limiting Australia an keeping themselves alive in the Test match.

Also, Rohit Sharma waited 14 overs to bring R Ashwin into the attack after giving the lead off-spinner just one over out of 33 bowled on Day 1. Ashwin’s success in Adelaide in the past has come with a relatively newer ball.

The decision to bring Harshit Rana as the third seamer did not work as the young bowler conceded 38 runs in his five-over spell. Rana was taken to the cleaners in an over in which he conceded 17 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy, though, struck at the right time for India, breaking a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket by removing half-centurion Marnus Labuschagne.

Rohit, however, got it right after the Tea break as he resumed proceedings with Ashwin and Bumrah. The move worked as the off-spinner got the wicket of Mitchell Marsh, leaving Australia five down for 200-odd.

India looked sharper under Jasprit Bumrah’s captaincy in the first Test in Perth. Despite scoring only 150 in their first innings, India clinched a 295-run win to seal the early advantage in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar series.