Adelaide: Skipper Virat Kohli was gutted after India were capitulated for just 36 in the second innings of the opening Test against Australia on Saturday. Set a 90-run target, Australia cruised to an eight-wicket win with two-and-a-half days to spare.
“It’s very hard to put those feeling into words. We had a lead of 60-odd when we arrived. And then just collapsed. Played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lost it in an hour. Really hurts,” Kohli said at the post-match press conference.
India, having done well to earn a 53-run first-innings lead, resumed their second innings on 9 for 1 on Day 3. And before anyone knew, they had been reduced to 36 for 9. The Indian innings ended as Mohammed Shami retired hurt after being hit on the hand by a Pat Cummins delivery.
Josh Hazlewood finished with dream figures of 5-3-8-5 and Cummins snared 4/21 as India recorded their lowest total in a Test innings. Their previous worst was 42 against England, at Lord’s in 1974.
“Probably we didn’t have enough intent in the batting today. It’s something that needs to be reflected and learned from. Bowlers bowled similar kind of areas in the first innings as well, but then our mindset was to get runs. 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,” said Kohli, who will be missing the next three Tests on paternity leave. His wife Anushka Sharma is expecting their first child in early January.
“Obviously, you want to be committed to the team’s cause. I’m confident the boys going forward will reflect on this and come up with a better result on Boxing Day,” Kohli wished.
