After a massive victory against Australia by 295 runs in the first test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Perth, Team India has a challenging task to win the Pink Ball or Day-Night Test match at Adelaide starting from December 06.
Ahead of the second test, Rohit Sharma and his men will have a 2-day pink ball practice session against the Prime Minister XI to improve their skills in test cricket under the lights.
Despite having limited experience in pink ball tests, India holds a 75% winning rate, including three games at home and one in Australia. Although the Indians have been dominant at home in the day-night tests against Bangladesh, England, and Sri Lanka, they have lost a single game on Australian soil by a huge margin.
India’s Pink Ball Test Records At Home: A Real Domination
Since the first pink ball test match against Bangladesh in 2019, India has maintained a clean record of winning all three matches by a huge margin, and the results against the opponents are tabulated below :
| Year | Opponent Team | Venue | Winner | Winning Margin | Match Concluding Day |
| 2019 | Bangladesh (2nd out of 2nd test) | Eden Gardens (Kolkata) | India | Inning and 46 runs | Day 3 |
| 2021 | England (3rd out of 4th test) | Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) | India | 10 wickets | Day 2 |
| 2022 | Sri Lanka (2nd out of 2nd test) | M.Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru) | India | 238 runs | Day 3 |
India’s Pink Ball Test Record on Australian Soil: Lowest Test Cricket Total
The Indian cricket team under Virat Kohli’s captaincy recorded its lowest-ever test Total against Australia in the pink ball test at the Adelaide Oval in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. During India’s 2nd innings of the first test, the entire batting order managed to Total just 36 runs in 21.2 overs. As a result, Australia chased down the target of 90 runs in 21 overs and achieved a massive victory by 8 wickets.
Let’s have a glimpse of India’s previous clash against Australia in the day-night test match in Adelaide:
| Score (Per Inning) | Top Run Scorers in an inning | Highest wicket-takers in an inning | |
| INDIA (1st Innings): 244 all-out in 93.1 overs | Virat Kohli: 180-ball-74 runs (including 8 fours) | Mitchell Starc: 4-53 in 21 overs | |
| Cheteshwar Pujara: 160-ball- 43 runs (including 2 fours) | Pat Cummins: 3-48 in 21.1 overs | ||
| Ajinkya Rahane: 92 ball-42 runs (including 3 fours and 1 six) | |||
| AUSTRALIA (1st Innings): 191 all-out in 72.1 overs | Tim Paine: 99 ball-73 runs (including 10 fours) | Ravichandran Ashwin: 4-55 in 18 overs | |
| Marnus Labuschagne: 119-balls 47 runs (including 7 fours) | Umesh Yadav: 3-40 in 16.1 overs | ||
| INDIA (2nd Innings): 36-9 in 21.2 overs | Mayank Agarwal:40 ball-9 runs (including 1 four) | Josh Hazlewood: 5-8 in 5 overs | |
| Pat Cummins: 4-21 in 10.2 overs | |||
| AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings): 93-2 in 21 overs | Joe Burns: 63 ball-51 runs (including 7 fours and 1 six) | Ravichandran Ashwin: 1-16 in 6 overs | |
| Matthew Wade: 53 ball-33 runs (including 5 fours) |
Can India Rewrite their History in the Adelaide Pink Ball Test of BGT 2024-25? Final Opinion
There are higher chances of India rewriting their history in the pink-ball test in Adelaide based on the dominating win in Perth. Especially, Jasprit Bumrah’s led side proved their ability in the series opener by flourishing in challenging pitch conditions with strong batting, controlled bowling, and skilled leadership.
Moreover, achieving their maiden victory in the Day-Night test on Australian pitches would increase their dominance in the 17th season of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
India’s records in Pink-ball home test matches have been superior, but proving their strength on overseas pitch conditions remains a barrier. However, Rohit Sharma as a captain and opening batter joins the squad ahead of the second test, which is an added advantage for the team.
Furthermore, Virat Kohli’s test records in Adelaide have been exceptional, scoring 509 runs in 8 innings, which includes two centuries and a half-century since 2011.
At the same time, the Australians are hailed as the King of Pink Ball test cricket by losing only once out of 12 matches played in this format.
The previous pink ball test in Adelaide was one of the toughest games India wouldn’t easily forget. Although India recently secured a 1-0 lead in the ongoing 5-match test series against Australia, they need to overcome the emotional hardships that occurred due to their previous blowout playing under the lights at the same venue.
Overall, fans will be excited to watch if the forthcoming day-night test for India is a repeat or revenge moment of the BGT 2020-21 Adelaide test against Australia.