India post record-lowest score of 36 in first Test defeat against Australia as Virat Kohli questions batting
India captain at a loss to explain second-innings performance after tourists were bowled out for just 36 runs, the lowest score in their history and the worst total of any international side in 2020
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.India captain Virat Kohli questioned his team's batting mindset in the second innings after their embarrassing capitulation inside three days of the opening day-night Test against Australia on Saturday.
India began day three 62 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand but soon the wheels came off their second innings and they slumped to their lowest ever innings score of 36 at the Adelaide Oval.
The usually articulate Kohli was at a loss for words to describe the feeling after the demoralising eight-wicket defeat in the series opener.
"It's very hard to find words to express how everyone's feeling in the change room," Kohli, who will miss the last three tests to attend the birth of his first child in India, said at the presentation ceremony.
"When you work hard for two days, you play some good cricket to get yourself in a good position, and then literally in an hour you put yourself in a position where it's impossible to win.
"To get 100 ahead with wickets in hand would have been a good position to be in. But it's something that needs to be reflected on and learn from and we need to put in better performances going forward."
Kohli top-scored for India in the first innings with a patient 74 but managed only four in the second, falling to a reckless shot.
The 32-year-old felt the Indian batsmen should have played with the same positive mindset they had showed during their first innings total of 244.
"They bowled similar areas in the first innings as well, but probably our mindset and intent was to get runs, even if it's ones and twos," Kohli said.
"To be honest, there were some good balls, but I don't think the ball did something drastic in the morning.
"It was just the mindset that put us into positions where the ball took edges and it was pretty evident in the way we went about things, just losing one (wicket) after the other."
Not a single India player reached double figures in their second innings as Josh Hazlewood took five wickets for just eight runs - reaching 200 Test wickets in the process - and Pat Cummins added four for 21.
India's innings ended when Mohammad Shami retired hurt after taking a blow on the arm from Cummins, still six runs short of their previous lowest score of 42 which came against England in 1974.
The visitors meagre total was the lowest by any Test side in the 21st century.
It left Australia chasing 90 to win against a dispirited India attack, with Joe Burns making 51 as they reached the target in 21 overs to wrap up victory inside three days.
Mayank Agarwal brought up 1,000 Test runs with a boundary in the opening over of India's innings, but it was about the only positive as things quickly crumbled.
After Cummins removed opener Prithvi Shaw for four in the fourth over, the problems escalated quickly as nightwarchman Jasprit Bumrah, Cheteshwar Pujara, Agarwal and Ajinkya Rahane all followed with the score stuck on 15.
When Hazlewood had Ravichandran Ashwin caught behind for a duck in the 19th over it brought up his 200th Test wicket, though he had to wait for Ashwin to fail with a review before he could fully celebrate.
The paltry score left little doubt Australia would complete victory with Burns and Matthew Wade putting on 70 for the opening wicket before the latter was run out on 33.
Ashwin then removed Marnus Labuschagne for six, but Burns finished the job with a six to bring up his half-century and seal a remarkable win.
India now have serious questions to answer before the series resumes with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, where their task will be made more difficult by the absence of skipper Kohli.
This weekend get a £10 free bet with Betfair, when you bet £10 on a Same Game Multi on the Premier League. Terms: Min £10 Same Game Multi bet on any EPL match this Fri - Sun. Free bet valid for 72 hours, awarded at bet settlement. Excludes cashed out bets. T&Cs apply.
Reuters and PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments