Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21: India's batting collapse in Adelaide Test shocks former Pakistani stars

The Indians are off to a tough start in defence of their Border-Gavaskar Trophy title, having lost the opening Test in Adelaide by eight wickets, within just three days. India is scheduled to play three more Tests, while its recent batting collapse has raised some eyebrows.

<p>A day after the Indians shocked the world with their horrifying batting collapse, the cricketing fraternity is still got talking and analysing, as to what went wrong with them in the opening day-night Test, in Adelaide. The Indians have lost the Test by eight runs within just two and a half days.</p>

A day after the Indians shocked the world with their horrifying batting collapse, the cricketing fraternity is still got talking and analysing, as to what went wrong with them in the opening day-night Test, in Adelaide. The Indians have lost the Test by eight runs within just two and a half days.

<p>As India now trails the four-match series 0-1, it has a task at hand, to win at least a Test and draw the series, in order to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Meanwhile, this batting collapse of it has even got some former Pakistani cricketing stars talking. Here's what they said, as reported by <em>PTI</em>:</p>

As India now trails the four-match series 0-1, it has a task at hand, to win at least a Test and draw the series, in order to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Meanwhile, this batting collapse of it has even got some former Pakistani cricketing stars talking. Here's what they said, as reported by PTI:

<p><strong>Mohsin Khan (former opener): </strong>"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Australia batting again and the score showing they needed just 90 runs to win this morning. I saw the dismissals and honestly speaking, there was nothing wrong with the surface. I just felt the batsmen showed lack of intent and they were in double minds, about what to do against the Australian quicks."</p>

Mohsin Khan (former opener): "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Australia batting again and the score showing they needed just 90 runs to win this morning. I saw the dismissals and honestly speaking, there was nothing wrong with the surface. I just felt the batsmen showed lack of intent and they were in double minds, about what to do against the Australian quicks."

<p><strong>Rashid Latif (Former skipper):</strong> "These things happen. There are days when the bowlers just hit the right spot 100 per cent of the time and the edges go straight to fielders. I think the collapse occurred because the Indian batsmen perhaps came out with a mindset to attack the bowling and dominate."</p><p>"But, the pitch changed its behaviour and I think on the first two days, it had some spongy bounce and was a bit slow, but then, the pitch had hardened up a bit and the ball skidded beautifully for the bowlers, which is why all the edges went into the fielders. It must have been a nightmare for Kohli to see his team bowled out for just 36 runs."</p>

Rashid Latif (Former skipper): "These things happen. There are days when the bowlers just hit the right spot 100 per cent of the time and the edges go straight to fielders. I think the collapse occurred because the Indian batsmen perhaps came out with a mindset to attack the bowling and dominate."

"But, the pitch changed its behaviour and I think on the first two days, it had some spongy bounce and was a bit slow, but then, the pitch had hardened up a bit and the ball skidded beautifully for the bowlers, which is why all the edges went into the fielders. It must have been a nightmare for Kohli to see his team bowled out for just 36 runs."

<p><strong>Shoaib Akhtar (Former pacer):</strong> "I thought their approach was not positive at all after taking the first innings lead and bowling out Australia on the second day they had a very good chance to win the game."</p>

Shoaib Akhtar (Former pacer): "I thought their approach was not positive at all after taking the first innings lead and bowling out Australia on the second day they had a very good chance to win the game."

<p><strong>Javed Miandad (Former batsman):</strong> "I think some of the balls were unplayable, to be fair, but what surprised me was that no one even down the order put up resistance. A total of 36 does not represent the worth of this team."</p>

Javed Miandad (Former batsman): "I think some of the balls were unplayable, to be fair, but what surprised me was that no one even down the order put up resistance. A total of 36 does not represent the worth of this team."

<p><strong>Match summary: </strong>Electing to bat first, the Indians scored a total of 244, courtesy Kohli's 74. As for Australia, it was bowled out for just 191, thanks to Ashwin's 4/55. However, the second innings saw the Indians collapsing at a paltry score for 36, on Day 3, with Josh Hazlewood (5/8) and Pat Cummins (4/21) wreaking havoc. In the end, it was a comfortable eight-wicket chase for the host, with Joe Burns staying unbeaten on 51.<br /><strong>Brief scores: India 244 &amp; 36/9 (Myanak 9; Hazlewood 5/8, Cummins 4/21) lost to Australia 191 and 15/0 (Burns 51*; Ashwin 1/16) by eight wickets.</strong></p>

Match summary: Electing to bat first, the Indians scored a total of 244, courtesy Kohli's 74. As for Australia, it was bowled out for just 191, thanks to Ashwin's 4/55. However, the second innings saw the Indians collapsing at a paltry score for 36, on Day 3, with Josh Hazlewood (5/8) and Pat Cummins (4/21) wreaking havoc. In the end, it was a comfortable eight-wicket chase for the host, with Joe Burns staying unbeaten on 51.
Brief scores: India 244 & 36/9 (Myanak 9; Hazlewood 5/8, Cummins 4/21) lost to Australia 191 and 15/0 (Burns 51*; Ashwin 1/16) by eight wickets.