On This Day In 2020: India Bowled Out For 36 By Australia In Adelaide Test

On This Day In 2020 Cricket: Team India began the epic 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the most sombre note with a painstaking defeat in the opening Test on this day. In a dramatic turnaround, Virat Kohli’s men went from becoming the first visiting team to take a first-innings lead in a pink-ball D/N Test in Australia to collapsing for their lowest-ever score in Test history.

Exceptional performances from greats Ravichandran Ashwin (4/55) and Kohli (74) helped India take a 53-run first-innings lead despite posting an insignificant 244 on Day 1. But just when the tourists would’ve hoped to turn that into a sizeable target, the most shocking scenes unfolded on the morning of Day 3.

On this day last year, one of the most remarkable bowling performances

in Test history!

Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins combined for nine wickets as Australia bowled out India for just 36 in Adelaide!

The hosts would go on to win the Test by eight wickets. pic.twitter.com/YBVFJ0vnY8

— ICC (@ICC) December 18, 2021

Having already lost opener Prithvi Shaw (4) overnight, India lost nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah (2) early to be reduced to 2 down for 15. The experienced trio of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane were then expected to steady the ship and bring India back on top. However, Pujara and Rahane both got out for a duck, while Kohli fell moments later for just 4.

Breathing fire via a pink ball that went through with extra sting and movement off the surface, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins delivered their most devastating spells. While spearhead Cummins picked 4 for 21, Hazlewood was only more menacing and finished with stunning figures of 5 for 8.

India were slightly unfortunate to have been at the receiving end of such unplayable bursts at either end. A number of their batters got out on defensive shots to balls that moved late off the pitch at over 145 kmph.

To further rub salt into the Indian wounds, a bouncer from Cummins hurt tailender and premier quick Mohammad Shami’s forearm and fractured it, forcing him to retire hurt. It ended the innings at 36/9 inside 22 overs.

Set a target of 90 runs, Australia later reached home with eight wickets intact and retained their unbeaten run in the D/N Tests at home, which the West Indies ended in early 2024 after express quick Shamar Joseph helped them pull off a heist in Brisbane.

For India, it was the sternest test of their resolve and temperament. The early departure of injured Shami and skipper Kohli on paternity leave raised calls of a 4-0 scoreline.

But then in an inspiring comeback, Rahane led India to a victory at the MCG and restored parity against all odds. Rahane & company eventually sealed the series 2-1 in arguably India’s greatest ever series win in Tests.