India experienced a dramatic collapse, losing KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill within a mere 16 deliveries during a frenetic phase just before the conclusion of the first session in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide. Australia, spearheaded by Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, made a significant comeback in the day-night Test following a solid partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, both of whom capitalized on their chances to find the boundary despite some fortune.

Starc initiated the day's excitement by dismissing the in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal with the very first ball of the pink-ball Test. He then returned to claim the wickets of KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in the second hour, allowing Australia to dominate the session. At the break, returning captain Rohit Sharma remained not out on 1, while Rishabh Pant was on 4. Starc concluded the session with impressive figures of 3-31 from eight overs.

Starc's opening delivery set a thrilling tone for the day-night Test, as he sent Jaiswal back to the pavilion without scoring. Expecting an away-swinger, Jaiswal misjudged a full delivery and was caught off guard.

Shubman Gill (31) and Rahul (37) formed a partnership of 69 runs for the second wicket. Gill, returning from a thumb injury that sidelined him in the first Test, looked in good form, striking five boundaries.

After the first hour, India stood at 36-1, with Rahul again starting slowly and narrowly escaping two chances during Scott Boland’s initial over. He was given out caught behind in the eighth over, only for the decision to be overturned due to a no-ball, and shortly thereafter, he was dropped at slip by Usman Khawaja.

India lose Rahul, Kohli and Gill in manic 16 balls

Rahul encountered 64 deliveries before being dismissed at gully by Starc in the 19th over, marking a pivotal moment in the Test match. The right-handed batsman, for whom captain Rohit Sharma had relinquished the opening slot, struggled to manage the additional bounce produced by Starc, resulting in a nick to gully.

Virat Kohli also found the extra bounce challenging, as he was caught at slip for a mere seven runs. Once again, Kohli's forward press contributed to his dismissal. He lacked sufficient time to shift his weight to the back foot and cope with the bounce. Former Australian opener Justin Langer remarked that Kohli appeared uncertain about whether to play the shot.

Even the most skilled players often struggle with their technique, either pushing the ball through the covers or pulling their hands away at the last moment. It is a challenging task. "Virat Kohli appeared uncertain about whether to play the ball or let it go," Langer remarked during the commentary.

India's situation deteriorated further as Boland took a wicket at the opposite end, dismissing Gill lbw. This led to India losing three wickets for just 12 runs over the course of 16 deliveries, effectively squandering their initial advantage. Similar to Jaiswal, Gill made the mistake of moving across the crease and failing to connect with a full, straight delivery.

The returns of Rohit Sharma and Gill were part of three adjustments made to the Indian lineup, which had convincingly secured victory in the series opener in Perth the previous week.

Australia, on the other hand, made a single change, bringing Boland back into the team to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood, who had suffered a side strain while achieving match figures of 5-57 from 34 overs during Australia’s significant 295-run loss in the first Test.

Read Also: "Decline of Virat Kohli: Former Cricketer Speaks Out Following Adelaide Test Performance"

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