The number 36 was already ignominious in Indian cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar, India’s finest ever batsman, continues to get mocked to this day for the 36 runs he scored off 60 overs in the 1979 World Cup match against England.
Now, 36 all out in the second innings of Adelaide will forever be a taunt that the Indian team will have to hear wherever they go.
Where do the Indian team go from here?
That wretched first session in Adelaide not only killed the first Test for India, it also put their near future in danger.
The hard blow to Mohammed Shami’s right hand has destabilised the gun bowling unit. Virat Kohli, India’s best Test batsman, was already slotted to leave Australia after the first Test.
The perfect storm is upon this team. Now, Ajinkya Rahane, the stand-in captain, has to stand up and plot India’s come back.
For a team to rise from an ignominy such as the 36 all out, it needs its strongest characters to stand up and take charge.
Ajinkya has a few such strong characters in the squad and should build the team for the Boxing day Test around them.
Bowling
Jasprit Bumrah is the first among those indomitable characters, and Ajinkya should ask Bumrah to lead the fast bowling unit.
Ajinkya has to pick one among Mohammed Siraj or Thangarasu Natarajan or Navdeep Saini to replace Shami. Siraj showed plenty of fire in the warm-up games.
Natarajan, with his left-handed variation, has already had an impact in the limited-overs leg of this tour. Saini bowled poorly in all the matches that he has played so far in the tour.
I will pick Natarajan for his left-handed variation and for the spirit in him that comes from his tough upbringing.
Ravichandran Ashwin is a fighting cricketer and should hold his spot. If Ravindra Jadeja is fit to play, Ajinkya should take him into the team.
Ravichandran Ashwin should keep his spot. (Photo by Peter Mundy/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jadeja has shown all through his career that rare ability to stand up in adversity. He spent many years of initial career being taunted by the cricket watching public and some pundits.
He proved them all wrong through his talent and focus. On this tour, it was his innings in Canberra alongside Hardik Pandya that turned the fortunes of this team around.
India went on to win that ODI and soon the T20 series.
Batting
Ajinkya has to lead the batting unit and make them stand up after that disastrous performance. He has shown in the past that he can stand up against adversity.
We had a short peek into his spirit during the second innings in the Dharmasala Test in 2017. India was chasing 100 odd runs to win the Test and the series.
They lost two quick wickets with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood breathing fire on a pitch with good bounce.
Ajinkya walked in and smashed Cummins around scoring a rapid 38 off 27 balls to seal the series. Earlier in that series, Ajinkya combined with Cheteshwar Pujara to stitch a vital second innings partnership in the Bangalore Test to help India gain the upper hand for the first time.
Ajinkya should also remember his century at Lord’s in the 2014 series on a green pitch against James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Rishabh Pant is another strong character who I will add to the playing XI at the expense of Wridhiman Saha.
Rishabh has a strong batting record in Australia, loves to attack every time and is a good wicketkeeper.
Additionally, India needs a left-hander in their top order to break the line and length of the Australian bowlers.
We saw the danger of allowing Hazlewood and Cummins to settle on a line and length on a pitch with fire.
Rishabh Pant of India (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
KL Rahul will be my next pick into the team. KL had a horrible time in Australia during the 2018 Border Gavaskar Trophy.
However, through his limited-overs exploits, Rahul has regained his confidence. Rahul played well during the limited-overs leg of this tour as well. He has a good record against Australia from the 2017 series and 2014/15 series.
I will open the innings with KL Rahul and Mayank Agrawal in the Boxing Day Test.
Pujara is a calm and collected man. I expect him to be ready and be the rock on which the Indian batting will be built on during the Boxing day test.
Mayank Agrawal must look back at his debut performance in Melbourne to get his confidence back. During that Test, he played this same bowling unit with a positive mindset and freedom of a newcomer.
Mayank showed the rest of the batting crew how to play Nathan Lyon. He needs to bring back that aggressive intent to score.
I will play Shubman Gill ahead of Hanuma Vihari.
Gill is an attacking player, reliable on the back foot and is new on the scene as well. Vihari did not show enough intent to score in both the innings in Adelaide. Ajinkya needs to err on the side of aggression to script the team’s come back.
Learning from history
Ravi Shastri should speak to the Indian team about the various instances from history when teams have come back from terrible defeats. Kolkatta Test of 2001 is the first one he should talk about.
Ravi should ask VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid to address the team and speak to them about this match.
The next one on his list should be the story of India’s come back in the 2017 Australia series after getting bowled out for 100 odd runs in both the innings in Pune.
Getting shot for 100 odd twice in home conditions is as bad as 36 all out in Adelaide. Many of the players from that 2017 team are part of this squad, and they should talk about how they scripted that comeback.
Ravi should show the team the tape of the 2011 series between Australia and South Africa. At the start of the second innings of the first Test at Cape Town, Australia was in a similar position to where India was in the 2020 Adelaide Test.
Aussies squandered the advantage and lost the Test by getting bowled out in the second innings for 47.
However, the Aussies came back in the second Test and beat the South Africans to level the series 1-1. The Indian team should know that 36 all out is not the end of the series.
Ravi should show Ben Stokes’s miracle innings during the 2019 Ashes at Headingley against this Australian attack.
Aussies had rolled the English over for 67 runs in the first innings. From 67 all out to winning the Test scoring 370 plus in the second innings is a stuff of legends.
Indian team should know that they can come back in this series!
My Indian XI for the Boxing Day Test
Mayank Agrawal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Thangarasu Natarajan
Rohan
Roar Rookie
Have to eat my words here, Gill looks the goods, something like Azharuddin.
Sam
Guest
Yes they should arrange a talk with VVS and Dravid. It's a good suggestion
JamesH
Roar Guru
I'm not sold on Shaw (and it sounds like he will get dropped) but he made a half century in his last test. Getting dropped after one bad game on a difficult pitch is harsh. Ditto for Vihari. Also, Rohit Sharma will probably play in the third test so whoever opens is just warming the seat for him. Might as well give Shaw another chance if he will be out the next test anyway. Saini was poor in the tour matches and Natrajan doesn't have the pace to trouble batsmen in Australia. Siraj is the standout bowling option.
bungeye
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure, Ishant Sharma and Yadev bowling averages are terrible in Australian conditions!
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
definitely agree. It's always great to have a spare gloveman in the team too!
CSKERD
Roar Rookie
Ashwin is as aggressive as they come... If You're saying expressive,,ok Jadeja or Kholi may surely egg out Ash,,but Ashwin missed many tours bcoz he was aggressive against Kholi., And this idiotic concept is what we cricket lovers hate... This is not T20... We don't need blade-swingers too often... Pant may seem unreliable,but he has a 150+ in Australia, and he can hang around and still bash it around... Pant is no Gilly,,but surely He won't do much poor than Saha.. Bumra's 50,(he may not repeat it always and I don't want it unless as a Night watchman) Siraj can hang around,Saini can get behind and Smackem as well.. , (India be damned if they did though,Coz they're primarily bowlers).
CSKERD
Roar Rookie
Selectors did get wrong… Shaw is shewag mold player, but clearly not in his elements… Bumra was showing better technique,I heard… so Gill who was recently-in-form should have been picked but since Even the Mumbai lot cannot rally behind Shaw,, Gill will/shall play. Obviously Saha will make way for Pant (who can hang around). If Jadeja is fit and makes it,, please remember that he has 3 first class Triple tons…And he is a brilliant bowler/fielder too… Kl rahul in middle order or to open…he provides a backup keeper as well… Vihari unfortunately might be sitting out… And these may seem dramatic/ drastic,but so was the humbling loss.. Gill/Rahul Agarwal Pujara Rahane Rahul/Gill Pant Jadeja/Vihari Ashwin Yadav/Siraj(Similar style) Bumrah Saini/Natrajan. And this strengthens the batting too ..
boxingkoala
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't keeping wade for head be an option? Head seems a little loose technically for me.
Tsat
Roar Guru
No Saha..if you see my XI, I have Ashwin in the team..Jaddu plays one position above Ashwin
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Historically, touring teams face “clutch moments” especially vital when they occur in the first Test. My hazy memory recalls England having us in trouble on Day 1 at the Gabba a few years ago when Haddin & the tail scored valuable runs. Likewise in Adelaide, the Kohli run out & some abysmal dropped catches changed the momentum of the match. India can think “what if” however the psychological scars can take time to heal. Having said that, we got rolled for about 60 in England a couple of years ago so it’s not impossible to turn it around with the right attitude & mental application.
DTM
Roar Rookie
He has an average in Australia of 30 from a small sample. His only score of note is when he came in at 8 and India already had 400 on the board. Surely, they wont drop Ashwin so you are recommending they swap Vihari for Jadeja and move Pant or Saha to 6?
Gurlivleen Grewal
Roar Pro
With Ishant and Rohit missing, the bowling is weak and the batting is thin on experience. Can't see how India avoid 4-0. The young guns can bat and fill in the holes but the lack of bowling is what I fear will cause the next drubbing. Aus were not necessarily at their best and Ind have gotten significantly weaker. With respect to selection, don't see Shaw, Saha, Umesh being dropped. Yes, the selectors should not have picked them in the first place but now they are backed into the corner - just can't drop them after 1 poor game. Would rather pick Saini, if he is bowling well in the nets. Aus isn't an easy place for a bowler to come and adjust. Among the young crop, is miles ahead, just needs to adjust here. Until India have Shastri - the ulitmate yes-man and dummy selectors, fearing a backlash from Kohli, this team would never be able to play to their potential - the way say professional cirkcet is supposed to be ala NZ. Over time, they have taken apart the confidence of Rahul, Pant, Kuldeep and while they did their very best with Pujara, Ashwin, Jaddu - they had maturity on their part to get back again.
Tsat
Roar Guru
Actually, Jadeja is averaging in high 40s in the last four years with the bat..He is much improved as a batter..
DTM
Roar Rookie
I agree with the first part of your comment - you don't strengthen your batting by replacing a batsman with an all rounder. However, it's a bit harsh dropping Ashwin - he took 5 wickets for the game and the other bowlers claimed the other 5 wickets between them (2 were run outs). India are in a real pickle - Kohli is going, Warner is coming and none of Australia's top 6 fired yet India lost the first test comprehensively. They need an extra bowler for the MCG (4 wont cut it) but they also need to strengthen their batting. I always thought that the first test was India's best chance of a win, now it looks like a 4-0 to me unless the weather interferes.
Simoc
Guest
I like your side. From here I don't know why Pant and Gill weren't in the team. I've never seen Vishari look any good, just heard potential. Jadeja has always been highly competitive across the formats. You can read to much into a failed session. The bowling was mm perfect and as a new bat you can only use your technique to survive. The ball doesn't always catch the edges as it did so many times on this occasion. But losing Sharmi on top of Ishant isn't great. A fast bowler has to step up.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I share your views on Shaw and Saha. The little I have seen of Shaw and Gill in the warm-up games here, I thought Shaw looked very loose and unlikely to score consistent runs in Australia, whereas Gill looks to have a much tighter technique. I also thought Pant did very well last time he was out here and would have picked him too. The main issue to me is the pressure put on players if you are not consistent with your selection. If you keep chopping and changing, players think they will get dropped at their first mistake, which can put them in a negative mindframe.
Tsat
Roar Guru
On form and pluck, Jadeja and Pant will improve the batting..Left handed will help distract the deadly Aussie duo bowlers a wee bit
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Your solution to helping a side got skittled for 36 is to weaken the batting line up? Pant at 6 is recipe for disaster. They need 6 genuine batsmen. India are really calling out for a genuine medium pace allrounder option so they can play both Ashwin and Jadeja in the same team. At the moment they don't have that. I would therefore pick Jadeja in front of Ashwin. Jadeja type of player they are really missing. Aggressive and not one to take a backward step.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Clearly they can't go much worse
Tsat
Roar Guru
Couple of them are forced, Kohli and Shami..Shaw should not have been there in the first place..the other two are a toss up