Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Co. gear up for Adelaide Test: How they have fared in pink ball fixtures | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Team India will take on Australia Prime Minister XI in what will be a two-day pink-ball practice match ahead of the second Test in Adelaide at Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), with the first session starting at 9:10 AM IST (2:40 PM local time).
Having participated in four day-night Tests since the concept’s inception, Team India has painted a positive picture with their result. They have secured dominant wins against Bangladesh, England, and Sri Lanka.
However, their lone pink-ball loss came in the infamous “36 all-out” game against Australia in Adelaide, underlining the challenges of adapting to the conditions under lights ahead of the Adelaide Test in the latest edition of BGT.
Having already shown his glimpses of brilliance on Australian soil, Kohli has been a standout performer in pink-ball Tests.
Across four matches in day-night Tests, Kohli has amassed 277 runs in six innings, with a highest score of 136 against Bangladesh in India’s maiden day-night Test in 2019 at Eden Gardens.
Virat Kohli

With sharp running between the wickets and an ability to handle the pink ball’s movement, Kohli appears to be India’s most reliable bet under lights.
In the infamous 2020 Adelaide Test, Kohli scored a valiant 74 in the first innings, standing out as India’s top scorer before the team’s historic “36 all-out” collapse in the second innings.
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma, who has joined the BGT squad after missing the first Test in Perth for the birth of his second child, has also been a consistent contributor in pink-ball matches.
In seven innings across four Tests, Rohit has scored 235 runs, with his highest score of 66 coming against England in the Ahmedabad Test in 2021.
Rohit Sharma

Rishabh Pant, with his fearless aggression, has left a mark in pink-ball cricket despite playing only three matches.
In five innings, he has scored 198 runs, including a scintillating 103 not out in an unofficial game against Australia A in 2020. Pant’s attacking approach suits the unpredictability of pink-ball cricket, where quick scoring can change the game’s dynamics.
Rishabh Pant

Ravichandran Ashwin has been India’s go-to bowler in pink-ball matches, taking 18 wickets in four games.
His best performance came against England in 2021 at Ahmedabad, where he took 4/48 in an innings, playing a key role in India’s win.
He also shone in the 2020 Adelaide Test, taking five wickets across both innings. However, it remains unclear whether India will be making any changes to their winning formation going into the Adelaide Test this time.
Jasprit Bumrah, the hero of India’s triumphant victory in Perth, has been a game-changer with the pink ball, claiming 13 wickets in five matches, including a devastating 5/24 against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022.
Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah’s ability to swing the pink ball and execute precise yorkers under lights has made him one of India’s most lethal bowlers in day-night Tests.
Shubman Gill, one of India’s rising talents, has also shown promise in pink-ball cricket.
Shubman Gill

In two matches, including an unofficial tour game, Gill has scored 134 runs, with a highest score of 65 against Australia A in 2020.
Several players in India’s current squad, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Sarfaraz Khan, and Akash Deep, are yet to feature in a pink-ball Test.
Hence, the two-day practice match will help them assess their mettle under lthe ights ahead of the all-important 2nd Test in the high-octane five-match series.