"It Isn't A Nightmare": How The World Reacted To India's Horror Batting Show In Adelaide

India faced the ignominy of being restricted to 36/9 in their second innings of the opening Test against Australia on Saturday. Incidentally, it happened to be India's lowest-ever Test score, beating the previous lowest of 42, set in 1974 against England at Lord's. This was also the first time in India's Test cricket history and the second overall that no batsman got into double figures -- Mayank Agarwal top-scoring with 9 runs. Josh Hazlewood took his eighth five-wicket haul in Tests while Pat Cummins took four as the Indian batting crumbled in the first session on Day 3. Australia went on to beat India by 8 wickets within three days to take a 1-0 series lead in the four-match series.

Twitter went into a frenzy following India's batting collapse, many left in shock with what had transpired in Adelaide.

36?!? Wow!

— Grant Elliott (@grantelliottnz) December 19, 2020

It is happening. It isn't a nightmare....

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 19, 2020

With the way India batted & bowled in the 1st innings, they were in the driver's seat, but the Aussies came back really hard this morning.
That is the beauty of Test cricket.
It's NEVER over till it's over. India was outclassed in the 2nd half. Congratulations to Australia!

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 19, 2020

Staggering to witness. India start day 3 looking to build on a lead of 62 with 9 wkts in hand. All over in a session and a half. Pure class bowling. Burns sees through the chase. #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/aZRFu0KS4X

— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) December 19, 2020

Unmitigated disaster!

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 19, 2020

India 31/9 ...what a scorecard to wake up to #AUSvsIND

— Paul Adams (@PaulAdams39) December 19, 2020

#AUSvIND #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/li5FnPgYEZ

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 19, 2020

Lowest Test innings in 65 years and the equal-fifth lowest ever. Incredible. #AUSvIND

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) December 19, 2020

36/9
What did I Just Wake Up to?#INDvsAUSTest #GaaliCricket #lowest pic.twitter.com/cQqRpmDwWe

— Akshat Malik (@akshatmalik) December 19, 2020

After watching India's lowest second innings harakiri, @ImRo45 be like#INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/mS9rA5ONjJ

— Bastele Jhakday (@Vakeelsab) December 19, 2020

When you wake up late and seen scorecard .....
2020#INDvsAusTest #IndiavsAustralia #INDvAUS #AUSvsIND #Lowest pic.twitter.com/A9sMvIXKvi

— Talks of the Town (@TalksTown) December 19, 2020

With just 36 on board in the second innings, Australia were left with just 90 runs to win the opening Test. Australia cruised in the chase, hardly breaking a sweat as Joe Burns announced his return to form with an unbeaten half-century.

India had ended Day 2 on pole position, having taken a 53-run first innings lead after bowling out Australia for 191.

India added nine more runs for the loss of Prithvi Shaw to end Day 2, sitting in the driver's seat. But all that changed in the fateful first session on Day 3. Cummins began India's collapse removing nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah, followed by the big scalp of Cheteshwar Pujara.

Hazlewood joined his pace partner to take two wickets in his first over of the day. Cummins then coaxed Virat Kohli into going for a loose drive, leaving India in tatters at 19/6.

Hanuma Vihari put up a brief fight but Hazlewood and Cummins kept coming at the Indian players. India just about made it past the lowest-ever Test score of 26 but didn't get too far before Mohammed Shami was struck on his right forearm by a Cummins bouncer, bringing an end to the Indian innings.

Topics mentioned in this article

Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team Josh Hazlewood Mitchell Starc Pat Cummins Virat Kohli Cheteshwar Pujara Australia vs India 2020-21 Australia vs India, 1st Test Cricket