![AUS vs IND [WATCH]: Rohit Sharma’s comeback cut short by Scott Boland on Day 1 of the Pink Ball Test](https://crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Scott-Bolands-killer-delivery-ends-Rohit-Sharmas-return-to-no.6-in-Pink-Ball-Test-on-Day-1-of-the-first-Test.webp "AUS vs IND [WATCH]: Rohit Sharma’s comeback cut short by Scott Boland on Day 1 of the Pink Ball Test")
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On Day 1 of the Pink-Ball Test against Australia at the historic Adelaide Oval, Indian captain Rohit Sharma made a much-anticipated return to the crease after missing the first Test due to the birth of his son. Batting at No.6, a position he had not occupied in over 2172 days, Rohit’s comeback was filled with hope but ultimately marred by a brilliant delivery from Australian pacer Scott Boland. The Indian skipper’s innings lasted only three runs.
Rohit Sharma’s return: A spectacle of skepticism
Rohit’s return was met with excitement as he stepped onto the field after missing the first game. Having decided to bat at No.6 to accommodate KL Rahul at the top of the order, Rohit aimed to leverage his historical success in this batting position. Statistically, he has fared remarkably well at No.6, boasting an average of 54.57 with three centuries and six fifties from just 25 innings. This impressive record highlighted his ability to stabilize innings and accelerate scoring when necessary.
However, as Rohit took his stance against Boland, it became evident that he was not quite in his rhythm. The transition from opener to middle-order batter can often be challenging for players accustomed to setting the pace of an innings. Despite his prior success at No.6, Rohit’s lack of recent match practice appeared to hinder him as he faced Boland’s lethal bowling.
Also WATCH: Mitchell Starc removes Virat Kohli for a low score on Day 1 of the pink ball Test
Scott Boland gets Rohit with an exceptional delivery
In the 26th over of India’s innings, Boland delivered a good-length ball that pitched outside off stump and swung back sharply. Rohit, perhaps still finding his footing, attempted to defend but was caught off guard as the ball nipped back and struck his front pad after evading his bat. The umpire wasted no time in raising his finger, and Rohit’s dismissal not only signaled his early exit but also underscored a recurring vulnerability against in-swinging deliveries. Before departing, Rohit consulted Rishabh Pant about a potential review but ultimately chose not to challenge the decision,
Here’s the video:
— Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskar_theman) December 6, 2024
A fragile Indian batting performance
Rohit’s dismissal came at a critical juncture for India, who had already lost centurion of the last game at Perth Yashasvi Jaiswal for a golden duck. And further lost key wickets of Rahul and Shubman Gill. Both had provided some stability with a partnership but were unable to prevent the collapse. Virat Kohli‘s low score of just seven runs further compounded India’s woes as they faced mounting pressure from an aggressive Australian bowling attack led by Mitchell Starc and Boland. Later on Ravichandran Ashwin and Nitish Reddy, shown some fight with the bat but could not lead India to a big score as they were eventually bundled out for only 180.
