The high-profile four-match Test series has begun with the maiden pink-ball Test between India and Australia in Adelaide on Thursday (December 17). The Australian great Ricky Ponting has already predicted the host as the favourite to clinch the trophy of this series.
Team India is playing to defend their Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 which they first time won on Australian soil. But Steve Smith and David Warner were missing in the Australia squad during that series. The two batting mainstay were serving a ban period which they were imposed after the sandpaper gate scandal in 2018.
However, the duo have returned to international cricket and are playing the ongoing series albeit David Warner has been ruled out of the first Test because of the groin injury.
Ricky Ponting predicts Australia will win the series by 2-1:
Taking to social media, Ricky Ponting expressed his excitement for the marquee series and also shared the photo with former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. He captioned the picture, stating that Australia will clinch the series with 2-1.
Ricky Ponting’s Tweet read- “Can’t wait to commentate alongside this man for the first time, and excited to be back at a ground with fans for the first time in 10 months. Predicting 2-1 Australia. #AUSvIND.”
Can't wait to commentate alongside this man for the first time, and excited to be back at a ground with fans for the first time in 10 months. Predicting 2-1 Australia. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/UV5WEgi7LD
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) December 17, 2020
Australia have not lost a pink ball Test match out of seven played at their home while India has played only one day-night Test match that too at home against Bangladesh. They are playing the first-ever day-night Test match away from home against the opponent, which has been dominant in the short history of the pink-ball Test.
Meanwhile, in Adelaide, India opted to bat and lost its opener within 19 overs. Prithvi Shaw, who was already struggling, was picked by the best pink ball bowler Mitchell Starc in the second delivery of India’s innings. Mayank Agarwal, who started to settle with Cheteshwar Pujara, was out after scoring 17 runs.
Nathan Lyon picked Pujara’s wicket for the 10th time while Kohli was out in a bizarre run-out after scoring a half-century.
Starc caught Virat Kohli’s deputy Ajinkya Rahane, and after a few overs, promising-looking Hanuma Vihari was given LBW off Hazlewood’s delivery in Adelaide.