India has retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy… and it only took them six days.
Australia was once again outclassed by India in the second Test, with the hosts claiming a comprehensive six-wicket victory at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
The Aussies showed glimpses of excellence throughout the Delhi Test, but the contest will be primarily remembered for the dramatic second-innings collapse on day three.
“This loss is gonna hurt Australia,” former Test batter Mark Waugh said in commentary.
“They had a chance to win this Test, and it’s gonna be a long road back (in the series) now. Lots of confidence dented.”
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Smith’s silly sweep gets punished! | 00:33
DAVID WARNER — 2
15
A forgettable Test match for the Australian opener.
Warner needed 22 deliveries to get off the mark in the first innings, copping a bouncer barrage from Mohammed Siraj on the morning session of day one.
The 36-year-old suffered a delayed concussion and a fractured elbow during the ferocious spell, ruling him out of the second half of the Delhi Test.
After combining with Usman Khawaja for a 50-run opening partnership, Warner was eventually dismissed by Mohammed Shami for 15, his highest score of the series to date.
USMAN KHAWAJA — 7
81 and 6
The leading run-scorer of the match, Khawaja was the hero for Australia on day one, peeling off a classy 81 in the first innings before falling victim to Ravindra Jadeja.
The Queenslander unfortunately couldn’t replicate the feat in the second innings, caught at leg gully for 6 late on day two.
However, a couple of superb catches from KL Rahul and Shreya Iyer were required to remove Khawaja, who could consider himself slightly unlucky.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 3
18 and 35
The Australian No. 3 got a start in both innings, but unfortunately couldn’t go on with it.
After Ravichandran Ashwin trapped Labuschagne on the pads for 18 in the first innings, the Queenslander looked on track for a big score after racing towards 16 not out at stumps on day two.
But Labuschagne was bamboozled by Ravindra Jadeja early on Sunday morning, coming back to a full delivery that crashed into middle stump.
STEVE SMITH — 2
0 and 9
The Australian vice-captain is the only player in the squad with a Test century in India.
It’s no secret Australia was heavily relying on Smith to replicate his heroic feats from 2017 on this tour, but he has been far from his best in the subcontinent over the past fortnight.
Ravichandran Ashwin deceived him in the first innings for a duck, and Smith responded in the second innings by attempting a reckless sweep shot, trapped on the pads by Ashwin for 9.
He’s yet to reach fifty in this series.
TRAVIS HEAD — 5
12 and 43
After being axed for the series opener in Nagpur, Head was recalled for the Delhi Test with mixed results.
Despite the speculation about his difficulty facing spin, the South Australian fell victim to Indian paceman Mohammed Shami in the first innings, edging towards the slip cordon for 12.
But after replacing David Warner at the top of the order in the second innings, Head plundered a belligerent 43 (46) to guide Australia safely to stumps on day two.
He’s probably done enough to keep his spot in the starting XI for the third Test in Indore, pending Warner’s fitness.
PETER HANDSCOMB — 7
72* and 0
The Victorian was rushed into the Test squad for the India tour as a horse-for-courses selection, and he repaid the national selectors’ faith in the first innings in Delhi.
Handscomb scored a patient 72 not out, his first Test fifty since 2017, before running out of partners on day one.
He was arguably Australia’s best batter in the first innings, but the right-hander couldn’t save the tourists on day three, falling victim to Ravindra Jadeja for a duck after edging to first slip.
MATTHEW RENSHAW — 1
2
Oh dear, Renshaw’s return to Test cricket has not gone to plan at all.
After scoring 0 and 2 during the series opener in Nagpur, the Queenslander was dropped for the Delhi Test to make way for Travis Head.
However, Renshaw was rushed back into the starting XI after David Warner’s concussion scare, which permitted him to bat in the second innings, but the left-hander played all around a full Ravichandran Ashwin delivery, wasting a review before returning to the sheds for 2.
His most recent Test score in India are 2, 2, 0, 8, 1 and 15.
ALEX CAREY — 3
0 and 7, one catch, one stumping
Although he couldn’t contribute with the bat in Delhi, Carey’s glovework was superb during the second Test against India.
Only eight byes were leaked across 84 overs on the low, turning wicket in the first innings, and mistakes were few and far between. He also secured his first Test stumping on day three, removing Virat Kohli.
However, Carey’s batting left a lot to be desired, caught at first slip for a duck on day one and bowled for 7 after playing a loose reverse sweep in the second innings.
PAT CUMMINS — 3
1-41
The Australian captain’s Test match got off to a decent start, peeling off a patient 33 on day one to help the tourists post a respectable total in the first innings.
But once again, Cummins’ opening spell with the ball was somewhat underwhelming, often straying onto the pads and hitting the wrong length. His lone wicket came when Ravichandran Ashwin clipped a legside delivery towards mid-wicket.
Cummins’ captaincy also came under the microscope on day two, with several DRS blunders and some questionable bowling changes as Axar Patel and Ashwin combined for a century partnership for the eighth wicket.
The cherry on top was Cummins’ horrific batting effort in the second innings, swiping across the stumps and bowled for a golden duck.
NATHAN LYON — 9
5-67 and 2-49
Perhaps the only Australian who can be satisfied with their performance in Delhi, Lyon was the hero for the tourists on day two, claiming his 22nd five-wicket haul in Tests.
The veteran off-spinner finished with 5-67 on Saturday to ensure Australia held a narrow lead heading into the second innings.
Lyon, who predominantly bowled from around the wicket, often strayed down the leg side to the right-handed batters, but the 35-year-old was still near his best after a disappointing performance in the series opener.
TODD MURPHY — 6
2-53 and 1-22
The young Victorian bowled commendably throughout the Delhi Test, but didn’t trouble the right-handed batters as often as he managed to in Nagpur.
Murphy dismissed both of India’s left-handed betters, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, in the first innings, but the rest of the top order was largely unfazed by the off-spinner, who was arguably under-bowled at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
However, the 22-year-old removed Virat Kohli once again on day three, with the Indian superstar stumped for the first time in his Test career.
MATTHEW KUHNEMANN — 5
2-72 and 0-38
He didn’t have a dream debut like teammate Todd Murphy, but Kuhnemann can be proud of his performance in Delhi.
India’s top order rarely looked comfortable when the left-armer was targeting the stumps, but he ended the first innings as Australia’s most expensive bowler, leaking 3.35 runs per over.
However, Virat Kohli is a decent maiden Test wicket for any bowler, albeit coming in somewhat controversial circumstances.
