Australia vs India 2018/19: 3 Takeaways from the first Test at Adelaide

It got a little too close in the end but Indian bowlers held their nerve on the final day to help the visitors win by 31 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series. The Kohli-led side has already created history as this is the first time an Indian team has won the first Test of a series Down Under.

This series was meant to put all the spotlight on the bowlers as both sides had plenty of quality, but it was a batsman who won the Man of the Match award. Cheteshwar Pujara’s knocks in both the innings made the difference between India and Australia.

While Australia managed to wrap up India’s second innings in a hurry, the damage was already done by the top order led by Pujara, who was well-supported by Rahane. Once the target went past 300, history suggests very few teams who have scored that many in the fourth innings to win a Test.

India’s quest to win their maiden series in this part of the world has started off in the most ideal fashion. Let’s take a look at the three takeaways from the first Border-Gavaskar Test at the Adelaide Oval.

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#3 Support for Kohli in the middle order

Australia v India - 1st Test: Day 4

Even though Indian bowlers had a great time in the earlier overseas tours of South Africa and England, they lost both the series mainly due to batting failures. Virat Kohli was sublime but lack of support from others meant India were always few runs short.

To be successful with the bat in Australian conditions, you must have the technique to counter bounce, as there won't be much sideways movement primarily because of the hot conditions. Further, the Kookaburra ball loses its hardness after a few overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane showed great technique out in the middle and the great thing about India’s victory was that they could manage to go 1-0 up without great contributions from their captain Kohli, and that augurs well for the visitors.

#2 India’s bowlers are now hunting in packs

Australia v India - 1st Test: Day 5

All these years, Indian bowling has been about individual brilliance and that meant the pressure was not on the batsmen from both the ends for a long period.

The partnerships, like in batting, is a crucial component in the bowling department as well; especially when the wicket gets really flat and wicket-taking balls don't come that often.

Not a single bowler took a five-wicket haul in both the innings, yet they combined together to hunt as a pack and that meant pressure was relentless on the Australian batsmen for long enough, forcing them to make a mistake.

The fact that Australia’s run rate throughout the match was hovering around 2 is a testimony to India’s consistency in terms of lines and lengths.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who doesn't possess a great track record in Australia has started off the series very well. He complimented the three quicks brilliantly, by holding one end up so that the fast bowlers could keep bowling those short quick spells at the other.

#1 Aussie top order can take a leaf out of lower order

Australia v India - 1st Test: Day 5

India were made to toil hard on the final day when Australian lower order showed a lot of resistance, and in a way showed their top order on how to get the runs.

At one stage, India must have started to wonder if this was another case of “so close, yet so far” in an overseas Test match. Pat Cummins, and later Nathan Lyon, played with a lot of composure and in the end it got a little too close for comfort for Kohli’s men.

Even though Australia’s top order is very inexperienced, what they lacked is the intent that was shown by the lower order batsmen. It looked like the top order was purely looking for survival instead of runs, which will only get the bowlers onto the backfoot.

It is unlikely that Australia will tinker with the playing XI just after one Test but the likes of Khawaja, Marsh and Handscomb need to show more responsibility and probably take a leaf out of the lower order’s book at Perth, for the second Test that starts on Friday.