India vs Australia Highlights, 2nd Test Day 2: India finish on 128/5 after top-order collapse, AUS lead by 29

Sriram Veera writes on India's Travis Head-ache as he frustrates Rohit Sharma's side yet again. READ MORE

Australia began the day with a 84-run deficit in the first-innings. A Travis Head onslaught ensured they waltzed to a 157-run lead and even had the time to dislodge India's top-order. India clearly lacked the teeth on the field in the morning when Labuschagne and Head made the attack look pedestrian, while taking on rookie Harshit Rana. Rohit's defensive captaincy may be a point of focus as India played right into the hands of Australia, handing them the pink ball just before the twilight phase. KL Rahul's stoicism wore off quite early as Cummins mixed up his lengths adeptly to outfox the Indian opener.

Jaiswal and Shubman Gill compiled pleasant cameos but that weren't enough to guide India to stumps safely. Virat Kohli's off-side challenges continued as a nagging Boland had him caught-behind. But the most worrying signs were of captain Rohit Sharma who fell for another single-digit score. Cummins' peach would have devoured most batters, even in their prime, and an out-of-form Rohit could have only done as much to guard his off-stump. The margins could be levelled tomorrow, unless pulls off another miracle from out of the hat. 

The physio has a look on Nitish Reddy's fingers before the over as Boland steps into bowl the last over of the day. Rishabh Pant charges and slaps him over mid-off for FOUR and follows up with a single. Nitish gets an inside-edge behind square and reels in two runs. Carey standing up to the stumps with two balls to go. Boland drops short and beats Nitish and Carey flicks the bails in a flash after an excellent take. The umpire refers to it upstairs with Nitish's backfoot in question. Pretty clear on replays as NKR is unmoved. Final ball and Nitish heaves it across the turf for FOUR through mid-wicket. India finish on 128/5 in 24 overs - trailing by 29.

Pretty similar to the outside-edge Starc drew off Gill early on, he gets Nitish to slash hard at an away-moving delivery. The ball zips past the slip-cordon for another FOUR. 

OUT! Pat Cummins to Rohit Sharma. Top of off and Rohit has no answers this time. He makes the long walk back, almost helpless in his stride as his form turns from bad to worse. Rohit plays down the wrong line as Cummins gets in an inch-perfect delivery.

Rohit Sharma b Cummins 6 (15b 1x4)

That will feel a lot better for Rohit. Starc shapes one in but goes a touch full. Rohit leans into it and drives neatly through cover for FOUR. IND 104/4 in 20 overs

Pant makes room and butches Boland's delivery outside off-stump for FOUR through cover. And there comes the sliding scoop. Pant scythes Boland through fine-leg for another FOUR. There's no paucity of daredevilry at least in this innings. IND 100/4 in 19 overs

Starc welcomes Rohit with a deliver that crashes into his grille. It's a no-ball. LOUD SHOUT and given! Starc has trapped Rohit for a duck. But hold on, it's another no-ball! Disbelief in the Aussie huddle as Rohit gets a massive reprieve. Couldn't have been out either ways had Rohit reviewed as he had a faint inside-edge on that one. Rohit is off the mark as he shuffles across and flicks Starc down to backward square for two runs. IND 90/4 in 18 overs.

Starc to Gill, OUT! A pearler to knock off middle-stump. Starc gets this one to swing in. Perfect length and Gill plays all around it as the ball crashes in to the middle-stump. India in a lot of trouble now as Gill was looking pretty solid up until that moment. In comes captain Rohit Sharma.

Shubman Gill b Starc 28 (30b 3x4)

Boland drops one short and Rishabh Pant has pulled off another one of his freak-scoops. He arches back, eyes closed, and reverse-parries the ball over the slip cordon for FOUR. 

Starc finds the outside-edge off Gill but a tough chance goes down at second-slip. Steve Smith springs like a spider to his right but fails to clutch the ball as it races to the fence for FOUR.

Boland to Kohli, OUT! One error and gone! Boland's persistence pays off and Kohli pokes hard with an angle a shade outside off-stump. Thick edge and Carey does the rest as Kohli dejectedly walks off. Rishabh Pant is in at 5 and he smashes the first ball over mid-off for FOUR. STREAKY, STREAKY! Pant flicks the second ball past square and calls for a non-existent second run and makes his ground by a whisker! IND 73/3 in 15 overs

Virat Kohli c †Carey b Boland 11 (21b 1x4)

Firm bumper from Starc and Kohli ducks neatly underneath. A predictable fuller ball and Kohli sets off on a quick single with a push to mid-off. Direct hit at the striker's but Gill has made his ground in time. Drinks. IND 62/2 in 14 overs

Virat Kohli has worn his patient self and has restrained himself from wafting at anything outside the off-stump. Good, patient leaves as Cummins and Boland keeps the balls in the channel. Contrasting method in operation to Gill where both bowlers have attempted to attack his pads. IND 58/2 in 13 overs

Kohli taps a quick single off Cummins through cover. An overpitched delivery to follow and Gill crunches it through mid-off for FOUR. Short ball, a swivel follows and Gill gets two. IND 55/2 in 10 overs

Scott Boland replaces Starc

OUT! A wicket first ball again. And this time he has not overstepped. Boland gets the perfect delivery across the line, forcing Jaiswal to push hard and offer a regulation edge to Carey. That's a massive blow for India as Virat Kohli walks in at 4. He is off the mark with a tentative poke that skims through the slips for FOUR.

Yashasvi Jaiswal c †Carey b Boland 24 (31b 4x4)

Gill has curbed down on the drives and has rather channelled his focus on working the field with good singles to rotate the strikes. A couple of singles here off Starc and Cummins here, unsettling the tempo of the field.

Jaiswal is riding the danger here. Starc offers a little bit of width and he slashes hard. The thick edge flies over the cordon to the third-man fence for FOUR. He follows up with a firm push past mid-on for three runs and briskly gets into the 20s. 

IND 38/1 in 7

Starc fires in a huge bumper that sails over Jaiswal's attemped upper-cut and Carey for FOUR byes. Starc instantly goes fuller and crunchhh! Jaiswal flays it down past the bowler and mid-off for FOUR! IND 24/1 (5)

Cummins goes to his variations early on. He rolls in an off-cutter that hits Rahul high on the pads. He immediately follows up with a yorker that Rahul taps towards slips. WICKET! And there comes the first one! Another change in line and length and Cummo strikes. Short ball, angled-in towards the shoulder and Rahul feathers it to the keeper. He is pumped up as Australia gain a massive wicket. 

KL Rahul c Carey b Cummins 7 (10b 1x4)

Starc shapes the first ball through to the pads and Rahul nimbly flicks it through mid-wicket for FOUR. A touch shorter this time and Rahul tucks it behind square for a single. 

Pat Cummins from the opposite end

KL Rahul is off the blocks quickly this time as he nudges Cummins to mid-on and beat Boland to cover the run. BEATEN! Cummins gets his radar right as he bowls from over the stumps to Jaiswal. Lands on the perfect spot outside the off-stump to challenge Jaiswal's blade. IND 5/0 in 2 overs

The ball does not swing this time. Starc follows a similar angle down leg and it goes further down to Carey as Yashasvi Jaiswal attempts to flick it. A wry smile from both the batter and bowler. Starc gets it right the second time though, a gentle inswinger from middle-stump and Jaiswal carefully nudges it to the short-mid-wicket fielder. FOUR! First ball in the channel outside off and Jaiswal steers it past point to the fence. Starc sharpens his line as Jaiswal confidently leaves the ball on length before it soars past the stumps. 

Fresh off his career-best figures (6/48) in the first-innings, Starc will be raring have another crack at young Jaiswal and KL Rahul here. India will need to bat out the rest of the day with as less casualties as possible. An unbeaten opening stand? Nothing would be like it for the Indian fans. 

Mohammed Siraj to Boland, OUT! Knocks the off pole down. Fourth for Siraj as Australia close at 337. The Travis Head hundred making a massive difference to the contest as India trail by 157 runs.

Bumrah sends in a searing inswinger onto Lyon's toe. Pronounced movement down leg there and Lyon gets away with a leg-bye. AUS 334/9 in 87 overs

Mohammed Siraj strikes first ball after the break. Fuller delivery from around the stumps and Mitch Starc chips it straight to the mid-off fielder. Scott Boland is the new man. Siraj sends in a corker that nearly takes the outside-edge. Fuller delivery  onto the pads and Boland flicks it to the short-mid fielder. AUS 332/9 (86)

Mitchell Starc c Harshit Rana b Mohammed Siraj 18 (15b 3x4)

Back on after the break. India cannot afford to lag behind in this session. Two wickets and they will have to bat under and negotiate a tricky phase under the lights before Stumps. Australia very much in control with a hefty lead. 

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Australia are 332 for 8 and they are leading by 152 runs. We will be back after the break

Bumrah cleans Cummins up, gets his 4th scalp of the innings. The front foot is being checked. It is very close. But its a fair delivery

Outrageous luck for Cummins. The lemon cut will get him another boundary. The lead extends past 150.

Low full toss and Starc drills it down for another boundary. 

11 runs came from Siraj's over.

Adelaide crowd is booing as each passing ball delivered by Siraj. Starc gets a leading edge and collect another boundary. Australia lead by 140 runs. 

Bumrah is appealing with. Discussion between Rohit and Pant and they have sent this upstairs. No bat on snicko, ball missing leg stump. India lose the review.

Starc is off the mark in style. Siraj is not happy with the boundary. Adelaide is going crazy as Siraj gets belted through extra cover. He is being booed by the local crowd. 

Mohammed Siraj cleaned up Travis Head and has used some aggressive words at the local boys, who gave it back to the Indian pacer. Siraj is fuming and is receiving boos from the Adelaide crowd. Head departs for 141. 

Travis Head is going hammers and tongs. Head is toying with the Indian lineup. He hits Siraj for a six. 

Head greets Siraj with a boundary. Head lunges forward and flicks it up and over backward square. 

Head continues collecting boundaries and Australia's total goes past 300 now. Bumrah is having trouble in the run-up and bowls with a bit lesser pace as well. Don't think he is at his full tilt. 

Bumrah gets some massages to his legs and shoulders. He gets back on his feet and is ready to bowl.

Oh dear! Jasprit Bumrah has gone down. More problems for India. This is not a good sign for India. He is getting some attention from the Indian physio.

After an unplayable delivery from Bumrah, Travis Head lofts one over mid-on to find another boundary.

At the end of Over no 80, Australi are 291 for 6. They lead by 11 runs. 

Luck for Cummins. Much to the frustration for Reddy, it flies between the second slip and the gully. Australia lead by 110 runs. 

Edged but falls just short of Pant. Cummins is lucky. 

"The quicker he reaches here, the better," he says on Star Sports.

"I think Brisbane might be a little too early, maybe Melbourne and Sydney."

Alex Carey fails to deal with a bit of extra bounce. Australia lose their 6th wicket with a lead of 102 runs. Siraj gets the wicket. 

Head slashes and slashes hard. It flies over the slip cordon and into the third man boundary.

Batters with most 100s in the pink-ball Tests

4 - Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)

3 - Travis Head (Australia)

2 - Asad Shafiq (Pakistan) and Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)

At the end of 75 overs, Australia are 273 for 5.  A much-needed break for the Indian bowlers as they have been on the receiving end of another Travis Head masterclass.

111 balls - Travis Head vs India, This match, Adelaide, 2024*

112 balls - Travis Head vs England, Hobart, 2022

125 balls Travis Head vs West Indies, Adelaide, 2022 

"Special innings there," Glenn McGrath tells ABC Sport radio.

"You can hear the crowd, they love him here don't they? Just what Australia needed after the loss in Perth.

"They needed someone to stand up to this bowling attack.

"He's not finished Yet."

Make that three in the over. He is toying with Rana. He has gone in a T20 mode. Australia lead by 87 runs. 

Rana is having a Test match to forget! 86 conceded in his 16 overs, spraying the ball all over the pitch. No consistency in his bowling today.

his is brutal from Travis Head! Rana switches to over the wicket and gets the same treatment. 

Travis Head is taking on Rana. He has now pumped him down the ground for a boundary. He is toying with Indian bowlers. 

Travis Head gets to a century in just 111 balls. 3rd century at the Adelaide Oval in the format, sixth in Australia and 8th overall in 51 Test matches for the Head. His knock is studded with ten boundaries and three sixes. 

Make that another one. He has moved to 97. Width again and Head doesn't need any second invitation to go after it.