Rohit Sharma addresses the media ahead of the second India vs Australia Test in Adelaide. Photo: X/BCCI Rohit Sharma addresses the media ahead of the second India vs Australia Test in Adelaide. Photo: X/BCCI

Nobody could have foreseen the swing in narratives from before to after the first India vs Australia Test in Perth. The visitors' incredible 295-run victory has entirely altered the widespread pre-series perception of the Aussies being favourites to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophymanaloplay, this time around. (Streaming | Key Battles | Preview)

And hence the chatter before the second Test in Adelaide has switched to India's dominance and whether the home team can claw their way back in the series. It has also been about the different challenges of a day-night pink-ball Test.

The stats are again stacked in favour of Australia, who have won all seven day-night Tests in Adelaide and 11 of the 12 games they have played in the format so far. But this Indian team showed in the first Test that it is no prisoner to such historical results, and could script a new story one more time.

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Before the eagerly-awaited Adelaide Test begins, let us glance through what captains Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins, and other key members of the sides said in the run-up to the encounter:

Rohit Sharma

On India's batting order: "He (KL Rahul) will open the innings. I will play somewhere in the middle. We want result, we want success. Those two guys at the top, they batted brilliantly in Perth. I was watching from home. Rahul was brilliant to watch. He deserves that place at this point in time. There is no need to change that now, may be things will be different in future. Personally not easy for me (to move down) but for the team it made a lot of sense."

On the fresh challenges of a pink-ball Test: "I think it's just about getting used to the pace of the ball more than anything else. You are so used to playing with red ball, and pink ball certainly does a little bit more than the red ball.

"Pink ball will have its own challenges under lights and during the day as well. You just have to find your own way of dealing with it. I think that is something that we as a team have spoken in the group, you know, and try and respond to that current situation."

On excluding Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin from the first Test: "Unfortunately, I was not there to bring this news to them that they are not playing the first game. It's always hard to leave (out) experienced players like Jadeja and Ashwin, it's never easy.

"But the decision was made (on the basis of) whatever was best for the team at that particular time and whatever the management felt at that particular time is the right thing to do, we did that."

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Pat Cummins

On what this series means to the Australian team: "For half of the (Australian) change room, we haven't won the Border Gavaskar Trophy. It is one last thing to tick off for a lot of us. Almost every challenge that we faced in last few years, we have stepped up and done well. I think we need to do that for another home summer and series. From two-three season thing, it has suddenly been a half a generation thing."

On India's middle-order including Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant and other explosive batters: "Pretty scary five, six and seven I think. If they come in and bowlers have already had plenty of overs into them, then they are a scary proposition."

On Nitish Reddy: "He didn't bowl as much as he potentially could have but really impressed with what we saw and looks like he can swing the ball a little bit. Great young kid."

KL Rahul

On completing 10 years in international cricket: "Feels like 25, the amount of injuries I have had and time away from sport, feels long, but yeah I have enjoyed every bit of it.

"Ten years ago, it was my first Test series (in Australia), there was a lot more going on in my head at that time. Having woken up at 5am as a little boy to watch those Australia series with my father."

On playing with pink ball as against red ball: "Ball seems a bit more harder than the red ball and while fielding also, you can feel the ball hits your hands a lot quicker and harder. Same with batting, it seems to get to you much quicker than the red ball and does seam around a bit more than the red ball.

"That's the challenge we are looking forward to. Since this is my first Pink ball game I am going in with a clean slate, go there and see what comes my way."

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Nathan Lyon

On bowling at the Adelaide Oval: "I think it's a great, great venue to play as a spinner. And I think what Damien (head curator) does here is he produces a great wicket that got enough in it, and it's challenging for both bat and ball.

"If you are good enough with the bat, your score runs. If you are good enough with the ball, you'll hopefully create a few chances along your way. This is probably the best cricket wicket in the world, if I'm being honest with you. So I'm expecting it to be pretty helpful to spin bowling as well."

On the Indian team: "I look at the Indian squad and see a group of superstars. Cricket, however, is a team game, winning requires the entire side to perform well. India boasts extraordinary players like Bumrah and others, but it's not just about the superstars.

"The rest of the Indian squad is also incredibly talented. They're an incredible cricket team. We're not focusing solely on any one player, that's for sure."

(With PTI inputs)manaloplay

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