Shock, admiration and disbelief are just a few of the emotions expressed after India’s capitulation at the Adelaide Oval.
On a day when India hoped a strong batting performance would put them in the driver’s seat to win the first Test, one of the most lethal displays of fast bowling skittled the visitors for 36 runs.
It was the lowest total scored by India in Test history, and the lowest Test score ever at the Adelaide Oval.
Naturally, there has been a strong reaction following the first Test of the 2020-21 summer.
Captain Kohli lost for words, Cummins in shock
The Adelaide match was the only one Indian captain Virat Kohli will play, before he returns home for the birth of his first child.
After leading his country to their first series win in Australia two years ago, Kohli had aspirations of giving his side a series lead before he headed home.
But following a second innings where not one batsman scored more than nine, the skipper could not explain the shock of the Saturday’s play.
“It is very hard to find words to express how everyone is feeling in the change room,” he said.
“When you work hard for two days, you play some good cricket to get yourself in a good position and then in literally an hour you put yourself in a position where it is impossible to win, it really hurts.”
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood were the architects of the Indian collapse taking all nine wickets that fell — Mohammed Shami retired hurt.
Speaking with ABC Grandstand at Stumps, Cummins described the day’s play as one like no other.
“When we woke up this morning I thought we’d have a long day ahead of us,” he said.
“I can’t believe this Test match is over in three (days).
“I don’t think I’ve played a day of cricket like that before.”
India reacts to ‘pretty pathetic’ performance
The reaction to the carnage was instantaneous.
Commentator Harsha Bhogle expressed his emotions on social media, writing: “It is happening. It isn’t a nightmare”.
Bhogle tried to find a silver lining once the Test was over.
“India will be demoralised and very low on confidence but they have to tell themselves that they were ahead in the game after six sessions,” he wrote.
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Former India captain Kris Srikkanth was more scathing in his assessment of the batting performance.
“All the hard work done by India in the 1st innings lost by pretty pathetic batting in a span of 20 overs,” he wrote on social media.
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Another former captain, Sachin Tendulkar, was full of praise for Australia’s bowlers while saying India was not good enough in the second innings.
“India was outclassed in the 2nd half. Congratulations to Australia,” he wrote.
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How those at the ground felt during the collapse
Footage of the ABC Sport commentary team from the third day summarised the frantic and at times chaotic action on the field.
Andrew Moore’s call of the wicket of Virat Kohli highlighted the excitement of the moment.
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Fellow commentator Dirk Nannes described Australia’s bowling attack as “utter carnage”.
“Utterly extraordinary period of Test cricket … absolute carnage, utter carnage out there. It was just reward for the fast bowling that we’ve seen,” he said.
It is a collapse Nannes believes could foreshadow things to come.
“India had to win this Test match to be in this series. They were in it for two days,” he said,
“They were in front this morning and their capitulation today has got them one down … It’s difficult to see how they can come back in the series.”
