Rishabh Pant held the key to how deep India could take the second Test after being way behind the eight-ball at the end of the second day’s play. The ebullient wicketkeeper-batter perished to the sixth delivery of Sunday’s exchanges, edging Mitchell Starc to second slip and practically formalising a first-session finish on the third day at the Adelaide Oval.

Reddy fights back

In further affirmation of his growing stature as a Test batter, Nitish Kumar Reddy (42) ensured that India were spared the ignominy of an innings defeat, but that was as good as it got for the visitors who, trailing by 157 in the first innings, were bowled out for 175 in the second. Needing 19 to square the series, Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja got the job done in only 3.2 overs, Australia surging home by 10 wickets to leave the series fascinatingly poised.