AUSTRALIA defeated India by 10 wickets in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, levelling the five-match series 1-1.
The hosts delivered a dominant performance with both bat and ball to secure victory on day three of the pink-ball Test.
Chasing a modest target of 19, openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney easily reached the score without losing a wicket.
India, who started the day at 128-5, could only manage 175 in their second innings before being bowled out.
Rishabh Pant, resuming on 28, fell in the opening over to Mitchell Starc without adding to his score.
Pat Cummins dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin (7) and Harshit Rana (0), while Nitish Kumar Reddy made a fighting 42 before being removed by Scott Boland.
Boland also claimed the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj (7) to end India’s innings. Cummins finished with 5-57, Boland took 3-51, and Starc claimed eight wickets across the match.
Cummins praised his team's turnaround after their loss in the series opener, highlighting Travis Head's game-changing century. "He loves batting here," Cummins said. "The ball does a bit more under lights, but the big thing was getting a big lead."
For India, the defeat added to their struggles at Adelaide, recalling their 2020 collapse when they were bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score of 36.
Rohit Sharma acknowledged his side’s failure to capitalise on opportunities. "We didn't play well enough to win the game. Looking forward to the next Test," he said.
The hosts’ commanding win was built on a strong first-innings lead after bowling India out for 180.
Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with 42, but Mitchell Starc’s 6-48 derailed India’s innings.
Travis Head's 140 and Marnus Labuschagne’s 64 propelled Australia to 337 in reply, setting up a decisive lead.
India's bowlers struggled to exploit the conditions with the pink ball, allowing Australia to bat through the challenging evening session on day one with minimal damage.
In contrast, Australia’s experienced pace attack dismantled India's top order under the lights on day two, leaving the visitors with little chance to recover.
The series now moves to the Gabba in Brisbane, where the third Test begins on Saturday.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Justin Bieber under fire after commenting on Ariana Greenblatt’s Instagram post
Justin Bieber faces backlash for ‘I love you’ comment on 17-year-old star Ariana Greenblatt’s post
A few simple words from Justin Bieber have triggered a heated debate online. The 30-year-old singer commented “I love youuuuuuuuu” on a photo shared by 17-year-old actress Ariana Greenblatt, leading to immediate backlash from many social media users.
Ariana had posted a photo promoting her new Netflix horror film Fear Street: Prom Queen, dressed in a dark, gothic look. The caption celebrated her excitement about the genre and her character, Christy Renault. The post quickly gained traction, not just for the film but for Bieber’s unexpected comment.
People online were quick to call out the singer. Many felt it crossed a line, pointing to Greenblatt’s age and Bieber’s status as a married adult. Some even went as far as calling for legal action, saying the comment was inappropriate for a minor.
“He’s married. She’s 17. What’s he doing?” one user asked. Others demanded he “back off,” calling it “weird” and “creepy.” A few voices tried to downplay the situation, saying it was just a harmless comment and arguing that fans were overreacting. “He’s just being supportive,” one user defended. “People are too quick to judge.”
Ariana Greenblatt, despite her age, is no stranger to fame. She began her career on Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle and has since made waves in big films like Avengers: Infinity War and Barbie. She’s already earned award nominations and built a solid following of over 3.8 million on Instagram.
The post in question had nothing to do with Bieber. It was a promotional piece for her film, but his comment shifted the focus. Neither Ariana nor Bieber has spoken publicly about the controversy yet.
This incident has once again opened up a broader conversation regarding how public figures should engage with younger stars on social media. At what point does a message of support become uncomfortable?
Whether the comment was meant as friendly encouragement or not, the reaction online shows how carefully watched celebrity interactions have become, especially when minors are involved. In a world where one comment can spark national debate, public figures need to remember that every word counts.