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Oliver Caffrey

Record-shattering India want to claim more in Adelaide

India captain Rohit Sharma fine-tuned his batting in the Adelaide Oval nets. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

After creating history by downing Australia at two imposing venues, India are vying to make it three record-shattering results in a row Down Under.

In January 2021, India became the first touring team to win a Test at the Gabba in 33 years when they stunned Australia to retain the Border-Gavaskar series.

They are coming off a 295-run demolition job of Australia in Perth last month, marking the Aussies' first Test defeat at Optus Stadium since it opened in 2018.

Australia have a perfect 7-0 record in day-night Tests at Adelaide Oval, including an eight-wicket win against India, who were bowled out for a record low 36 in 2020.

But India believe they can end Australia's pink-ball dominance at the venue.

"They have had a good record, but records are meant to be broken," India captain Rohit Sharma said when asked about Australia's form at Adelaide Oval.

Ending Australia’s streak in day-night Tests at Adelaide Oval would mean a lot, Rohit Sharma says.

"At some stage, the records will be broken.

"We've had a great start to this series and we'd just like to build on that, try and see how we can do things right for a consistent period of time.

"If we keep doing the things that we did in Perth, I think we can get the result that we are looking for."

It has been a dramatic turnaround for India since Rohit last played back in India's historic 3-0 home whitewash smashing by New Zealand.

The veteran batter missed the thumping first Test win against Australia in Perth after remaining in India following the birth of his second child.

Superstar quick Jasprit Bumrah performed brilliantly as captain in his absence, while KL Rahul grabbed his opportunity as opener.

India captain Rohit Sharma.
India captain Rohit Sharma will bat in the middle order against Australia in Adelaide.

Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal's 201-run stand in the second innings, a record opening partnership for an Indian pair in Australia, took the game away from the hosts.

After watching how the pair went about it, Rohit has no plans to mess with what worked in Perth, so he will instead bat in the middle order.

India will be in the rare position of making more changes than the opposition they just destroyed.

Rohit and No.3 Shubman Gill (hand) will come in for Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal, while Ravi Ashwin is expected to replace fellow spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar.

Ashwin and fellow star allrounder Ravindra Jadeja were unexpectedly both left out of the XI for the first Test.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin.
India's Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to be recalled for the second Test against Australia.

"It's always hard to leave out experienced players like Jadeja and Ashwin," Rohit said. 

"Throughout the series, we will look to do whatever we feel at that particular time is the right thing to do. 

"I certainly see them playing a huge role in the rest of the series, because what they bring to the table can never be written off.

"Whatever success Indian cricket has had over the past few years is largely because of these two guys."

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