The Indian cricket team is now in the ascendancy after a memorable Day 3 against Australia. Yashasvi Jaiswal & Virat Kohli struck centuries against a world-class bowling team. Aussies in a short tricky phase before the end of Day 3 lost 3 wickets for 12 runs and would be shell-shocked ahead of a mammoth 534 runs target
It looked as if Australian captain Pat Cummins didn’t have a Plan B to take wickets and were constantly waiting for the batters to play a loose shot. In the crowd, Aussie fans were puzzled as their team wasn’t being able to show any fighting spirit & character in a blockbuster Test series.
Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his dominance
India’s score at the end of Day 2 was 172-0 in 57 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal & KL Rahul stitched an incredible 200 runs-opening partnership & were quite chary in the morning session. KL Rahul would be somewhat sad that he couldn’t get to the 3-figure mark as he had to work very hard for scoring his 77 runs in 176 balls.
Yashasvi Jaiswal unleashed an attack on pacers and was playing cut short even when there was a trap for him in the deep. Yashasvi Jaiswal announced his arrival in the Australian conditions by smashing one of the finest tons. In the 63rd over, the destructive left-handed batter attained the feat & got a standing ovation as he showed that he also can play a waiting game.
Pat Cummins introduced Marnus Labuschagne & Travis Head but couldn’t entice a fall shot from Yashasvi. Yashasvi Jaiswal & Devdutt Padikkal negotiated the nervy phase of 4 new ball overs carefully and at the end of the morning session, India’s score was 275 runs for the loss of 1 wicket and lead was 321 runs & Cummins was in a hope that new ball can inflict some damage.
Australia make a comeback but India ahead in afternoon session
Josh Hazlewood on the very first ball of the afternoon session, got rid of Padikkal and was dismissed for 25 runs in 71 balls. There was a huge roar from the crowd from Indian fans when Virat Kohli came into bat. The star batter this time too was standing a bit ahead from crease but didn’t fell in the trap of the off-stump channel nor short ball barrage.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was in beast mode against Cummins & Starc & standing a bit deep into the crease and timed the ball mellifluously. Yashasvi converted his ton into yet another 150-run knock and all of his 4 centuries have been in excess of 150 as such daddy hundreds hurt the opposition team a lot. In the 94th over, Mitchell Marsh got the better of Yashasvi and he gave a catch at point to Nathan Lyon. Yashasvi was dismissed for 161 runs in 297 balls and struck 15 fours and 3 sixes and pummelled the Aussies’ bowling attack to all parts of the ground.
The wicket of Yashasvi opened the gates for Aussies. Nathan Lyon foxed Rishabh Pant and made him to hit a six down the ground but got stumped out & Cummins trapped Dhruv Jurel and all of a sudden India’s score was 321-5. Virat Kohli was constantly interacting with Washington Sundar to not to get panicked and play any ambitious shots.
India’s score at the end of the afternoon session was 359-5 in 110 overs, and Virat Kohli looked ominous. Aussie bowlers were looking a bit frazzled which was quite rare sight to watch. After the conclusion of the afternoon session, Steven Smith had a word with broadcasters & was quite worried with the cracks being opening up in the pitch & he stated that Australia needs to bat very well.
Virat Kohli’s Dynamic 30th Test Ton & Indian bowlers floor Aussie batters
Virat Kohli & Washington Sundar started to score quickly in the evening session & rotated the strike regularly. Virat Kohli got into his groove as this was the same ground where he had struck a ton in the 2018-19 BGT series. Nathan Lyon after working immensely hard bowled Washington Sundar but it can be said that the batter had done his job by forming a partnership of 79 runs
Nitish Kumar Reddy played a fiery knock of 38 runs in 27 balls and struck 3 fours and 2 sixes. Virat Kohli was targeted by Marnus Labuschagne who was bowling bouncer but the batter was not all troubled by it. In the 135th over, Virat Kohli got to his 30th Test ton in 143 balls and his 81st International century which is quite unbelievable and India declared at 487-6 with Australia requiring 534 runs to win.
All the Australian bowlers were taken to the cleaners except Hazlewood but he also needed some support from the bowling unit. Jasprit Bumrah didn’t waste any time to take the wicket of opener Nathan McSweeney as he was dismissed for a duck. Cummins’ decision to be the night watchman didn’t work at all as he was undone by Siraj. That didn’t stop the woes of Australia as Marnus Labuschagne was sent back to the dugout by Jasprit Bumrah when the batter left the ball & was given LBW out by the umpire. The Aussies now are reeling at 12-3 in 4.2 overs and are in a very dreadful position.
What lies ahead on Day 4
Australia requires a miracle to make a comeback in this Test match. Usman Khawaja & Steven Smith need to be smart with their shot selection as the spinners will also come into the game. Aussie fans would be hoping that at least the batters put up a fight and not think too much ahead of chasing down 522 runs. Australia’s batting as well as bowling has been exposed which we don’t see too often.
India would be over the moon as it wasn’t a near-perfect day but a day to savior for a long period of time. Skipper Jasprit Bumrah would be eyeing quick wickets as already the Aussies look quite nervous. All eyes will be on Harshit Rana who impressed everyone in the 1st innings and can rip Australia’s batting line up as well. There are high chances that India will win 1st Test match tomorrow itself unless something out of the box happens.