On the opening day of the third Test against Australia at the Holkar Cricket Ground in Indore, India has been put on the defensive. Rohit Sharma won the toss for the first time in the series and opted to bat first. In the second session, though, India were dismissed for 109 runs. In response, Australian hitters displayed remarkable application and vexed Indian bowlers on a pitch that afforded spinners tremendous help.
Usman Khawaja once again rose to the occasion and played a magnificent innings, scoring 60 runs to help his team exceed India’s total. When he attempted his signature sweep stroke in the final session and Shubman Gill caught him at deep square leg, Ravindra Jadeja finally eliminated him. That was Jadeja’s third dismissal of the day, but Khawaja had done his job by getting his team off to a solid start.
The Southpaw struck an outstanding 81 in the first innings of the second Test in Delhi, and his form has carried over to the third Test.
Earlier in the day, the spin pair of Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann befuddled India. When Rohit Sharma survived twice in the opening over bowled by Mitchell Starc, Kuhnemann rescued Australia by stumping the Indian skipper and sent him back to the pavilion.
Matthew Kuhnemann’s golf ball cheaply eliminated India.
Seven runs later, he bowled Shubman Gill to deal India its second blow. In five overs, Nathan Lyon also took care of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja, reducing India’s score from 34/1 to 45/5.
Kuhnemann concluded his nine-over spell with 5/16, while Lyon collected 3/35 in 11.2 overs. As a result, India was dismissed for 109 in less than 34 overs.
Australia finished Day 1 with a 47-run advantage in the first innings, with a score of 156/4. After losing Travis Head in the second over, Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne stabilised Australia’s batting. A 96-run partnership between the two pushed Australia to within one run of India’s first innings total.
Ravindra Jadeja took all four wickets for India, maintaining his stellar form throughout the series. Team India will have to bowl very well on Day 2 of the Test in order to make a comeback.
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