On a green pitch, and under overcast skies, India’s decision to bat didn’t work as they were bundled out for 185. Australia’s disciplined and relentless bowling attack once again highlighted the frailties in India’s batting lineup. In the dim light of the closing minutes, India had a brief 15-minute window to make an impact with the new ball. Jasprit Bumrah delivered in style, removing Usman Khawaja with the final ball of the day in a dramatic last over, leaving Australia at 9/1 at stumps.
When Bumrah walked out for the toss as India’s captain, it sent ripples through the cricketing world. Bumrah revealed that an out-of-form Rohit Sharma had opted to sit out of this Test.
India began their innings with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal opening under challenging conditions.
For Australia, losing the toss didn’t seem like a setback, as the conditions were tailor-made for bowlers. The Indian openers started cautiously, with Jaiswal displaying patience and Rahul resisting the temptation to chase deliveries outside off. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins set the tone early, testing both batters with probing lines. While Starc didn’t appear particularly menacing, he provided the initial breakthrough by dismissing Rahul in what turned out to be a soft dismissal.
The introduction of Scott Boland brought the downfall of Jaiswal. Suddenly, India found both openers dismissed within the opening hour of play. Boland almost accounted for Virat Kohli as well, exploiting his well-known vulnerability outside the off-stump. However, a close review by the TV umpire ruled in favour of Kohli, granting him a reprieve.
After an early scare, Kohli appeared to settle into his rhythm, playing closer to the body and with greater control. At the other end, Shubman Gill endured a testing spell from Boland, who remained relentless with his line and length, consistently challenging the batters. Despite the pressure, both Kohli and Gill managed to avoid further damage until a lapse in concentration from Gill. On the stroke of lunch, he ran out of patience and nicked a delivery to the first slip off Nathan Lyon’s bowling.
When play resumed after lunch, the pitch appeared to quicken. Kohli continued to adjust his approach, adopting a modified stance and avoiding risky drives. However, his innings was cut short when Boland drew a tentative poke outside the off-stump, bringing an end to his resistance.
Rishabh Pant faced a challenging phase, contending with sharp movement and spongy bounce that struck him multiple times. The usually aggressive southpaw restrained himself, avoiding rash strokes. Ravindra Jadeja joined him at the crease, also navigating a difficult period. He survived a few nervy moments, including two dropped chances, which allowed him to stay in the game. Despite the pressure, both left-handers managed to see out the second session without losing their wickets, though they offered three opportunities that Australia failed to capitalise on.
Cummins kept rotating his bowlers effectively, capitalizing on a pitch that offered significant movement and unpredictable bounce. India’s scoring rate slowed to a crawl as the batters struggled to cope with the challenging conditions. Boland eventually reaped the rewards of sustained pressure, inducing a false shot from Pant to break the 48-run partnership. Washington Sundar tried to mount some resistance but was unable to hold his ground for long. Contributions from the lower order, including some crucial runs from Bumrah, pushed India past the 180-run mark.