Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara added 68 of 191 balls for the fourth wicket as they scored 233/6 on Day 1. Talking to Sony Sports Network after the day’s play for Australian cricketer Brad Haddin spoke about the partnership and its impact on the innings.
India had the upper hand with Kohli and Pujara playing solidly at that point, however, their dismissal started the slide and India were ultimately bowled out for 244 inside the first hour on Day 2.
Brad Haddin pointed out Virat Kohli’s dismissal was the big moment of the day’s play. Kohli looked well set for a hundred but was run out by his partner Ajinkya Rahane at the other end on 74.
Virat Kohli’s Run Out Big Moment On Day 1 – Brad Haddin
“The big moment we’re all talking about is Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane’s run out. We know how important that last session of play here is when the second new ball comes into play,” Haddin explained while speaking on the Sony Sports Network.
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Brad Haddin also spoke about the way Cheteshwar Pujara batted in the partnership. Pujara scored 43 off 160 balls as he exemplified another patient effort with the ball. There was a phase of play before lunch on day 1 when India’s number three was hardly looking to score runs. Pujara was only 18 off the first 100 balls he faced and scored his first boundary off his 148th ball.
“I thought he was just building into his innings. He got better every 10 runs as he went on. He looked in control and I think his momentum got lost a little bit from (because of) Pujara. They weren’t rotating the strike and at times, Pujara was getting caught down one end and they were losing the rhythm of the game. It was affecting Kohli,” Brad Haddin added.
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Brad Haddin concluded by saying that Australia were the happier team with India ending Day 1 on 233/6 and said that the day could have been much different for both the teams.
“You need your set batsman to play and that run out just turned things back towards Australia. And in the end, 6/233, it’s an even day but could have been a lot worse for both teams” concluded Haddin.