IND vs AUS: Team India ended the 2nd day in a strong position with the scoreboard reading 321 for 7. Despite Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Surya Kumar Yadav, and KS Bharat falling cheaply, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel ensured that the Men in Blue keep Australia on the back foot in the 1st Test.
Indian batters showed solid defensive technique against the Australian bowlers and hit the bad deliveries away for boundaries to keep the lead growing making life tough for visitors.
IND vs AUS: Here we look at the 5 talking points of day 2:
Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma frustrating the Australian bowlers
Starting on the overnight score of 77 for 1, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma kept the scoreboard ticking with Ashwin looking solid against spinners and also pacers. Ashwin was promoted to number 3 doing a decent job to frustrate the Australian bowlers.
Both batters showed their class by playing the first hour without losing any wickets. Ravichandran Ashwin was eventually dismissed via review for LBW. The umpire called not out but on review, it was overturned to out. Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma added 42 runs for the 2nd wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin scored 23 off 62 deliveries with 2 fours and 1 six. It was a superb effort by Ashwin and Rohit Sharma to deny Australia an early wicket.
Rohit Sharma’s superb century
The Indian captain led from the front with a superb century. Indian team began the day on 77 for 1 as Rohit Sharma and Ashwin looked in decent touch.
Rohit Sharma showed intent putting pressure on the Australian bowlers and keeping the scoreboard ticking. India lost 2 quick wickets to Ravichandran Ashwin and Cheteshwar Pujara cheaply. Rohit kept his calm as Men in Blue ended the first session at 151 for 3.
Soon after the lunch break, India lost the wicket of Virat Kohli. Surya Kumar Yadav also fell cheaply but Rohit looked in decent touch reaching his century off 171 deliveries. Pat Cummins produced a superb delivery to get rid of Rohit Sharma for a well-composed 120 to give India the lead.
Todd Murphy 5 wicket haul on debut
Todd Murphy showed great fight and spirit against the Indian batting line-up. After picking up KL Rahul right before stumps on day 1, he eventually struck getting rid of Ravichandran Ashwin via review. The umpire called not out but on review, it was overturned to out. He then grabbed the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Right after the lunch break, he dismissed Virat Kohli with a good catch by Alex Carey. He bowled decent lines and lengths not allowing the Indian batters to score runs easily. Murphy then got rid of debutant KS Bharat via review for LBW. The umpire gave not out but on review, it was overturned to out to pick his 5th wicket.
He troubled Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja with good control but could not get the breakthrough. Murphy bowled 36 overs picking up 5 wickets for 82 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja well composed fifty
Ravindra Jadeja looked in decent touch with lovely shots against the pacers and spinners. He came at the crease with India at 168 for 5. Jadeja kept the scoreboard ticking along with Rohit Sharma.
Jadeja was solid with his defensive technique against the spinners and also timed the ball brilliantly. He completed a half-century off 114 deliveries keeping the scoreboard ticking. He was given a reprieve twice as Steve Smith.
After picking 5 wicket haul in the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja showed his value with the bat and put India in a commanding position.
The partnership between Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja
India looked in some trouble at 240 for 7 with Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease. Axar struggled initially against disciplined Australian bowling. Both batters kept the scoreboard ticking hitting boundaries to help India grow the lead.
Axar Patel showed his class with some lovely shots while Ravindra Jadeja also looked in decent touch. Axar completed a half-century off 94 deliveries. Both Indian batters kept the scoreboard ticking making sure that Australia look in trouble.
Axar and Jadeja added so far 81 runs for the 8th wicket as India ended the 2nd day at 321 for 7 with a lead of 144 runs. Both Indian batters scored half-centuries and would be looking to add more runs tomorrow morning in IND vs AUS 1st test.
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