Following his side’s thumping win in the first Test against Australia, India skipper Rohit Sharma said that playing on turning pitches in Mumbai helped him a lot to tackle the surface in Nagpur, where one needs to have application and a plan to score runs.
A fiery five-wicket haul by Ravichandran Ashwin combined with the all-round brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel helped India clinch a massive win by innings and 132 runs within the first three days of the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at Nagpur, after the visitors were bundled out for just 91 runs before the end of the second session on Saturday.
On his first Test as a captain in a while, Rohit said during a post-match presentation, “Very important at the start of the series. Happy that I could put the performance for the team. Was unfortunate that I had to miss a few Tests because of injuries but I am happy to be back. Since I was appointed Test captain, have played just two Tests. Got COVID-19 in England, missed South Africa series, got a freak injury against Bangladesh. Was ready for this one.”
“In the last few years, at the kind of pitches we are playing in India, you need to have application and some sort of plan to score runs. I have grown up playing a lot in Mumbai on surfaces that turn a lot. You need to be slightly unorthodox as well, use your feet. Need to put pressure on bowlers as well by doing something different. And that difference could be whatever suits you – using your feet, sweeping, reverse-sweeping. It was the first two overs from the seamers. Starting a game like that, you are in the ascendancy,” he said.
“Opposition is under pressure from there. We know we have quality in our spin department. But the seamers can be threatening as well on a pitch like that,” concluded Rohit.
With this, India has a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
In the second innings, Australia was once again off to a tricky start in their bid to overcome a lead of 223 runs by India. Ravichandran Ashwin started Aussie’s downfall by dismissing Usman Khawaja for just five runs off nine balls. Australia was 7/1.
Marnus Labuschagne was the next man on the crease and he continued his good form, slamming three great boundaries. However, Ravindra Jadeja’s golden arm did the trick again and he trapped the world’s number one Test batter lbw for 17 off 28 balls. Australia was 26/2.
Ashwin was breathing fire with the ball. He went on to dismiss David Warner (10) and Matt Renshaw (2) in quick succession. Australia was slowly choking under the pressure built by spinners and sunk to 42/4, with a mountain of runs still left to climb.
A boundary by Smith helped Australia cross 50-run mark in 16.2 overs.
Ashwin got his fourth wicket of the match and he sent back Handscomb in the fourth lbw dismissal of the inning. Australia was in a huge spot of bother at 52/5, trailing by 167 runs.
Despite trying, there was no stopping Ashwin. Australia’s downward spiral seemed endless and went one step further after Ashwin trapped Alex Carey for 10. Aussies were reduced to 64/6.
Jadeja and Axar joined Ashwin and the trio was running riot on Aussies. Jadeja picked up Cummins (1) while Axar dismissed Todd Murphy (2). Australia was 75/8 and trailed by 148 runs and just two wickets away from an embarrassing third-day defeat.
Pacer Mohammed Shami’s made pace bowling’s first entry in the wicket-taking charts for the inning. He dismantled Nathan Lyon’s stumps for 8 runs. Australia was left struggling at 88/9, trailing by 135 runs. The Aussies were just one wicket away from a loss.
Shami hit Australia with one final blow, dismissing Scott Boland for a duck. Australia was all out for just 91 runs in 32.3 overs. They lost the match by an innings and 132 runs. Smith was left stranded at 25 runs.
Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for hosts, taking 5/37 in 12 overs. Jadeja also took 2/34 while Shami got figures of 2/13. Axar also took a wicket for six runs in three overs.
India started day three at 321/7, with Ravindra Jadeja (66*) and Axar Patel (52*) at the crease.
The hosts had added barely seven runs to their previous day’s total when debutant Todd Murphy struck gold for Aussies, rattling Jadeja’s off stump. The all-rounder was gone for a well-made 70 off 185 balls. India was 328/8.
Mohammed Shami was next up at the crease.
Shami put a price on his wicket and played some fine strokes, including a four and a six. Axar continued to guard his wicket as well. India crossed the 350-run mark in the 128th over of their innings.
The duo took India’s lead beyond 180 runs.
Shami continued entertaining fans, smashing Murphy for two sixes in the 131st over, which also brought up the fifty-run stand for the ninth wicket. However, the debutant had the last laugh in his next over as he dismissed him for a well-made 37 off 47 balls with two fours and three six. With this, Murphy bagged his seventh wicket in the inning.
India was 380/9 in 132.4 overs and led by 203 runs.
Mohammed Siraj was the last man to arrive at the crease for India.
Cummins dismissed Axar Patel for a well-made 84 off 174 balls, consisting of 10 fours and a six. India was out for 400 runs and had a lead of 223 runs heading into lunch.
Murphy had a dream spell on his debut, taking 7 wickets for 124 runs in 47 overs. Cummins got two for 78 runs in 20.3 overs. Spinner Nathan Lyon could only get one scalp for 126 runs in 49 overs.
Earlier electing to bat first, Australia was bundled out for 177 runs in their first innings. Aussies were no match for Indian spinners as Labuschagne (49), Smith (37), Carey (36) and Handscomb (31) were the only ones who could score something decent and resist the Indian spin web. Jadeja took a five-wicket haul, ending with figures of 5/47. Ashwin got three scalps while Siraj and Shami took one wicket each.
India came out to bat and top-order, except skipper Rohit Sharma failed again. KL (20) continued his frustrating show with the bat and was dismissed by debutant Murphy. Nightwatchman Ashwin scored a handy knock of 23. Pujara fell for just seven while attempting a sweep. Virat also continued his worrisome string of low scores in Tests, falling victim to spin once again. Murphy got the crucial wicket of Virat.
Debutants Suryakumar Yadav (8) and KS Bharat (8) could not touch double digits.
Rohit however, kept the other end steady and scored 120 off 212 balls with 15 fours and two sixes. On a tough surface which was nightmarish for the batters, the Indian skipper put on a batting masterclass. India was reduced to 240/7 after Rohit and Bharat’s dismissals.
Jadeja and Axar then took the baton and guided India to a dominant position at the end of day two, ending at 321/7 on the second day. It gave India a 144-run lead. They kept Australia toiling hard for a wicket, made them chase the cherry all over the park and reached their respective fifties.
Brief Scores: India: 400 in 139.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 120, Axar Patel 84*, Todd Murphy 7/124) defeated Australia: 177 and 91 (Steve Smith 25, Marnus Labuschagne 17, Ravichandran Ashwin 5/37) by an innings and 132 runs. (ANI)
