The Indian Cricket team is currently taking on mighty Australia in the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A brilliant bowling effort from India got the Pat Cummins-led side all out for 177 in their first innings leaving a good chance for Rohit Sharma and co to make the most of this low total. In reply, Rohit and KL Rahul begin with great intent to bat on Day 1 and not lose any wickets. However, Rahul was trapped by spinner Todd Murphy and India finished Day 1 with 77 runs for the loss of one wicket.
On Day 2, R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma continued the innings with the Indian skipper getting a century and the night-watchman felling short in front of Todd Murphy. Later on, Pujara 7 (14) and star batter Virat Kohli 12 (26) were also trapped by the debutant off-spinner from Australia. Making his Test debut, Suryakumar Yadav was also not in his best shape as he was clean bowled by veteran spinner Nathan Lyon.
Fans on social media could not hold themselves after the middle-order of India collapsed during the first Test against Australia. Netizens poured in tweets with Rishabh Pant's name saying that they miss the young wicketkeeper-batter. (READ: 'Sarfaraz Khan>SKY,' Fans Slam Management for Picking Suryakumar Yadav in India vs Australia 1st Test)
Checkout the reactions here...
Everyone Missing Him #RishabhPant #INDvsAUS #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/P5rthfwYaQ
— Rishabhians Planet (@Rishabhians17) February 9, 2023
Rishabh Pant hota is kaju burfy ka career khatam tha. #INDvAUS #AUSvIND
— Chosen one two (@choosenonetwo) February 10, 2023
India is really missing Rishabh Pant the batter.
— Shubham PANDITT (@PandittShubham) February 10, 2023
Will India win this series without pant and bumrah#askstarsports
— roy sebastian (@royseba01724198) February 10, 2023
Ravindra Jadeja along with Rishabh Pant in tests are most valuable assets in the history of indian cricket......!
— Akram Khan (@AkramK2108) February 10, 2023
Pant saab Jaldi Thk ho yaar maza nhi aarha Test mein
— Mridul krishna (@mridulkrishna77) February 10, 2023
Idhar Pant hota toh es Burphy ka career kha jata #BGT2023
— Anuj Deswal (@AnujDeswal013) February 10, 2023
Rohit played one of his best innings as he held the Indian innings together with a majestic effort. He was cautious, played the spinners with soft hands, used his feet and read the line and bounce perfectly. This was his ninth century in Test cricket and came after a long period of drought going back to September 2021. It was also his first as India captain and second at the VCA Stadium after an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Though there were a few anxious moments and close calls -- edges flew just wide of the fielders on a couple of occasions -- he kept one end intact even as he lost partners like Ashwin, with whom he shared a 42-run stand, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar, all three not staying at the wicket for long. He completed his century with a lofted boundary off Murphy off 171 deliveries as India marched past Australia`s first-innings score of 177.
The 35-year-old, who was born in Bansod, near Nagpur, started aggressively on Thursday morning, completing the first fifty of his century in 66 deliveries. His second fifty was sedate and more measured and came off 105 deliveries.
India crossed the 200-run milestone in the 71st over and went for tea at 226/5, adding 75 runs in the second session.
The Indian skipper got the only life of his innings in the first over after tea when his opposite number Pat Cummins forced a thick edge with the second new ball that Steve Smith failed to grasp at the second slip. But it did not matter much as Cummins bowled an even better delivery next up and sent Rohit`s off-stump cartwheeling, with one moved just a bit, passed through the gap between the bat and pad.
Apart from Rohit, India also lost the wicket of Srikar Bharat post tea break but hosts were able to score 95 runs in the last session of the day.
Earlier in the morning, Ashwin, sent in as night watchman after K.L Rahul was out in the penultimate over before stumps on Thursday, did his job well as he survived the first hour, helping skipper Rohit Sharma to keep the scoreboard ticking.
He struck a boundary each off Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins and slog-sweeping Lyon over deep mid-wicket for a six as he survived a few close calls including a big lbw appeal in the 27th over before getting out for 23, trapped lbw off Todd Murphy.
The ball pitched on the middle and leg from round the wicket and turned in, missing the inside edge by a whisker and striking the front pad. Ashwin had not taken a bit step forward and though the umpire gave him not out, Australia reviewed and got the wicket.
Pujara (7, 14 balls, 1x4) was looking his usual cautious self before he tried to hit a loose ball outside leg from Murphy but could only top-edge it to Scott Boland at short fine-leg.
Rohit and Kohli took India to lunch with India 151/3 with the Indian skipper going strong on 81.
Kohli fell on the first ball after lunch, offering a thick edge behind off a loose delivery by Murphy as the rookie Aussie off-spinner claimed his fourth wicket of the match as India fell to 151/4, still a few runs behind Australia`s first innings total of 177. And when Suryakumar Yadav could manage only eight runs in his debut Test, India were 168/5, still nine runs behind the visitors.
Pujara`s wicket, along with that of Virat Kohli after the afternoon session was a big blow for India as they could have helped the team reach a stronger position in the match.
However, Rohit and Jadeja added 61 runs for the sixth wicket and then Jadeja and Patel raised another half-century partnership for the eighth wicket to take India past the 300-run mark and in control of the match. (With IANS inputs)
