India have been bowled out for 109 runs on their first Innings on Day 1 of the third Test match here at Indore on Wednesday. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann bags a fifer for only 16 runs. He, along with Nathon Lyon, run through the Indian batting lineup on the first morning.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the important toss here at Holkar Stadium. They decide to bat first on what looks like a typical Indian pitch, which will be best for batting on the first day.
India finally decided to drop out of form opener KL Rahul; Shubham Gill replaced him, Mohammed Shami was given rest, and Umesh Yadav got a game. India went with same spinning trio of Ashwin, Axar & Jadeja that have troubled Australian batting on this tour so far.
Australia also made two changes in their playing eleven. All-rounder Cameron Green came in for Matt Renshaw & Mitchell Strac replaced the Skipper Patt Cummins, who is not playing due to a medical emergency in the family.
Australia had a horrible start when they let go of the Indian captain Rohit Sharma twice on the very first over of the match. Rohit nicked the very first ball to Alex Carry, but umpire Nitin Menon didn’t move, and Australia decided against the review. The horror run continues when they decided against the review of LBW appeal on the 4th ball of the same over by Mitch Strac, It was all three red when the replay showed on big screen.
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Matthew Kuhnemann bags five
However, Australia didn’t have to pay heavy price for these mistakes. Rohit Sharma, who didn’t look comfortable at the crease, perished while playing an explosive shot to Kuhnemann. He completely missed the ball while going for the slog & Alex Carry did the rest. Shubhman Gill, who made a comeback in the side, looked comfortable and scored some cracking boundaries. He nicked one to smith at slip. Kuhnemann got his second wicket of the match early in the day.
Australia got the early breakthrough they wanted. Cheshwar Pujara was bamboozled by Lyon while playing the ball on the back foot. After the fall of Puraja, floodgates finally opened. India did promote Jadeja to counter left-arm spinner, but he couldn’t survive much longer. He gave straight forward catch to Kuhnemann at short cover. Shreyas Iyer drags one onto the stumps. Put India in trouble, 44 for 5 at drinks break.
Partnership with KS Bharat :
After the break, Virat Kohli tried to stitch a partnership with KS Bharat. He looked very assured at the crease, but he got caught in front by Todd Murphy. KS Bharat, too couldn’t survive much longer. India were reduced to 84 for 7 at the lunch on Day 1.
India were hoping for their lower order to bail them out once again in this series, but it was not to be. Ashwin falls soon after lunch break, Kuhnemann bags his fourth of the innings. Umesh Yadav played his usual slogs after coming at no.9. He helped home team cross 100 run mark in 31st over. Kuhnemann avoided further damage; he trapped Umesh LBW. He completed his maiden five-wicket hall in his second test match.
Very next over, Siraj ran himself out, and India were bowled out for mere 109 runs inside 34 overs after winning the toss and decided to bat on the first morning here at Indore.
India have got themselves behind in the test match after dismal batting performance. On the other side, Australia have put themselves in the commanding position in the Indore test. They will look forward to bat deep and bat long in their first innings because they will have to bat last on the pitch, which is not going to get any better as the match progress.
Australia are 2-0 down in the series and have already lost the Border Gavaskar trophy. But they have a great chance to level the series after reducing the home team to 109 runs on the first day.
India 109 (Kohli 22, Gill 21, Kuhnemann 5-16, Lyon 3-35)
