Rohit hundred puts India ahead despite Murphy's strikes

10.02.2023 - 12:17 channelnewsasia.com

NAGPUR, India :Rohit Sharma produced a captain's knock of 118 not out to put India in the driver's seat in the opening test against Australia on Friday but Todd Murphy continued to impress on his debut for the visitors on a spin-friendly track.Replying to Australia's below-par 177, India were 226-5 at tea on the second day, with Rohit looking assured after registering his ninth test hundred, which included 15 fours and two sixes.Ravindra Jadeja, who had claimed 5-47 with the ball, continued to torment Australia and was batting on 34.Murphy (4-59) had removed KL Rahul late on Thursday for his first test wicket and the bespectacled off-spinner struck twice in the morning session and once after lunch to keep India in check.He dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin lbw for 23 after Australia successfully reviewed the original not-out decision.They wasted a review trying to get Rohit lbw but Murphy soon lifted the mood in the Australian camp.The spinner induced Cheteshwar Pujara (seven) into playing a sweep shot to a delivery way outside the leg stump and Scott Boland gleefully collected the top edge at short fine leg.Murphy removed Virat Kohli (12) with the first ball after lunch and Nathan Lyon bowled debutant Suryakumar Yadav (eight) through the gate but Rohit was unperturbed.The opener lofted Murphy over mid-off for a four to bring up his hundred and took a single off the next delivery to level the score.Australia are awaiting the results of scans on batter Matt Renshaw, who complained of knee pain after the warm-up session.Delhi, Dharamsala and Ahmedabad host the remaining matches of the four-test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

bowling Murphy Scott Boland Nathan Lyon Ravindra Jadeja Matt Renshaw Todd Murphy Australia India Ahmedabad Delhi

Ravichandran Ashwin returned with a three-wicket haul on Thursday to help India skittle out Australia for 197 in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar. Ashwin's performance, in which he took the wickets of Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey and Nathan Lyon, helped the hosts limit the visitors' lead. The three wickets also meant that Ashwin now has 689 international wickets, surpassing Kapil Dev (687), to be the third-highest wicket-taker for India across formats. Anil Kumble (953) and Harbhajan Singh (707) hold the top two places.

Watch: Nathan Lyon Produces Unplayable Delivery To Dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara, Leaves Rohit Sharma Stunned

The Indore pitch turned out to be extremely helpful for spinners as the Australian spinners bundled out India for just 109 on Day 1 of the third Test encounter on Wednesday. Both India openers – Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill – were bamboozled by the extra spin that the Australian bowlers enjoyed but the dismissal of Cheteshwar Pujara left everyone visibly stunned. In the ninth over of the match, Nathan Lyon pitched the ball short outside off stump and Pujara was quickly on his back foot to cut it through the point region. However, the ball turned massively and crashed into the stumps as Pujara was left completely stranded by his stance. The shock was visible on Pujara's face as he made his way back to the pavilion and even skipper Rohit was visibly stunned.

"Mockery Of Test Cricket": India Legend's Scathing Verdict On Indore Pitch

The wicket nature of the 22-yard strip at the Holkar Stadium where deliveries started turning square from the word go has reignited the debate of the India dishing out under-prepared surfaces for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy games against Australia.The ICC match referee Chris Broad is almost certain to take cognisance of the diabolical nature of the track and it won't be surprising that after Nagpur and Delhi which were rated "average", the track for the ongoing Test match could well get a "Below Average" rating. India were all out for 109 in just over a session while Australia managed to crawl to 156 for 4 as 14 wickets fell by the end of the day's play.

Kuhnemann, Khawaja put Australia on top after spin mayhem

INDORE, India :Australia bundled out India for 109 and batted resolutely to reach 156 for four in reply, giving the home side a taste of their own medicine on a raging turner in Indore on Wednesday.

"Think Everyone Will Support...": Ex-India Star On KL Rahul Getting Dropped From 3rd Test

With India 2-0 up in the series, captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted the bat against Australia in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday. The hosts made two changes, with out-of-form opener KL Rahul losing his place in the playing XI to youngster Shuman Gill. Rahul, who scored just 38 runs in the first two Tests of the series, has been under the scanner as several current and former players had questioned his place in the team. After Rahul was dropped from the team, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that the team management made the right decision.