Unlike Pune Test, situations after losing the toss in the 3rd game of the India vs Australia series in Ranchi didn’t affect the Indian batting in the first innings much as both the Indian openers—KL Rahul and Murali Vijaya—looked much stable and confident than ever. After the Indian bowlers bundled the Aussies at 451, both the batsmen played phenomenally good in the third session and a partnership of 91 runs was developed between the openers until Pat Cummins dismissed KL Rahul for 67. By the end of the day, India could put 120 runs on the scoreboard after losing a wicket while on-crease batsmen are Murali Vijay 42* (112) and Chetshwar Pujara 10* (26).
It was Ravindra Jadeja who took all the limelight while Indians were bowling. Another 5-wicket haul was listed in his career stats as he dismissed David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mattew Wade, Patt Cummins, and Nathan Lyon. He bowled a spell 49.3 overs in which he conceded just 125 with an economy rate of 2.51 runs per over.
Murali Vijay and KL Rahul gave a very good start to the team. Both of them added a total of 91 runs for the first wicket which is the highest partnership till now in this series. Where Rahul had a speedy start, Mural Vijay was the one who accompanied with a slow but steady way. KL Rahul scored the third consecutive fifty against Australia in this series in the first innings but just half an hour before the conclusion of day’s game, Pat Cummins dismissed Rahul for 67. This wicket of Rahul was the first for Cummins in Test cricket in last five years.
50! A quality half-century from @klrahul11. His fourth in this series so far. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/mhWOOf64Bz
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 17, 2017
Cheteshwar Pujara came in at number 3 and accompanied Vijay on the ground. Pujara, who played an inning of 92 runs on Bengaluru with Ajinkaya Rahane and saved the game, is expected to repeat the show once again as there is a long way to go to set a fighting lead for the guests.
Earlier in the first session, Glenn Maxwell and Steven Smith resumed the game at 299/4. Smith already had a pile of runs in his account and was leading from the front while Maxwell too scored a ton later which was his career’s first. But this partnership was destructed by Ravindra Jadeja who dismissed Maxwell for 105 and also gulped Matthew Wade who looked fast as well as furious with his bat after he came in at number 7.
In the second session, Steve Smith and Steve O’Keefe resumed the Aussie inning at 401/7. Smith was eyeing on a double ton but he lagged a rock solid support from the other end. After conceding just 50 more runs in this session, the hosts bundled the guests for a total of 451 runs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja yet another time turned to be the mysterious wizard and took 5 wickets and dismissed David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mattew Wade, Patt Cummins, and Nathan Lyon. He bowled a spell 49.3 overs in which he conceded just 125 with an economy rate of 2.51 runs per over.
By the end of day 2, India: 120/1; Murali Vijay 42 (112), Chetshwar Pujara 10 (26).
India Trailing by 331 runs
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