IND vs AUS: 3rd Test – Day 1 – India struggle in a trial by spin

After winning the first two games of the four-match series, India hosted Australia for the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore with an aim to extend their lead to 3-0. The Indian team performed brilliantly in the first two matches, but the batting unit looked completely out of form against the Australian bowlers in the third game.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first, but the move did not work for the hosts as the Indian side was bundled out for mere 109 runs in 33.2 overs. Virat Kohli, with his 52-ball 22 was the top scorer for India, followed by Shubman Gill (21 off 18), as no other batter managed to cross the 20-run mark. Interestingly, the Australian pacers could not grab a single wicket as the spinners did the job.

After an early end to India’s first innings, Australian batters walked out to bat and put up a good show, but Ravindra Jadeja kept them on the edge by picking wickets at regular intervals. India lost two reviews early in the innings, which kept them on the back foot throughout the game. As a result, Australia finished at 156/4 with a lead of 47 runs.

Talking Points from the day’s play:

Matthew Kuhnemann’s five-wicket haul

Australia’s Matthew Kuhnemann, who made his Test debut in the previous game, registered his career-best figures of 5/16 in the nine-over spell. The left-handed spinner was at his best as he dismissed big-shot players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravichandran Ashwin before dismissing Umesh Yadav to complete his five-wicket haul.

Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne’s composed partnership

India’s Ravindra Jadeja managed to dismiss Australian opener Travis Head early, in just the second over of the game and handed the visitors a major setback. But what followed next was total dominance by top-order batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne as the duo put up 92 runs for the second wicket before Jadeja dismissed the latter.

Spinners dominate the day

Be it the Indian innings, or the Australian innings, the pitch at the Holkar Stadium supported the spinners massively. During India’s batting, while Kuhnemann picked up five wickets, Nathan Lyon added three wickets to his name and Todd Murphy finished with one wicket as the trio dismantled the hosts’ batting order. Australia lost four wickets during their batting innings, and Ravindra Jadeja was the wrecker in chief picking up all four.