AUS vs IND: Jadeja and Gill shine on the second day as India fights back

The third test between India and Australia is underway as India bounces back on the second day. After a long first day, Indian bowlers came up with a decisive plan. Jadeja was given more overs which turned out in favour of India. Labuschagne and Smith were looking good when Jadeja came in to bowl. Smith and Labuschagne went on to have a 100-run stand between them. Labuschagne was nearing another test ton when Jadeja showed his magic and got the edge of Labuschagne’s willow. Rahane took a sharp catch of Labuschagne to dismiss him at 91. Wade to played a rash shot against Jadeja and got out. Smith was desperate for runs and wasn’t giving any opportunity to the bowlers. Bumrah joined the party late into the session as just before Lunch, Bumrah got Green. The session went to India as they got 3 wickets in a single session. Post Lunch, Aussie skipper Tim Paine and Smith came to the crease. Bumrah was quick to get rid of the Australian skipper as he knocked his stumps over soon.

Cummins to was playing safe as they wanted Smith to get to three figure mark quick. In the process, Cummins found himself stuck inside the crease as Jadeja bowled a fuller delivery and knocked the bails over. Starc joined Smith at the crease and didn’t let the bowlers dominate him as he kept swinging his bat. Smith got to his 27th test ton as he ended his long dry run of centuries at home. This century took 14 innings at home. His last ton at home was in 2017.

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Saini got rid of Starc after a heated over. Lyon came in but couldn’t stay for long as Jadeja got him trapped in front of stumps on a perfect yorker delivery. After Lyon’s dismissal, Smith decided to go after the bowlers to get as many as runs possible quickly. Jadeja’s bullet throw at striker’s end ensured that Smith didn’t go far with scoring runs. Smith got out after scoring a brilliant 131. Australian innings was wrapped up on 338. For India, Jadeja was the star with the ball as he picked 4 crucial wickets on the second day. Saini on his debut was costly, but picked two wickets. Bumrah too got 2 while Siraj got 1.

The new opening pair of Gill and Rohit Sharma came into bat half an hour before the tea. The duo played the time before tea and went back without giving any chance to Aussie bowlers. After tea, the pair paced their innings as Gill was striking the ball beautifully. Sharma too was playing cautiously and smacking the loose deliveries. The duo went on to make a 50-run stand which the first time in this series. As things were looking good for the team where Rohit looked well set and Gill approaching his maiden half-cemtury, Rohit played the ball straight and gave the bowler catch in his follow-through. Hazelwood was testing Sharma on the same line and Rohit fell to the same trap. Pujara came in after Rohit’s dismissal as Gill soon got to his first fifty in tests. Cummins got Gill soon after his fifty as he nicked the ball to gully region. Gill went back after scoring a brilliant 50 off 101 deliveries. Pujara and Rahane were watching the ball carefully as they didn’t want to give any other wicket to Aussies. The bowlers kept on testing Rahane and Pujara to which they replied with a similar manner. The final session was a shared one as India lost 2 wickets and scored 70 runs in the entire session.

India ended the day on 96 for loss of 2 wickets.