Australia was bowled out for just 177 on the opening day of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Ravindra Jadeja taking 5/47, despite managing brief counterattacks throughout the day.
By the end of the day, India, led by Rohit Sharma’s 56*, had further solidified their commanding position. The Indian captain launched the innings with a flurry of boundaries by taking advantage of a tons of loose deliveries from his opponent, Pat Cummins. It made it possible for KL Rahul, his partner, to adapt as well. Even when up against the two offspinners, the pair was able to maintain that. Toward the end of the day, Rohit reached his 15th Test fifty, but Australia was able to respond when Todd Murphy took a return catch of KL Rahul at 20, breaking a 76-run opening stand.
As India finished strong and made sure Jadeja’s efforts with the ball were not in vain, Rohit and the nightwatchman R Ashwin stopped the remaining deliveries.
Earlier in the day –
Australia chose to bat, but the fast bowlers of India quickly eliminated their openers. Usman Khawaja was ruled out on review after Mohammad Siraj struck him with his first ball, striking him on the front pad with a full ball. The next wicket was that of David Warner, who misplayed a Mohammed Shami pitch that was nipping in and lost his offstump.
Jadeja made a successful comeback to international cricket after a five-month injury layoff. He quickly eliminated Australia’s middle order, removing Labuschagne and Renshaw in quick succession before taking out Smith, Todd Murphy, and Peter Handscomb. Australia was dismissed for 177 in their first innings in Nagpur, and he finished with 5 for 47.
After settling in as the innings went on, Ashwin was able to set up Pat Cummins beautifully for a catch at slip before Jadeja had Todd Murphy LBW for a duck. In comparison to how they had positioned themselves in the first session, they lost six wickets for 98 runs during the session.
While Smith was kept silent for a stretch of 26 balls on 6, Labuschagne got his innings off to a fast start, managing a couple of early boundaries. Smith was at his most tense during this time, losing a few games and narrowly edging Axar Patel before being caught by Virat Kohli at slip. He broke out of that slump by chipping Ravindra Jadeja over midwicket for a boundary before the pair went on to become more at ease against spin.
