Australia batter Steve Smith completed an incredible century during the first session to give the hosts a fantastic start to the second day. Smith’s brilliant knock of 140 saw Australia reach a mammoth total of 474 before getting bundled out.
This was Smith’s 11th Test century against India, making him the player with the most tons against the Men in Blue in the red-ball format. He was assisted well by skipper Pat Cummins, who played a valiant knock of 49.
In reply, India lost captain Rohit Sharma for just 3 runs before the duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul steadied the innings. However, Cummins soon ended up getting the latter’s wicket for 24.
Jaiswal then formed a great 102-run partnership with Virat Kohli, and it looked as if India would end the day on a positive note. However, a terrible mix-up ended up costing Jaiswal his wicket through a run-out on 82.
Just an over later, Kohli would also head back into the dugout after getting dismissed by pacer Scott Boland for 36. This wouldn’t be all as Akash Deep would then also lose his wicket 2 overs later as India would end the day on 164/5, trailing by a massive 310-run margin.
It was 153/2 at one stage and in 4 overs, another 3 wickets fell with Gautam Gambhir’s plan of sending a night-watchman in Akash Deep turning out to be one of the many poor calls that the head coach has taken in this game.
In a space of barely five minutes, cricket showed its fickle nature as Jaiswal pushed towards mid-on and called for a quick single with an assured Kohli (36) at the other end. Kohli took a step and half before retreating.
This moment will be one for posterity as Kohli looked down and perhaps felt that he could have at least said a loud “No” to allow Jaiswal to sprint back. It is safe to say that the run out broke Kohli’s concentration and for the first time in 85 balls, he ended up poking a delivery bowled in the corridor of uncertainty and that was the end.
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