IND vs AUS: The India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy is underway and the first match has begun at the Iconic Optus Stadium. This will be the first time India has played red-ball cricket on Aussie soil since their famous BGT victory back at the Gabba in 2021.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma missed out on the First test, owing to the birth of his second child, though reportedly the skipper will be back with the Indian side midway through the First test. Currently, Jasprit Bumrah has been appointed as India’s interim captain for the first test.
Having left out the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin, India’s veteran and most experienced spin all-rounders duo for the First test, India has decided to opt with a fairly inexperienced squad.
Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy made their debut for the Indian side, while Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first on a track that seemed good to bat on by the Indian management and the skipper.
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Starc strikes with the New ball
However, as said earlier by the Head Pitch curator from the Optus Stadium, the pitch will behave friendly for bowlers due to it being kept under covers due to long exposure to overcast conditions.
Mitchell Starc who was observed yesterday oozing fire in the nets with his steaming bouncers, struck early as he dismissed opener Jaiswal for a duck in the very third over of the game.
Hazelwood’s bumper too tough for King Kohli
Josh Hazelwood next dismissed Devdutt Padikkal for a 23-ball duck in his debut innings, not very pleasant for the young man. Virat Kohli’s weak form continues as he gets dismissed by a quick bouncer bowled by Josh Hazelwood.
Hazelwood’s seaming bumper off the short length took the outside edge of the troubled batter who seemed well surprised by the elemental short-length delivery bowled by the lanky pacer.
KL Rahul’s unfortunate dismissal
KL Rahul was the only Indian batter who seemed to tackle the valiant pace of the Aussies well, as he stood firm with a fighting 26 runs off 71 balls. He was struck in the elbow and chest but kept onto his confidence until he was dismissed off an outside edge off Starc caught by Carey.
KL Rahul believed the same time the ball passed off his outside edge he hit the pads with the inner edge which made the sound that seemed conclusive of him being given out.
Rishabh Pant, the last BGT’s hero and Dhruv Jurel are now on the crease and will advance with the proceedings post Lunch.