India vs Australia : The 2nd Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series kicked off on 17th February 2023, and the first day was all about India’s bowling prowess. Senior pacer Mohammed Shami picked up four wickets, and the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets each as India bowled out Australia for 263. In response, India scored 21 for no loss before the day ended.
Here are the key takeaways from day one of the 2nd Test between India and Australia:
- Mohammed Shami’s exceptional bowling: India’s senior pacer, Mohammed Shami, was the standout performer with the ball. He picked up four wickets and kept the pressure on the Australian batsmen throughout his spell.
- Spinners Jadeja and Ashwin shine: India’s spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, also had a good day with the ball, picking up three wickets each. They troubled the Australian batsmen with their turn and bounce, and their partnership was crucial in breaking the back of Australia’s batting lineup.
- Usman Khawaja’s impressive innings: Usman Khawaja was the top scorer for Australia, with a well-played 81. He was precise in his footwork and strokeplay, and his partnership with Peter Handscomb kept Australia in the game.
- Australia’s middle-order struggles: While Khawaja and Handscomb played well, Australia’s middle-order struggled to build partnerships. Losing wickets in back-to-back fashion thrice hurt the team’s chances of putting up a big total.
- India’s steady start with the bat: India ended the day on a high note, with openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul remaining unbeaten on 13 and 8 runs, respectively. They had a steady start, and their partnership will be crucial on the second day.
The second day of the match promises to be an exciting one, with India looking to build on their solid start and Australia aiming to make a comeback. The match is evenly poised, and it will be interesting to see how the teams fare in the upcoming days.
Overall, India’s performance with the ball was commendable, and they will look to continue their dominance on the second day. On the other hand, Australia needs to step up their game and put up a strong performance with the ball to make a comeback in the match. The stage is set, and the match promises to be a thrilling encounter between two strong teams!
