Umesh Yadav’s sensational spell and Ravichandran Ashwin’s disciplined display helped India make amends after a wicketless one hour of play in the first session of Day 1. Australia could not take advantage of the start they got on Day 1 as they got all out for 197 and managed to take a 88-run lead in the Indore Test. Australia could add just 41 runs to their overnight score as they threw away the golden chance to take massive lead.
In the first session, Rohit Sharma did not introduce spinners from both ends. No wickets fell in the first hour but Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb could not rotate the strike comfortably. The pitch assisted Indian bowlers and the duo could not score many runs.
Ashwin got the breakthrough as he dragged the length back a little and forced Handscomb to take a giant strike and defend. The ball spun more as Handscomb played it straight to short leg fielder Shreyas Iyer. He could score 19 runs after facing 98 deliveries.
After getting just two overs on Day 1, Umesh was given a chance to use the reverse swing with nine overs to go for the new ball. Umesh answered Rohit's call straightaway. Cameron Green was hit on the back pad. The umpire's call went in India's favour and Green was given out. He scored 21 runs from 57 deliveries. In his next over, Umesh came round the wicket to left-handed batters Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. Umesh used the angle well and uprooted Starc's off stump to dismiss him for just a single. It was Umesh’s 100th Test wicket on Indian soil, a feat achieved only by five Indian pacers.
Ashwin continued to bowl tight lines. Carey came forward to play him but the ball beat the inside edge and hit his pad. The wicketkeeper-batter scored just three runs from seven deliveries. In the next over, Umesh flattened Todd Murphy’s off stump to dismiss him for a six-ball duck. Nathan Lyon decided to employ the sweep but missed the ball completely as it crashed into the stumps. Lyon could score just five runs.
Australia ended up losing six wickets for just 11 runs. After the collapse enforced by bowlers, Indian batters have their work cut out. Even a 150-run target will cause problems on the dangerous Indore pitch.
