On a dust bowl of a pitch at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore where seven wickets fell in the first session itself, Umesh Yadav provided the much-needed entertainment and boost to score with a crucial cameo. As usual, Umesh took an attacking approach against the Australian spinners who were taking advantage of favourable conditions. Umesh struck two sixes during his short stay at the crease but the second one prompted a hilarious reaction from Virat Kohli in the dressing room.
Coming to bat at no.10, Umesh was cautious against a rampaging Matthew Kuhnemann. Umesh decided to take his chances against right-arm off-spinner Nathan Lyon and slog-swept him for a six over mid-wicket boundary. In the next over, Axar Patel took a single to get Umesh back on strike.
As Todd Murphy pitched one in his zone, Umesh took the aerial route again. This time he hit it over backward square leg boundary for a six. The crowd let out a loud cheer as Umesh took India's score past 100. Kohli in the dressing room also enjoyed the maximum as he waved his hand in the air with a big smile on his face.
With his second six of the innings, Umesh equalled Kohli’s tally of sixes in Test cricket as well. Both Umesh and Kohli now had 24 sixes in Test cricket. Also, Umesh surpassed former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri’s tally of sixes.
Umesh took on Murphy again and hit him for a four off the last ball of the over. Seeing Umesh dominating right-arm off-spinners, Steve Smith made the obvious change by bringing left-arm spinner Kuhnemman back into the attack. Umesh was trapped in front of the wicket by Kuhnemann who came round the wicket. The ball kept low and hit his pads.
The 35-year-old got out after scoring 17 runs from 13 deliveries. He became Kuhnemann’s fifth wicket. This is maiden fifer for Kuhnemann who is playing his second Test. His fifer helped Australia bundle out India for 109 in 33.2 overs.
