The much-awaited four-match Test series between India and Australia finally kicked off on Thursday, February 9 at Vidharba Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Australia opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, the Kangaroos started really badly as they lost their openers cheaply in the first three overs of the innings.
Indian speedsters Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami started really well with the ball and provided two early breakthroughs for India. Later, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith steadied the ship with a half-century partnership and both were looking settled at the crease.
But India’s premium all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, who is making his comeback after a five-month gap from a knee injury, struck post-lunch and the visitors slipped from 84/2 to 109/5. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Peter Handscomb tried to take the responsibility on their shoulders and stitched a beautiful 53-run stand. Carey was playing a reverse-sweep shot for fun but he ended up getting out on playing the same shot on Ravichandran’s delivery.
Ravindra Jadeja picked a fifer
India’s spin twins didn’t allow the Australian tail to wag and restricted the Kangaroos on the score of just 177 runs. Jadeja picked a brilliant fifer which included the scalps of three set batters (Labuschagne, Smith and Handscomb). Ashwin managed to pick 3 wickets for the team.
Indian openers started really well in the 2nd innings, especially skipper Rohit Sharma. He smashed three boundaries in the first over of the innings which was bowled by Pat Cummins. At the end of day 1, India are on 77 runs after losing 1 wicket of KL Rahul, who departed after scoring 20 runs.
He chipped the ball straight back to the debutant bowler Todd Murphy, who got his first Test wicket. There were only 7 balls left for the day and Ashwin walked in as the nightwatchman and successfully survived till the end.
India have reduced the trail down to just 100 runs with 9 wickets still in hand. There was so much talk about the pitch coming into this Test. But this is no minefield as India have shown with the bat. There was hardly any chance created till Murphy got one to bite sharply against Rahul.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Jadeja ka duplicate dhundo ab
— Cricketbugs (@Cricketbugs0) February 9, 2023
Yr Ashwin Or Jadeja hi Kaafi Hai Aus k Ley
— Mr Perfect 🤟🏻 (@starmanjeet007) February 9, 2023
Kidhar Gaye Jadeja ko overrated kehne Wale, aur Axar ko Jadeja ke upar rkhne Wale? #INDvAUS #Jadeja #ViratKohli𓃵 #BorderGavaskarTrophy #BorderGavaskarTrophy2023
— Shashank Nigam (@NigamShashank07) February 9, 2023
Funny how people were teaching him how to play cricket in his injury time
And now he's back with bang.
— Ravi Desai 🇮🇳 (@its_DRP) February 9, 2023
— Rohit (@rohit_0718) February 9, 2023
All these hype for BGT and 1sr test is almost done n dusted for Aus 🤣
— Deval Shah (@devalshah555) February 9, 2023
jadeja fluke
rohit mega fluke— abdullah. (@TinyyInfinityy) February 9, 2023
Rohit and warner proper home track bulley in tests
— Paul (@shaheen62342611) February 9, 2023
What a day's play. Thanks to Jaddu, Ash anna & Hitman
— Tom Gravestone (@Whygravestone) February 9, 2023
