Team India won its opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 against Australia by an inning and 132 runs. Three days into the series opener at Nagpur’s VCA stadium, the hosts’ all-around performance brought an end to the game. In addition to taking a 1-0 series lead, Rohit Sharma and company moved one step closer to securing a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) championship match.
Team India put out a Brilliant Performance
After India lost Ravindra Jadeja to Todd Murphy, all-rounder Axar Patel took control of the game during the first session of the third day. The comeback player was dismissed by the young spinner, who also claimed a 7-wicket haul, ending the 88-run eighth-wicket stand. Together, Axar and Mohammad Shami put together a fifty-run partnership for the ninth wicket. The left-hander was getting close to scoring his first Test century but was defeated by Australia’s Pat Cummins at a score of 84. After Axar was dismissed, India was bowled out for 400, giving them a 223-run lead after the first inning.
Indian Bowlers Rips through Australian Batters
Nothing significantly changed after the 40-minute lunch break, contrary to expectations that the Australians would perform better. The team led by Rohit Sharma returned to use the ball to batter the visitors, and they finished the job in a single session.
Usman Khawaja’s dismissal in Ravichandran Ashwin’s first over provided the game’s first breakthrough. Ashwin is an elite off-spinner and had a three-fer in the first innings. David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne attempted to rebuild the innings after the first blow, but their resistance held for the next 9 overs before being finally broken by Ravindra Jadeja. The left-trapping armer’s of Labuschagne in front caused Australia’s batting order to crumble. Read More: Ravi Ashwin Joins the Elite List of 450 Wickets in Test Cricket
Australia completely collapsed
Ashwin took five wickets in the following 10 overs, his 31st in a Test match, including those of David Warner (10), Matthew Renshaw (2), Peter Handscomb (6), and Alex Carey (10). In the 23rd over, Jadeja struck once more to dismiss the visiting team’s captain Pat Cummins, and Axar Patel further damaged the Australians by dismissing Todd Murphy for two runs.
In spite of the constant loss of wickets, Steve Smith was the lone fighter who kept the fort. Nathan Lyon offered some assistance to the vice-captain, but Shami harmed the relationship before it could grow. India is on the verge of a convincing win after the Indian pacer dismissed Lyon (8). At the stroke of tea, the pacer came back to dismiss the final Australian player by trapping Scott Boland in front of him. Read More: KS Bharat Age, Mother, Test Debut, Stats, Ranking, and More
India Showed resilience again Australian bowlers
Axar put his shoulders back and let Shami take the initiative during the 52-run ninth-wicket stand, which helped India defeat Australia on a pitch that the visiting media claimed had been “doctored.”
With Patel and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease, India had started the day at 321 for 7. Jadeja did not last for long as he raised his arms in response to a Murphy delivery that slammed into the stumps from an oblique angle.
The pitch’s characteristics haven’t changed much; it is still a slow-turner that will produce hits for any batter who is willing to work hard.
While Lyon’s (1/126) performance has been, to put it mildly, disappointing due to his bowling lacking the bite, Murphy’s (7/124) debut performance has been impressive. It was simple for almost all of the Indian batters to defend the seasoned off-spinner off the back foot.
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