IND v AUS, 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Lyon takes 8/50 as Australia take Day 1 honours

India’s chance of redemption in the Test series against Australia finally arrived as both the cricketing superpowers locked horns in at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the 2nd Test today. As expected the pitch was on the drier side but despite that, it is expected to assist the spinners. Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat. The Indian team management brought in a couple of changes after their disastrous performance in Pune.

Karun Nair who scored a triple century in his last Test against England finally got rewarded after getting dropped in the opening Test. Jayant Yadav made way for the youngster. Opener Murali Vijay got sidelined after of the match due to a hamstring injury and was replaced by Abhinav Mukund. In his return, Mukund didn’t manage to open his account and was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc.

It was the final delivery of the 3rd over as Mitchell Starc bowled an outswinger which came tailing back at Mukund and thudded onto his stumps. Though naked eye suggested that the ball might have missed the leg stump but the replays showed otherwise. With the score at 11/1, Pujara joined Lokesh Rahul in the middle and the duo looked to steady the ship.

Rahul and Pujara played some sensible cricket and rotated the strike along. In the meantime, Rahul also struck some delightful shots and stamped his authority on the Aussie bowlers. He was hardly troubled by the Aussie bowlers and will look to continue from where he left in the morning session. India was going along nicely with both looking pretty solid in the middle.

But just as when it appeared that India will go to lunch with only a wicket down, Nathan Lyon removed the set Pujara in the final delivery before lunch which tilted the scales of the morning session slightly in favour of the hosts. The ball turned sharply and took the inside edge of the bat which was safely pouched by Peter Handscomb in the short-leg region.

The Aussies took the upper hand in the 2nd session as the visitors got rid off three Indian batsmen as the hosts were precariously placed at 168/5 at the end of the 2nd session. KL Rahul looked pretty organised and was hardly troubled by the Aussie bowlers even in the 2nd session.

After the resumption of play in the 2nd session. India lost their captain Virat Kohli early. Just like the opening test, an error of judgement from the modern master cost him his wicket. Ajinkya Rahane joined Rahul in the middle and never looked in control. He didn’t trust his defence and hence gave away his wicket in an attempt to play the big shot. He stepped out and missed the ball completely. After a fumble, Mathew Wade removed the bails with Rahane still outside the popping crease.

Karun Nair joined Rahul in the middle and the duo looked to steady the ship. He looked in no discomfort what so ever and showed intent in his strokeplay and even when leaving the ball./ He played some delightful shots of fast bowlers Mitchell STarc and Josh Hazlewood and was hardly troubled by the spinners.

Just before the end of the session, he was beaten in the flight by Steve O’Keefe and was stumped by Wade. It was a terrific delivery from the hero of the first Test which brought Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle. He negated the remaining few overs safely as India went to tea at the score of 168/5.

The last session saw Australia stamping their authority on the hosts. It was an exceptional display of spin bowling by Nathan Lyon as he finished with career-best figures of 8/50. The session began with Ashwin and Rahul at the crease. With the departure of Ashwin, the floodgates opened for the Aussies and they ran through the Indian lower order.

Nathan Lyon got the ball to turn and bounce sharply which bamboozled the star-studded Indian batting line-up time and again. The hosts could only manage 189 in their 1st innings and now the onus was on their bowlers to deliver the goods. Apart from a missed opportunity by Ajinkya Rahane, the Indian bowlers failed to trouble the Aussie openers, David Warner and Matt Renshaw.

The Australians eventually finished the opening days’ play at 40/0 at the end of 16 overs. While the Indians will look to get early breakthroughs in the 1st session of Day 2, the visitors will look to carry on from where they left today.

Brief Scores 

India 189 all-out (KL Rahul 90, Nathan Lyon 8/50)

Australia 40/0 (David Warner 23*, Matt Renshaw 15*)