IND v AUS, 4th Test, Day 1 Review: Kuldeep rattles Australia in his debut, India take Day 1 honours

Opening Session 

Australia continued to impress in their tour of India as the visitors went to lunch on the opening day of the deciding Test in Dharamsala in a commanding position. Courtesy exceptional batting from Captain Steve Smith who was ably supported by David Warner, Australia went to lunch at 131/1.

Captain Virat Kohli failed to pass the fitness test and was hence rested for the final Test. Instead of a batsman India went with a bowler and gave left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav his first break in international cricket in place of Kohli. Mohammad Shami and Shreyas Iyer who was included in the squad yesterday missed out.

Karun Nair missed a straightforward chance in the first delivery of the match which cost India dearly as Warner went on to make an unbeaten half-century. The hosts got their first breakthrough immediately in the 2nd over as youngster Matt Renshaw was cleaned up by a pearler from Umesh Yadav. The ball came back in and disturbed the timbers.

There was no looking back for Australia since then. Captain Steve Smith started off from where he left in Ranchi and looked totally unruffled in bowling friendly conditions. Warner was beaten here and there while Smith kept on counter-attacking the Indian bowlers.

Boundaries started coming thick and fast from Smith’s bat as the Australians started to dominate. David Warner too upped the ante and charged down the track to smash Jadeja over his head for a big six. Smith also took on the attack and played some delightful shots in the process.

While Steve Smith is batting on 72 with 10 boundaries to his name, David Warner has remained unbeaten on 54. The southpaw has struck 8 fours and a solitary six in his innings so far.

Brief Scores (up to Lunch)

Australia 1st innings 131/1 in 31 overs (Steve Smith 72*, David Warner 54*, Umesh Yadav 1/29)

Post-Lunch session 

The hosts bounced back strongly on the 2nd session and reduced the visitors to 208/6 at the end of the tea interval. It was an exceptional bowling display by the debutant Kuldeep Yadav who bagged 3 prized wickets. Umesh Yadav also gave him ample support and Ravichandran Ashwin added fuel to the fire by removing captain Steve Smith just before the tea interval.

Warner was dismissed by Kuldeep with a beautiful delivery. There was steep bounce and Warner edged it straight to the slip fielder. He was delighted to get his maiden Test wicket. Peter Handscomb was dismissed by another stunner by Kuldeep as the ball turned sharply to breach through the defence of Handscomb.

Maxwell too followed Handscomb to the dressing room in quick time as he was bamboozled by another gem of a delivery by the 22-year-old. Maxi was squared up and failed to read the turn on the delivery. It missed him completely and disturbed the timbers.

Meanwhile, captain Steve Smith reached his 3rd century of the series as he looked in complete control of proceedings. He kept on rotating the scoreboard even as he kept losing his partners at regular intervals. The star batsman was eventually dismissed by ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who foxed with a top spinner.

The ball went with the arm and took Smith’s outside edge. Ajinkya Rahane stationed in the slip cordon completed a simple catch. With only 4 wickets left, India will surely be in the driver’s seat going into the final session.

Brief Scores (up to tea) 

Australia 1st innings 208/6 in 61 overs (Steve Smith 111, Kuldeep Yadav 3/41, Umesh Yadav 2/54)

Post-Tea Session 

The final session of the day witnessed some intense cricketing action with wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Wade rebuilding the Australian innings with a well-constructed half-century. Pat Cummins slogged his way to 21 which included three fours and a six before giving Kuldeep his 4th Test wicket.

It was a straighter delivery on the middle stump and Cummins lobbed it straight back to the bowler. Steve O’Keefe struck two delightful boundaries before departing in the form of a run-out. Shreyas Iyer who came in as a substitute did a brilliant work from point and disturbed the stumps directly.

Meanwhile, Matthew Wade completed his half-century and looked in complete control. But a lapse in concentration cost him dearly as he was castled by Ravindra Jadeja. The southpaw went for an attempted sweep but missed it altogether as the ball crashed on to the stumps.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished off proceedings with the wicket of Nathan Lyon as the Aussies were bundled for 300. India came out to bat for just a solitary over and failed to get off the mark in the over bowled by Josh Hazlewood.

Brief Scores (Full day) 

Australia 1st innings 300 all-out in 88.3 overs (Steve Smith 111, Matthew Wade 57, Kuldeep Yadav 4/68, Umesh Yadav 2/69)

India 1st innings 0/0 in 1 over