India v Australia 3rd Test, Day 3 - 5 Talking Points

Ranchi has proved to be a different wicket and a different Test match. Thus far in the series, the batsmen were tested since the pitch had a lot in it for the bowlers; here the batsmen have had to display immense levels of concentration and determination but the job for the bowlers has been to keep it tight as well. Wickets haven’t been on offer and nor have the runs. Team India started the day at 121/1 and ended with an addition of 239 runs and lost 5 wickets on the day.

It oscillated between India’s substantial batting response to the Australian bowlers making a comeback with a few cheap wickets. At the end, India still have Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle and that should give them the confidence to overhaul the 91-run deficit that they still face.

1. Murali Vijay misses another ton

Pujara and Murali Vijay once again build a solid partnership, they were patient, didn’t give any opportunity to the opposition, understood the time they had in hand and were rather looking to wear down the bowlers. In the first hour of play, the Aussie bowlers were precise with their lines and had a tight attack that didn’t allow the Indians easy runs.

After the ball got softer Vijay got going and played his shots, the flow of runs pushed back the pressure on the opposition. The spinners were dealt with craft and the pacers were scored off as well. Vijay batting on 82 had concentrated hard right through the session but in the last over before lunch in a rush of blood moment danced down the wicket against Steve O’Keefe got nowhere near the ball and was stumped.

2. Cheteshwar Rock Pujara

He bats at No.3 and takes the Lion share of responsibility of the batting order. Pujara was a rock with his approach today as well. He soaked the pressure when the bowlers had the upper hand and waited for the right moment to unleash. His batting strike rate for most part of the day was around 30 but once the second new ball was taken, he loved the feel of the hardball on his bat and started to play his shots.

Pujara accelerated the innings sensing the right moment to get the bulk of runs. He got to his hundred, his 11th in Test cricket but knew the job was not done and hung in there despite losing partners. He is still there at the crease and that will give Team India a lot of confidence as well.

3. Virat Kohli’s dismissal and the whole controversy

Virat Kohli walked out to bat amidst speculations over his injury but got out without making much of an impact. But during his 23-ball stay, there was a moment when Glenn Maxwell fielding in the deep, made a gesture towards his shoulder stopping the ball in a similar manner like Kohli did and injured his shoulder. On the very next ball from Pat Cummins, the Indian skipper edged it to Steve Smith and the Australian cordon behind the wickets gave him quite a send-off.

A certain footage floated on social media that suggested Smith had also pointed out at his shoulder mocking Kohli but that was rather an optical illusion. The broadcasters Star Sports started a Twitter hashtag #Aussiekitaisi which started trending on the social media but was later clarified in the post-match show that the hand that appeared on Smith’s shoulder was rather his teammate hugging him.

4. Pat Cummins’ gutsy bowling

Cummins coming into this game had a lot at stake, his fitness was a doubt, whether he would last the rigor of playing a Test match was still unknown. He started off really well bowling really quick and experimenting with lengths, change of pace and always keeping the batsmen thinking.

He got the first wicket yesterday surprising KL Rahul with pace and bounce, today he dismissed Virat with the second new ball getting an outside edge, then ended Ajinkya Rahane’s stay in the middle with another bouncer he tried to upper cut and had Ravi Ashwin caught behind off another short pitched delivery that rose to an awkward height. He bowled 25 overs and has 4 wickets to his name already from the 6 India has lost.

5. Test match in balance

While Team India has lost more than half of their side, they have the last pair of recognized batsmen in the middle with Pujara still there they will feel the momentum is on their side. The pitch hasn’t deteriorated much and that has increased Australia’s challenge, they have had to reinforce new strategies, lines of attack since not everything has worked at once.

Tomorrow is the most important day of the Test, while India will want to get rid of the deficit as soon as possible, the Aussie bowlers fresh from rest will focus on cleaning them up and have enough time to get the runs they want to and put India in for the fourth inning. Lead will be important for both the teams and whoever manages that will also take a lead in the series.