Twitter Reactions: Jadeja's 5-wicket haul & Rahul-Vijay stand keep India in the hunt on Day 2

In what was an exciting day of cricket at Ranchi, both teams seemed poised quite nicely at stumps on Day 2. Australia with the number of runs on the board hold a slight edge as of now but Team India was guided to a splendid start by the openers and they ended the day with 120 runs on the board for the loss of one wicket.

Earlier in the day, Australia resumed from their overnight score of 299/4. Glenn Maxwell went on to smash his first ever century in Tests. Coming into the XI after being on the sidelines for the first two Tests, Maxwell left no stone unturned to make a statement to the Aussie selectors.

However, once he got out, Indian bowlers capitalized and didn’t allow the other batsmen to get going. Matthew Wade and Steve O’Keefe did try but couldn’t convert their starts. The Australian tail didn’t disturb India much this time as the innings was bundled for 451 runs. Skipper Steve Smith stayed not out playing an outstanding captain’s knock of 178 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja went on to pick another five-wicket haul as he led the rampage from the Indian bowling side. Umesh Yadav also continued to bowl well as he got 3 wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin managed to get the lone wicket of Shaun Marsh yesterday.

For the first time in a while, Indian openers provided a solid start. KL Rahul continued his consistent run with another half century while Murali Vijay was also looking fluent in his approach. Both put up a 91-run partnership for the first wicket before Rahul gloved one to Wade.

At the end of the day, the hosts were 120/1 trailing by 331 runs, with two of their most reliable batsmen Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. While India would be happy with the proceedings throughout the day, Australia still hold a competitive edge.

Here are some of the reactions from Twitter that came up during the course of the day’s play:

Pitch after day 2 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/TSV53eCxiT

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 17, 2017

Love to see Pat Cummins bowl a @Liam628 spell and bowl around the wicket armpit length!#IndvAus #aggressive

— Jason Gillespie (@dizzy259) March 17, 2017

Very pleased for @Gmaxi_32 Super first Test 100 from a real cricket badger. Think he's Australia's missing link.

— simon hughes (@theanalyst) March 17, 2017

Well played Smudge! Terrific knock as the norm with you! ??????@stevesmith49

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) March 17, 2017

Once again 5 wickets for Jadeja. On a wicket that hasn't had much spin or bounce in this first innings he has been a class above ??

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 17, 2017

Still a huge mountain to climb for India. Virat Kohli will take all the rest he needs tonight to bat tomorrow.#INDvAUS

— HoldingWilley ? (@holdingwilley) March 17, 2017

Strange day at #INDvAUS – both sides probably pleased with how it's ended.Aussies maybe slightly ahead with runs on board but plenty of time

— Brett Graham (@worldofBG) March 17, 2017

There's no fairness in the world.. poor Pat Cummins has had to chase and fetch 3 fours in this Lyon over. He's bowling at the other end.

— cricketingview (@cricketingview) March 17, 2017

Great start by the Indian openers but quality bowling from the Australians, momentum shift right now! #IndvAus

— Sand-d Singh (@Sand_In_Deed) March 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/altcricket/status/842680022209040384

Pat Cummins Test Career:

2011: First Test
2017: Second Test

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) March 17, 2017

This is the consistent KL Rahul that I've been longing to see since the last couple of years.. #IndvAus

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) March 17, 2017

India's opening stands – last 14 inns
0, 6, 16, 39, 7, 39
152
2, 12, 26, 10, 11, 39
55*#IndvAus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 17, 2017

How prolific is @stevesmith49 !!! Gun!

— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) March 17, 2017

Cricket fans reacting to Murali Vijay & Lokesh Rahul not getting out in the first 5 overs pic.twitter.com/kYZM8ZyCOf

— Ojas. (@Ojasism) March 17, 2017

FUN FACT: When Pat Cummins last bowled in a Test, Ned Stark was still alive. #funfact

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 17, 2017

Pat Cummins is bowling in a Test Match. Since his last over in Tests Australia has had four different Prime Ministers.

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) March 17, 2017

For his next trick, Sir Ravi will leap on to Spidercam, fly around the stadium and shoot fireworks from his fingers. #INDvAUS

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) March 17, 2017

Umesh Yadav has easily been the best pacer for India in this series. Deserves a lot more wickets.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 17, 2017

This is only the third time that Ashwin, Jadeja have conceded 100-plus in the same innings. On both previous instances, India won.#IndvAus

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 17, 2017

Jadeja has looked better than Ashwin this series. Ashwin looks too stiff with this season's workload. Jadeja's fitness stands out #IndvAus

— cricBC (@cricBC) March 17, 2017

#IndvsAus Score update : Close the cricbuzz tab, focus on your work.

— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 17, 2017

With all the Maxwell talk, people are overlooking that Steve Smith is having the best Indian tour by any Test captain in history. #IndvAus

— Dennis TEAM INDIA (@DennisCricket_) March 17, 2017

The Glenn Maxwell ton was fantastic but I reckon deep down the selectors would have preferred an elegant Mitch Marsh 12. #indvaus #indvsaus

— Morgan Campbell (@M_Campbell23) March 17, 2017

ODI ton ✅
T20I ton ✅
Test ton ✅

Onya @Gmaxi_32! ?#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/he5PnETVkY

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 17, 2017

Steve Smith (134no) now has the highest score by an Australia captain in India, beating Michael Clarke's 130 in Chennai, 2013 #INDvAUS

— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) March 17, 2017

Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell now the only Aussies to make 100s in all three international formats!#IndvAus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 17, 2017

A much cherished Test ton for Glenn Maxwell, and his first at 1st-class level since he made 140 for Yorks v Durham in Aug 2015 #INDvAUS

— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) March 17, 2017