Twitter Reactions: Patient India tire Australia out to take upper hand

Australia didn’t have much to cheer for in the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the iconic MCG against India as they could only pick up a couple of wickets. The second day wasn’t any different for them as India went on to amass 443 runs and declared their innings. Nevertheless, the hosts would be happy that they went into Stumps without losing a wicket and are trailing by a significant 435 runs.

Kohli and Pujara grind Australia  

Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara did an excellent job in the post-tea session on Day 1 and the duo carried on with the good work. They didn’t press the accelerator and put on 62 runs in 28 overs in the pre-lunch session on Day 2. Pujara accomplished his 17th Test century in 280 deliveries and he looked invincible. However, to India’s disappointment, both Kohli and Pujara perished in the second session.

Even as Pujara was castled by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc accounted for Kohli’s wicket. Virat tried to play an upper-cut but holed out to Aaron Finch at third man. The 30-year-old was unlucky to miss out on a century and perished after scoring 82 runs from 204 balls with the help of nine fours. Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane played out the remaining overs in the session and India went into Tea at 346/4.

Australia with a daunting task ahead

Rahane played decently for his 34 after which Nathan Lyon trapped him in front to pick up the fifth Indian wicket. Rahane stitched together a stand of 62 with Rohit. Following his dismissal, Rishabh Pant joined Rohit in the middle and the duo added 76 runs to take the visitors past the 400-run-mark. Sharma scored a gutsy half-century and eventually remained not out on 63 from 114 balls with five boundaries.

Pant wafted the willow to score a handy 39 runs from 76 balls. After Pant and Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal, Kohli decided to call his team back. The left-handed pair of Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch played out six overs without any hiccup, though they could only score eight runs. Harris was hit on the helmet by a vicious bouncer from speedster Jasprit Bumrah and then was given medical treatment.

Here is how Twitterati hailed India

Time for Finchy to have a bowl after the tea break? 😂 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/5JS2fomYUJ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2018

😂😂😂 https://t.co/OOfDbBQIQO

— John Hastings (@johnhastings194) December 27, 2018

Two wickets on day-1.
Five wickets on day-2.
Progress. #AusvInd #7cricket @7Cricket

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 27, 2018

Top batting guys skipper @imVkohli ,@ImRo45 and specially Mr dependable the wall @cheteshwar1 great knock bro treat to watch 💯👏👏👏👏😊🙏🇮🇳 #AUSvsIND #MCGTest

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) December 27, 2018

Strange declaration from India. With Rohit there India could have got 50/75 runs or even more runs, runs which would be harder to get batting second. Made sense in getting them now.#AusvInd

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 27, 2018

3rd new ball is the best ever 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 27, 2018

The show of grit to bat for a long period of time and to build his inning according to the situation is making @cheteshwar1 a difficult player to get out for the Aussies. A brilliant century by him. 🏏 pic.twitter.com/85jtiY3nbt

— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) December 27, 2018

This century by @cheteshwar1 has laid the foundation for India to get ahead in this match. One more good partnership needed. The bounce is already uneven, which is a good sign for #TeamIndia. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/CPfDNTLpxj

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 27, 2018

Brilliant 💯 from @cheteshwar1 yet again. Second of the series and 17th overall. It's fair and wise to call him 'The poster boy' for Test Match cricket in India and the world. Classic textbook batsmanship. #AUSvIND

— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) December 27, 2018

Another great 💯 by a great player & by one of the nicest guys in the game 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Well done buddy #pujara #runmachine #genuineniceguy https://t.co/AMQ4If3h0R

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 27, 2018

Days like these when all the sacrifice and coaching of his father Arvind and early practices at the the “Railways Parkland” must bring great great satisfaction to Cheteshwar Pujara and his family. 17th Test century. Solid as a rock👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

— ian bishop (@irbishi) December 27, 2018

Century. Second of the series. Che Pujara—the rock. You rock. 😊🙌 #AusvInd #BoxingDayTest

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 27, 2018

Another fantastic 💯 from @cheteshwar1 👏🏻

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 27, 2018

I genuinely feel for the curators after seeing this. If these are the specifications for Tests pitches, pitches like Perth Test & others that dare to make exciting pitches are doomed!! These specifications need to be be changed for the betterment of the game surely? @ICC 🤷🏼‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/sXekoTqifv

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 27, 2018

@imVkohli that’s unfair I know it’s a half volley but dammmmm 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾 what a on drive /punch 😳🤭

— Tino95 (@tinobest) December 27, 2018

Cameras & technology scrutinise Crkt more now than ever before..but commentators don’t seem to trust either..!!!

— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) December 27, 2018

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