The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is now tantalisingly poised, as India reached 96/2 at stumps on Day 2 in response to Australia’s first-innings total of 338.
While reviewing the day’s proceedings on the Sony Sports network, Sunil Gavaskar observed that India did a great job in pulling Australia back from a position of strength, which they were in at the end of Day 1.
The former opener mentioned that the hosts had got off to a good start on the first day and had two batsmen with a penchant for scoring big runs at the crease.
Sunil Gavaskar said that he was worried that Australia would post a mammoth score in the first innings, but that was not to be. For that, he lauded the Indian bowlers, especially Ravindra Jadeja, for keeping the Australian total within manageable proportions.
“Ajinkya Rahane will have to take some initiative tomorrow” - Sunil Gavaskar
Zaheer Khan observed that when Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma were playing, the wicket seemed very different from what it looked like once they got out. In that context, he asked Sunil Gavaskar how he wants India to approach the third day’s play.
The former Indian opener responded that Ajinkya Rahane will have to bat a little more aggressively, as Cheteshwar Pujara is likely to take his time to score runs.
Sunil Gavaskar signed off by saying that Pujara’s inability to rotate the strike might have resulted in Shubman Gill’s wicket. He hopes Rahane will keep the scoreboard ticking so that there is no undue pressure on the Indian batting lineup.
The Indian bowlers certainly did a commendable job by bowling out Australia for 338 runs after the hosts were going strong at 206/2. With the match evenly poised at the moment, the third day’s play, especially the first session, could hold the key to the outcome of an intriguing encounter.
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