Australia vs India 2018-19: Darren Lehmann Labels Pujara, Pant’s Performance as Ruthless’
Jan 4, 2019 at 5:48 PM
Former Australia Cricket team coach Darren Lehmann has hailed Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant as they propelled Indian National Cricket team to 662 for seven before Virat Kohli decided to declare at the fag end of day two at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Meanwhile, India put together their second-highest team total on Australian soil, piling up 622/7 declared on the second day of the match. Their highest team total, 705/7 declared, was also incidentally at this venue, in 2004. Rishabh Pant, especially, was in blistering mode smashing an unbeaten 159 off just 189 balls including 15 boundaries and a six. He shared a 204-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja (81) to put India on top of the fourth Test.
“Ruthless, absolutely ruthless [with the bat]. They were fantastic. Pujara just doesn’t get out, does he? He has faced over a 1000 balls. The way he went about it today, it was brilliant. In the backend, when you had Rishabh Pant and Jadeja take the game forward so quickly and score over 600 runs, they are well ahead in the game,” Lehmann told Sony Six on Friday.
Australia will have to bat well
Darren Lehmann noted that the wicket is good to bat on and it is likely to stay like that for the next day. He also noted that the main challenge for the Australians will be to bat well and big in the first innings.
The former all-rounder also admitted that the visitors are on top and the Aussies should look to close down on their victory.
“Yes, it’s a good track. It is a really good track. I am expecting to stay good for the next day and a half then take spin as the game goes on. The challenge for Australia will be to bat well, they haven’t done well so far. The challenge will be how can they bat, especially in the first innings? They have to bat big enough in the first innings, not the second one.
“It’s important to close down the chance of an Indian victory, but they are well in front at the moment. They played brilliantly well today,” Lehmann concluded.