India captain Rohit Sharma was a happy man as India registered a dominating win in the first Test against Australia in Nagpur by innings and 132 runs to go 1-0 up in the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
At the start of the third day, Australia started well when Todd Murphy got a ball to hold its line and Ravindra Jadeja (70) misread the delivery and shouldered arms to one which was an arm ball and had his stumps disturbed.
But then Axar Patel and Mohammad Shami added an entertaining 52 runs for the 9th wicket with Shami hitting 37 runs in 45-odd balls with 2 fours and three massive sixes and got India closer to the 400-run mark.
After Shami was dismissed by Murphy, who finished with 7/124, Pat Cummins came back and bowled the all-rounder Axar Patel for 84 runs, ending India’s innings at 400 with a lead of 223 runs.
In reply, and staring at a lead of 223 runs to climb, Australia’s batters crumbled in front of some clever bowling from off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ravi Ashwin. PC- Getty
Ashwin started by removing openers Usman Khawaja (5) and David Warner (10) and then Ravindra Jadeja got rid of dangerous Marnus Labuschagne (17). Only Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 25, as wickets fell around him.
Ravi Ashwin finished with figures of 5/37, while Mohammad Shami picked 2/13 and Jadeja added two wickets to his first innings haul of fifer, as Australia was bowled out for 91 runs and lost the first Test by innings and 132 runs.
“You Need To Have Application And Some Sort Of Plan To Score Runs On Such Pitches”- Rohit Sharma After First Test Win
Rohit Sharma was a happy captain and at the post-match presentation, said that he was very satisfied with his performance of a century on a difficult pitch and for starting well in such an important series.
Rohit Sharma. PC- Getty
“Very important at the start of the series. Happy that I could put the performance for the team. Was unfortunate that I had to miss few Tests because of injuries but I’m happy to be back. Since I was appointed Test captain, have played just two Tests. Got Covid in England, missed South Africa, got a freak injury against Bangladesh. Was ready for this one.
The last few years, the kind of pitches we are playing in India, you need to have application and some sort of plan to score runs. I’ve grown up playing a lot in Mumbai on surfaces that turns a lot. You need to be slightly unorthodox as well, use your feet. Need to put pressure on bowlers as well by doing something different. And that different could be whatever suits you – using your feet, sweeping, reverse-sweeping.
Mohammad Shami. PC- Getty
It was the first two overs from the seamers. 2/2 – starting a game like that, you’re in the ascendancy. Opposition is under pressure from there. We know we have quality in our spin department. But the seamers can be threatening as well on a pitch like that,” Rohit was quoted by Cricbuzz.
The second Test will be played in Delhi from February 17.
