Jasprit Bumrah claimed 4/56 as India took firm control by dismissing Australia for 195 on the opening day of the second Test in front of a 27,615 strong crowd at the MCG on Saturday.
The home side went in with an unchanged XI, while the visitors, as announced yesterday, made 4 changes by including Ravi Jadeja, Rishabh Pant and debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj respectively.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the home side started badly by losing Joe Burns to Bumrah early for a duck.
Matthew Wade looked good in his brief stay, before he was caught at mid wicket by Ravindra Jadeja off Ravi Ashwin for 30. The catch was an excellent one from Jadeja under pressure- debutant Gill nearly collided into him.
Steve Smith became Ashwin’s second victim as the star batsman was caught at leg slip by Cheteshwar Pujara for an eight ball duck, leaving Australia in a spot of bother at 38/3.
The pair of Marnus Labuschagne along with Travis Head resurrected the innings with a valuable 86 run stand for the fourth wicket. The latter looked solid in his knock of 38, before being caught at wide slip Rahane off Bumrah.
Labuschagne, who had survived a couple of close shouts, looked all set for a well deserved half century before falling to a brilliant catch by Gill off Siraj. It was the Hyderabadi pacer’s first wicket in test cricket and saw two debutants combine for the dismissal.
Cameron Green then became Siraj’s second victim as he was trapped leg before wicket.
Skipper Tim Paine having survived a close run out call, however couldn’t cash in as he was caught brilliantly by Hanuma Vihari at backward short leg.
Nathan Lyon scored a valuable 20 in the end but Australia were bundled out for 195 in 73 overs.
Bumrah was India’s best bowler with figures of 4/56, while Ashwin claimed 3 wickets.
India’s innings didn’t start off well as opener Mayank Agarwal was trapped lbw in the very first over by Mitchell Starc for a duck.
Debutant Shubman Gill survived a testing first over from KKR team mate Pat Cummins and was dropped early in his innings by Labuschagne. He however otherwise looked solid and with Pujara saw the team through without any further alarms. At stumps, Gill and Pujara remained not out on 28 and 7 respectively.
Very promising from Shubman Gill on test debut. You need a bit of luck though, and he had it (dropped catch from Labuschagne, a mixup with Jadeja in the field that fortunately didn't result in a drop, and Agarwal took strike against Starc first up here, unlike Adelaide) #AUSvIND
— thecricketblog (@thecricblogger) December 26, 2020
Stumps at the end of Day 1 Australia 195 all out (Marnus Labuschagne 48, Travis Head 38; Jaspirt Bumrah 4/56), India 36/1 (Shubman Gill 38*, Cheteshwar Pujara 7*; Mitchell Starc 1/14)