Virat Kohli’s expression said it all, when he got out in the second innings to Steve O’Keefe. He knew that it just a matter of time before Indian batsmen succumb to the pressure and fall prey to Australia’s spinning duo O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon. He could not believe that the ball he expected to turn and go into wicketkeeper Mathew Wade’s hands. Instead, it went straight through the gate and clipped Kohli’s castle from the top.
Kohli was not willing to leave the crease, he could not believe that he had made a mistake so huge that it will haunt him every night before he avenges the Pune Test defeat in Bengaluru Test starting March 5.
His 19 Test-unbeaten run while captaining the side has been stopped and derailed by ‘mighty’ Australians who everyone including themselves considered as ‘Underdogs’ before the start of the Test series.
India were under pressure, with every run scored on Day 3 as it meant that India would have to chase that many runs in the fourth innings. Though Indian bowlers succeeded in wrapping up the innings within the first session, they did not succeed to play out then at the end of Day 3.
The story of the first innings repeated itself as India lost a flurry of wickets in the first session, making it clear that a loss in Pune Test is pretty evident. The second session was no different as Indian batsmen seemed in a hurry to go back to the pavilion not even getting through halfway of the third session and bundling up for 107.
Earlier, during Australia’s second innings Indian fielders dropped a few many catches which resulted in Steven Smith reaching to his 18th Test century and Australian batsmen making use of the dropped chances and piling on runs.
On Day 2 India had their worst 7-wicket batting collapse, which featured 7 batsmen walking back to the pavilion in a matter of 11 runs. This happened during O’Keefe’s decimating spell which dismantled Indian batting lineup and gave the Aussies 155-run lead which even they did not think of.
India were unbeaten for 19 Tests after winning series after series, ‘crushing teams in their own backyard’ as described aptly by Australian opener David Warner before series.By beating Bangladesh at Hyderabad they had bagged their 6th series win on trot. Kohli too broke many records with his double hundred, surpassing Sir Don Bradman’s record made headlines. Who know? Kohli might extend his record by making another double hundred.
Indian skipper likes a challenge when he gets one, he just recieved one from the Kangaroos, odds are he will have a reply to it in the next Test. Moving ahead, Kohli said that India will make a comeback in the next Test and put Australia under pressure from ball 1. Well, that’s what Indian fans needed to hear after a forgettable batting performance from Captain Kohli & Co.
