India’s Innings
Australia would not have expected a day like they’ve had in Pune. On a wicket like this, 155 runs is like gold dust.
Of late, we have seen that whenever the Indian team has been in trouble, someone has been there to bail the team out. There has always been a partnership, more often than not it was the late middle order which has come out to rescue India from such situations. That didn't happen today and now the test of this team will be how they can come out of this situation. It is not impossible, but at this time it looks like Australia is completely dominating this Test match.
Anything over 250 will be very difficult to chase on this wicket.
Credit must be given to Aussie left arm spinner Steve O’Keefe who bowled in the right areas. On a wicket like this, with a spinner the trick is always to bowl in the right areas and let the pitch do everything for you. He kept persisting in the right areas, kept hitting the right spots and the batsmen were in trouble.
Australia’s fielding, specially in the closing quarter, was brilliant. The two catches by Peter Handscomb were majestic. Those kinds of catches makes your day and lift the spirit of the team.
Australia’s Innings
Australia are completely dominating this Test match. They are in the driver’s seat.
298-run lead and they can still add another 30-40 or even a 100 runs and that will be very tough for India to get on this pitch. This pitch is crumbling. Is it very difficult to survive on it. You have to continuously play your shots. If you go there with the mindset that you will block the ball, you are bound to get one good ball that will take your edge or jump sharply from nowhere and you will be out.
In that case, India cannot go out there and play a game to survive. If they end up chasing 350 or 400, they will have to go for the runs. That is the only way to survive on this pitch.
At this moment, Australia is dominating this Test match and India’s back is against the wall.
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