Published - | Updated - February 10, 2023 07:37 am
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The Indian cricket squad had a successful day at work on the first day of the first Test against Australia in Nagpur on Thursday, but KL Rahul had less luck. Before being bowled by Todd Murphy in the penultimate over of the day, the India opener had made 20 off 70 balls. The gifted batter’s most recent Test half-century came against South Africa in Johannesburg in January 2022. In December 2021, he scored his last Test century against the same opposition. He took a while to get going, and Rohit ended up hitting the most of the runs after Australia was eliminated for 177 runs in the first innings.
Ravindra Jadeja claimed a five-wicket haul on his international debut for the first Test against Australia, but he claimed the Nagpur track was not a seamer. In the final session on a shifting track, Jadeja finished with stats of 5-47, and fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added three more to dismiss Australia for 177. The Indian batsmen then built on the score, with Rohit Sharma top-scoring in both innings, claiming a century and 96 runs, respectively
India’s reply saw them at 77 for one at the time of stumps, with skipper Rohit Sharma on 56 and Ashwin still at the crease without a run. Australia still has a 100-run lead over the hosts.
On a pitch that some Australian experts claimed had been “doctored,” Rohit batted easily despite accusations that the bone-dry wicket had been strategically watered to give the Indian spinners an unfair advantage.
Following his return to the Indian team after a knee injury, left-arm orthodox bowler Jadeja told the media, “It’s not a rank turner at all, and for a first-day pitch it was slow and had little bounce.” It wasn’t like the batters had a hard time defending, but that will change as the game goes on. Australia’s lead of 100 runs is indeed substantial and could prove to be too much for the Indian side