'Andar hi rakhna, ye maarega' - Rishabh Pant plots Matthew Wade's dismissal off Ravi Ashwin

Australia and India locked horns in the much-awaited Boxing Day Test on Saturday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After the Adelaide debacle, all eyes were on India’s batting but their bowlers hogged all the limelight on the first morning of the match. Jasprit Bumrah first sent back Joe Burns for a duck and then Ravi Ashwin wielded his magic with the ball to dismiss Matthew Wade and Steve Smith to leave the hosts reeling.

Wade scored 30 before getting out and was looking good. But he played an awful shot off Ashwin and threw away his wicket. But there was more to his dismissal and it was not only his mistake that brought about his downfall. It all happened in the 13th over of the innings when the off-spinner was bowling really well. But Wade had found a way to tackle him playing a sweep shot and paddling him fine.

When he opted the latter option to churn out a boundary, Rishabh Pant, the wicket-keeper, told Ravi Ashwin to keep the line of the ball within the stumps in order to induce a false shot off the batsman. “Andar hi rakhna, ye maarega,” Pant’s comments were captured in the stump mic.

The very next ball Ashwin bowled a flighted delivery which led to Matthew Wade coming out of his crease and holing out to Ravindra Jadeja who took a very good catch running behind.

Here’s the video:

Translation: Keep it inside(stumps), he will try to hit!
And the next ball Wade hits in the air!
Rishabh Pant 🔥 https://t.co/rXGfRaXu07 pic.twitter.com/Sdm1im19Id

— Varchie (@Naniricci45) December 26, 2020

India dominating the first day

Meanwhile, the visitors are dominating the first day at the MCG with all of their bowlers doing extremely well. Jasprit Bumrah has looked class apart once again while Ravi Ashwin has been absolutely brilliant picking wickets upfront. Mohammed Siraj has also clicked with the ball trapping Marnus Labuschagne after Tea break. India will now be hoping to bowl Australia out early and then bat big in the first innings.

They will have to bat well after what transpired in Adelaide and in Virat Kohli’s absence, the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have to step up.