IND vs AUS 2023: Debutant spinner Todd Murphy removes Cheteshwar Pujara after latter attempts paddle sweep

Australia's debutant spinner Todd Murphy struck yet another blow as he removed Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match. The Rohit Sharma-led team India are locking horns with the Aussies in the first of the four-match Test series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Nagpur.

After the Aussies skittled out for mere 177 runs in their first innings, Rohit Sharma and Co. concluded Day 1 at 77 for the loss of one wicket and were trailing behind by 100 runs. On Day 2, during the midst of the India batting innings, Todd Murphy, who had already got the vital scalp of KL Rahul struck for the second time as he dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin for 23 runs off 62 balls.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who joined the crease along with the skipper, initially seemed in fine touch as he got one boundary in quick time off Murphy. However, Murphy maintained his rhythm and trapped the Test specialist to send him packing. The spinner bowled a loose ball outside leg which saw Pujara attempting the paddle sweep only to get a top edge to short fine leg, thereby getting caught by Scott Boland for just seven runs.

The home side currently trails by 26 runs with a score of 151 runs on the board with Rohit and Virat Kohli on the crease at Lunch.

Team India dominate the Aussies on Day 1

While there was much talk surrounding the track in Nagpur, it was the pacers of the Indian bowling unit that handed the initial breakthroughs in the contest which set the tone for India. Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami got the major scalps of Usman Khawaja and David Warner.

What followed was star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin taking the onus of wrapping up the innings. It is worth noting that Jadeja, who marked his comeback to the national side, returned magnificent figures of 5/47 whereas Ashwin racked up a three-wicket haul to restrict the side to a meagre 177 runs.