India vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 4: 5 Talking Points

India made a sensational comeback in the 2nd Test at the Chinnaswmany Stadium in Bengaluru and defeated Australia by 75 runs to level the 4 match Test series 1-1. The day started with Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara starting off proceedings. Rahane departed after scoring a brilliant half-century and that started the slide. India lost their last 6 wickets for just 35 runs as they were bowled out for 274. Josh Hazlewood bowled brilliantly and finished with 6/67.

Chasing 188 to win, the Aussies lost wickets at regular intervals and never looked to chase down the target. Ashwin was the wrecker-in-chief as he bagged yet another 5 wicket haul. Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav bowled brilliantly too and played a crucial part in India’s come from behind victory. That said here we have a look at 5 Talking Points from the 4th day’s play.

1. Josh Hazlewood bags 6/67

The right arm fast bowler was quite exceptional with the ball in hand in the 2nd innings. He bowled terrific lines and troubled the Indian batsmen on a consistent basis. He already got 3 wickets in the final session of the 3rd day and added 3 more to his kitty today morning which derailed the hosts’ progress. From 238/4, the hosts were bundled out for 274.

He dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara with a brilliant delivery which undid Pujara for steep bounce. He edged it straight to the slip fielder. His final two wickets came were those of Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav. While Ashwin was castled with a short of length delivery which didn’t bounce much, Umesh went for an expansive drive and gave a simple catch to the cover fielder.

2. Wriddhiman Saha plays a crucial hand

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha scored a crucial unbeaten 20 in the dying stages of the innings to take the overall lead to 187. He struck a couple of fours and a big six which was crucial for India during that stage. Along with Ishant Sharma, he shared a vital final wicket partnership which took India to 274. Though it wasn’t a big score but given the context of the game, it was a crucial little innings from the Bengal lad.

Also read: IND v AUS, 2nd Test, Day 4, Review: Ashwin bags 25th 5 wicket haul, India win by 75 runs

3. Umesh Yadav gets two crucial wickets

Yadav bowled with venom and troubled the Australian batsmen on a quite a few occasions. He went past the bat of Matt Renshaw and Shaun Marsh on many occasions and finally got his maiden breakthrough in the form of Shaun Marsh’s wicket. The ball struck Marsh way outside the line and wasn’t coming back enough either and would have missed the stumps. The on-field umpire Nigel Llong gave the decision in favour of India and after discussing with Smith, they decided to not to go for the review. It cost them the match in the end.

The most prized wicket of the innings was that of Steve Smith. One of the best batsmen against spin, Smith was trapped plumb in front of a delivery that didn’t bounce much. There was no hesitation in the umpire’s mind and ruled the decision in favour of India. He eventually finished with figures of 2/30.

4. Terrific catch by Wriddhiman Saha

Just before tea, Wriddhiman Saha pulled off an exceptional catch which helped India go to tea on the driver’s seat. After the fall of Mitchell Marsh’s wicket, Aussie wicket-keeper Matthew Wade came into the middle. He looked totally out of sorts and was unable to time the ball properly. In the 4 deliveries he faced prior to his dismissal delivery, he was troubled on each and every delivery by Ashwin.

He finally succumbed and inside-edged a delivery from Ashwin straight onto his pads. The ball went up in the air and there was no short leg fielder in position. Saha made good ground and completed a superb catch. “As they say catches win matches”, this surely proved to be one.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin roars back to form

Ashwin had a lacklustre last 3 innings with the ball in hand and needed something different with India defending only 187. With the Australian score at 42/1, Ashwin got his first wicket by dismissing the dangerman, David Warner. He attempted a slog sweep but missed the ball completely which thudded onto his pads. Though it was a close call but it remained with the onfield call despite Warner going for a review.

He got his next two wickets just before tea dismissing both Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade. Marsh failed to control a delivery which got a steep bounce and gave an easy catch to the short-leg fielder Karun Nair. After tea, Ashwin breached through the defence of Mitchell Starc and then finished off the proceeding with the wickets of Peter Handscomb and Nathan Lyon. While Handscomb went for a wild heave and top edged it straight to Wriddhiman Saha, Lyon gave a simple return catch to Ashwin.