India vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 4: 5 Talking Points

Team India put themselves in a commanding position at the end of the 4th day of the 3rd Test in Ranchi against Australia and will look to seal the deal on the final day tomorrow. The day began with Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha resuming proceedings. The duo played some exceptional brand of cricket and defied the Australian bowlers till tea without losing a wicket. While Pujara went onto score his 3rd Test double century, Saha also scored his 3rd test century.

Their partnership of 199 runs might prove to be the series changing partnership. Jadeja also piled the agony on Australia smashing a quickfire half-century to take India past the 600 mark and their lead past the 150 mark.  The left-arm tweaker came back and removed David Warner and Nathan Lyon in quick succession to help India end Day 4 on a positive note.

That said here we have a look at 5 Talking Points from the 4th day’s play

1. Cheteshwar Pujara smashes his 3rd double ton

The Marathon Man batted for more than 500 deliveries, which is the most balls faced by an Indian batsman in a Test innings going past the legendary Rahul Dravid. Beginning on an overnight score of 130 Pujara kept on defying the Australian bowlers with his resolute batting. Though he didn’t strike the boundaries he kept the pressure on the visitors.

He reached his 150 just before the lunch interval and went on to smash his 3rd double century just in the post tea session. It was undoubtedly a monumental effort from the “Modern Wall” and his innings might well prove to be the match and series-defining innings.

2. Wriddhiman Saha gets to his 3rd Test century

The Bengal lad has matured immensely as a batsman in the international cricket over the past 68 months and has provided India with the much needed crucial innings when it mattered the most. He came to the crease with India 6 down and still needing more than 100 to wipe out Australia’s lead. He began with an exceptional cover drive off Pat Cummins and never looked back from there.

He grew in confidence and started taking on the Australian bowlers. He attacked the spinners on a consistent basis and demolished Lyon for a huge six over the midwicket boundary of Nathan Lyon just before the lunch interval. He went on and on and completed his century in the first over after tea. The wicket-keeper batsman was eventually dismissed by Steve O’Keefe on 117 when he attempted a big shot.

3.  India get all their reviews right

For the first time in the series, the hosts got two reviews correct in a short span of time which helped them pile the agony on the visitors. First, it was Wriddhiman Saha who got a reprieve when Pat Cummins trapped him in front with an inswing delivery. The onfield umpire went in favour of the visitors but he had to overturn his decision as replays showed the ball would have clearly missed the leg stump.

In the same session, Pujara too was given out by the onfield umpire of Nathan Lyon. The ball turned sharply and struck him right in front. India went upstairs and the replays yet again showed that the ball would have missed the stumps by a considerable margin. On the other hand, Australia got all their reviews wrong throughout the day’s play.

Watch: Ravindra Jadeja brings back his sword celebration:

Jadeja’s brings back his sword celebration. #INDvAUS

(Video – Star Sports) pic.twitter.com/Vk6G4MLzyN

— Sai Kishore (@DivingSlip) March 19, 2017

4. Steve O’Keefe bowls the most overs by an Australian in India

Left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe who had an exceptional outing in Pune was found wanting in Ranchi as he found it extremely difficult to produce the wicket taking balls on an unresponsive pitch. Unlike Jadeja, he is much slower through the air which went against the left-arm spinner. Despite his inability, he toiled hard and bowled as many as 77 overs in their long vigil.

The left-arm spinner had finally something to cheer about when he dismissed centurion Wriddhiman Saha as the wicket keeper batsman went for the big shots. The tweaker eventually finished with figures of 3/199 in 77 overs.

5. Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round display derails Australia

Ravindra Jadeja was all over Australia with both bat and ball in his hand. After a brilliant partnership from Pujara and Saha, Jadeja played some attacking shots en route to his quickfire half-century which enabled India to cross the 600 mark and take their lead beyond 150. His innings of 54 came in 55 deliveries with 5 fours and 2 hits over the fence.

With the ball in hand, the No.1 Test bowler bagged 2 wickets in 3.2 overs which put the Australians on the back foot. First, he breached through David Warner’s defence with an exceptional delivery. The ball pitched on the rough and turned sharply to take the top of off stump. In the final over of the day, he castled nightwatchman Nathan Lyon with a similar sort of a delivery. The ball pitched on the middle and leg and turned sharply to take the top of off. He ended Day 4 with figures of 2/6 in 3.2 overs.

The ball pitched on the rough and turned sharply to take the top of off stump. In the final over of the day, he castled nightwatchman Nathan Lyon with a similar sort of a delivery. The ball pitched on the middle and leg and turned sharply to take the top of off. He ended Day 4 with figures of 2/6 in 3.2 overs.