Virat's love affair with Adelaide, a knock on his helmet & India's batting dominance..
The Australians decided to declare overnight on a score of 517 and it meant that the Indians were now left with a stern test of achieving a target of 318 runs to avoid follow on. The Indian batting in the last few test matches had failed to score 300 in the 1st innings of an overseas series. They began in a positive manner with Dhawan getting of to a flyer and Vijay steading the ship at the other end. Ryan Harris got better of Dhawan with a ball that did nothing and it was the batsman's mistake completely. In came Cheteshwar Pujara and got settled quickly with Vijay who was looking ominous at the other end. They stitched a 81 run partnership but could not take their side till the lunch as Vijay fell to a much planned trap by Mitchell Johnson. Captain Kohli joined the crease with Australians sensing a slight opening into the young inexperienced Indian batting. Virat was hit on his helmet by a Johnson bouncer and there was a moment of softness that soon followed. For people in the ground and those watching on the TV sets, it was one of those moments which they feared would lead to unfortunate circumstances. To their relief, Virat was firm and confident and every single Australian player had approached Virat to check if he was alright; it was a classic example of how a certain loss of your closed one can bring two opponents close considering that they were playing merely a sport and that each one's life meant a lot more than the result of the game.
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| Virat Kohli celebrates his hundred on captaincy debut |
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| That moment when Johnson's bouncer hit Kohli on his helmet first ball |
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| The Australian team gathered near Virat after a blow on his helmet |
The blow came as an eye opener for Virat and he meandered his way to consolidate India's position in the game. Nathan Lyon with his immaculate line and length troubled the opposition and looked the only bowler who could pick a wicket in every over that he bowled. He managed to knock over Pujara with a delivery that turned and bounced only to sneak in between Pujara's legs on to the stumps. At 192/3, India were placed in a tight spot and the onus was on Virat to shepherd Rahane for a few overs to come. Rahane looked dodgy but held his own to support his captain. Virat on the other end was playing a sublime knock and he soon reached his hundred making him only the fourth Indian to score a century on his captaincy debut. It was his second hundred at the Adelaide following the one which came in the 2011-12 tour.
Soon after, Rahane was dismissed after scoring a scratchy half century to a Lyon delivery that was unplayable and bounced from the footholds to take his gloves and land in Watson's safe hands. The second new ball meant that the runs came swiftly for the Indians and that Rohit Sharma seemed to continue his good form from his record breaking knock of 264 in ODIs. It was time for a last go at the Indian batsmen and Captain Clarke got back Johnson with 6 overs to go. Johnson bounced Virat a few times and was eventually successful in getting him out of a mistimed hook that went straight into the bucket hands of Harris at deep square leg. Saha was kept at bay by Johnson and Indians ended the day with 369/5. It was a good day for the Indian batting and once again, the bat had dominated the ball outrageously. India need to come within a striking distance of the Australian target in order to save the test match. As the history would reflect, the game can take turns at Adelaide quite drastically than expected much as we saw in 2003 when India came from behind to win. As we go into the 4th day, it will be yet another test of character and temperament for the Indians and that they would need to win the next two sessions to save the test match.
Key for day 4: Rohit Sharma - W Saha partnership & the contribution of the lower order.
(Photo courtesy: ESPNcricinfo)
Day 4 review will be posted after 4 pm tomorrow.. Stay updated.. See you then..
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