The calculated risk of opting for a turner in the series-opener against Australia is set to backfire on India, thus putting the host in danger of seeing its 19-match unbeaten streak come to an end. India’s capitulation to Australia’s disciplined attack — unexpectedly led by left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe — first let the visitors snatch the advantage in the afternoon. Captain Steve Smith, let off in the field thrice, then ensured Australia firm grip on the opening Test, ending the day with a 298-run advantage at the end of the second day’s play.
With the pitch deteriorating as rapidly as the speed of zooming cars just behind the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium at Gahunje, it will be a gargantuan task for Virat Kohli’s men to maintain their unbeaten run. India, however, would have only itself to blame if Australia moves to Bengaluru with a 1-0 lead.
After all, in a matter of just eight balls, India lost four wickets for just one run to the Australia spinners to change the course of the game. India folded up for just 105, losing its last seven wickets for a meagre 11 runs. O’Keefe, the weaker of the two Australia spinners, was rewarded for his consistency with a rich six-wicket haul.
Moment of madness
Three of those came in the same over, O’Keefe’s first after changing ends post lunch. K.L. Rahul undid his innings full of flair by inexplicably heaving one up in the air. Not only did the stroke dent India’s innings — which Rahul had resurrected along with Ajinkya Rahane after Mitchell Starc’s double blow in an over in the morning — but it also hurt his shoulder.
Two balls later, Rahane closed his bat too soon to one that held its line and Peter Handscomb lunged forward at second slip to hold an outstanding one-handed catch. Off the last ball of the over, Wriddhiman Saha was caught in no man’s land, offering Smith catching practice at first slip.
From 94 for three, India crumbled to 95 for six. And the tail couldn’t resist the onslaught, with O’Keefe eventually winding up the Indian innings with Umesh Yadav’s dismissal in the slips. His magical third spell had figures of 4.1-1-5-6.
Starc show
While O’Keefe hogged the limelight, Starc lived up to his billing by striking at the top. Opening the innings with O’Keefe, Starc posed questions with his raw pace and ability to pitch the ball in the right corridor in a fiery three-over spell.
The good work paved the way for M. Vijay to nick Josh Hazlewood in his opening over after replacing Starc, who got his rewards in his second spell.
In trying conditions and having lost Vijay early, the onus was on Cheteshwar Pujara to anchor India’s innings. But Starc bowled a snorter that rose sharply off good length and kissed Pujara’s gloves on the way to the ’keeper.
Two balls later, in an attempt to stamp his authority over Starc, Kohli attempted a drive off a wide one. It turned to be too wide and too quick for Kohli to time it, instead offering Handscomb a regulation catch in the cordon.
Dropped chances
As if the mistakes while batting, which resulted in India conceding a 155-run lead, were not enough, India dropped three catches — all off the willow of Smith. While Vijay spilled one at leg-slip off Ashwin with Smith on 23, Abhinav Mukund failed to snatch a one-handed diving chance at mid-on off Jadeja on 29 and a simple chance at forward short-leg off Ashwin with the batsman on 37.
Had India held any of those chances, Ashwin — who had struck twice with the new ball — and Ravindra Jadeja could well have run through the side. Instead, India is staring down the barrel just two days into the five-day match.
