India vs Australia Updates 1st Test Day 2: Rohit 15 runs away from century, IND trail AUS by 26 at Lunch
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are solid at the crease as India are 151 for 3 at lunch. Rohit Sharma had started the day with nightwatchman Ravichandran Ashwin, who was latter dismissed for 23 runs by Todd Murphy.
The spinner also dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara later in the innings. On Day 1, India had posted 77 for 1 after bundling out Australia for 177.
Ravindra Jadeja did bulk of the bowling, earning his 11th five-for (5 for 47) in 22 overs that helped India skittle Australia out for a paltry total after the visitors decided to take the first strike in the series-opener. Ravichandran Ashwin got 3 for 42 and in the process completed 450 wickets in Test cricket.
India maintain their Day 1 scoring rate at the start of Day 2 and their partnership was on 42 off 104 when the former fell to Todd Murphy. India had started the day on 77/1 and went past 100 within the first 10 overs of the day itself.
At the end of the first session of Day 2, Rohit is on 85 off 142 while Kohli has scored 12 off 25. The hosts will need these two to put up a strong stand to gain a significant lead after bowling out the opposition for a score of 177
on Day 1, although Australia would know that a couple of quick wickets could make things very interesting indeed. On Thursday, Ravindra Jadeja, who is playing his first international match since August last year, claimed five wickets as Australia were all out halfway through the third session. Jadeja ended with figures of 5/37 while Ashwin returned 3/42. Ashwin also became the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to go past 450 Test wickets in the process.
Earlier in the day, it was pacers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami who got the early blows, dismissing openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner respectively within the first four overs. Australia then avoided losing any more wickets in the first session thanks to Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. It was Jadeja who broke the stand on 82 off 202 balls by dismissing Labuschagne. He took another wicket off the very next ball and later dismissed Smith as well. Australia were then buoyed by a counter-attacking knock from wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
