Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023

He has been struggling to get big scores in Test cricket in the recent past as the star batter has not gone past 50 in the longest format in his last 15 innings. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli has managed just 111 runs across 5 innings. There seems to be nothing majorly wrong with the technical point of view.

On Day One of the Test, India lost even wickets in the first session after electing to bat first, as Matthew Kuhnemann ran through to pick his maiden five-wicket haul as they were bowled out for meagre 109. When you lose a Test match, there's a lot of things that didn't go our way. To start with, we didn't bat well in the first innings.

For India, top-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara stood tall with a valiant 59 off 142 balls in the second innings, through his precise footwork and judicious shot selection on a difficult pitch. But rest of the batters, barring Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin to some extent, couldn't step up, as Lyon finished with 8/64 and giving a target of 76 for Australia to make the series scoreline 2-1 on day three.

It was a session where India lost four wickets, but with Pujara looking impressive at the crease and negotiating turn plus bounce. He holds the key for the hosts' to take a lead in the final session. The afternoon session began with off-spinner Nathan Lyon striking in the very first over, as Shubman Gill danced down the pitch for an expansive slog. But the right-handed opener missed the delivery as it turned to go through the gate and smash the stumps.

Though the visitors' fell short of 200 by only three runs, they still had a healthy lead of 88 runs. The first hour of day two belonged to Australia as India were unable to make breakthroughs in 16 overs. But after the drinks break, things turned dramatically as Umesh and Ashwin took 3/12 and 3/44 respectively as Australia lost their last six wickets for just 11 runs in 28 balls.

The first hour of the morning session belonged to Australia as India were unable to make breakthroughs in 16 overs. But after the drinks break, things turned dramatically in the second hour as Umesh and Ashwin took 3/12 and 3/44 respectively. While Umesh was efficient with his exhibition of reverse swing and reached 100 Test wickets at home, Ashwin was able to extract turn, and use it with flight to trigger an Australian batting meltdown, as they lost their last six wickets for just 11 runs in 28 balls.

In what was the best day for Australia on the ongoing tour, Kuhnemann ran through India's batting order, taking 5/16 in his nine overs on a pitch which had sharp turn and variable bounce. Nathan Lyon picked up three wickets while Todd Murphy took out Virat Kohli as India were bundled out for just 109.

Australia still trails India by 38 runs after left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann took his maiden five-fer in Test cricket to bowl out the hosts for 109 all out on a pitch offering sharp turn and low bounce to spinners. Coming out to bat, India had success instantly as Ravindra Jadeja trapped Travis Head lbw in his first over, with the left-handed batter given out on review. Jadeja had Labuschagne clean bowled for duck, but replays showed it as no-ball.

After India won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry pitch, frenetic play followed, where every ball was literally an event as the ball turned big apart from variable bounce coming into play. The opening over produced exciting action, as a returning Mitchell Starc produced a faint edge off Rohit Sharma, but Australia didn't take the review. Replays later showed it could have been a wicket for Australia if the review was taken.

Rahul's performance in the last 10 Tests has been very underwhelming and despite the backing from head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, it is evident that his spot in the playing XI for third Test is doubtful after he was removed as vice-captain recently.