The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is at its penultimate stage, with the third Test being played in Indore. India won the first comprehensively by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur, riding on stellar performances by Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel. Jadeja, Patel and Ashwin starred again in the second Test in Delhi, which India won by six wickets. However, the third Test started off disastrously for the hosts.
India could only manage 109 runs batting first on a tricky pitch in Indore. Virat Kohli, with 22, remained India’s highest scorer, followed by Shubman Gill, with 21, replacing the out-of-form KL Rahul for this game. Left-arm orthodox bowler Matthew Kuhnemann took five wickets as India had a taste of their own medicine – spin bowling. Nathan Lyon returned with three scalps while Todd Murphy picked up one, the crucial wicket of star batter Virat Kohli. Mohammed Siraj was the last man dismissed by Travis Head’s run-out.
India are chasing a spot in the final of the Test Championships
Although the hosts have achieved their first target of the series by retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead, they still have more significant targets in mind. A place in the final of the Global Test Championships to be played at the Oval between 7 and 11 June 2023 is prime among the targets for India.
The equation was to win the ongoing BGT series at least 3-0 or 3-1. However, based on India’s start in the ongoing third Test in Indore, it may be a little far-fetched to jump to conclusions right away. The final Test in Ahmedabad may still be decisive in the series and India’s fate regarding the Test Championships. Moreover, India are also chasing a third-straight Test series win against the Aussies after winning the last two BGT series in Australia.
Evidently, the men from down under have, time and again, given India a go for their money at home. This is their fourth lowest total at home since 2008 in Tests. Interestingly, other than the 76 all out against South Africa, the other three totals on the list have all come against Australia.
Here’s how fans reacted to India’s batting collapse:
What removing Kl Rahul from a team does to a team
— Mohammad Kaif?? (@KAIFu_bayad_) March 1, 2023
Still can't match 36 & 78 all-out under Chokli
— ` (@161Chepauk) March 1, 2023
Kohli highest scorer for India after ages in Test cricket. ?
— DK (@CricCrazyDK) March 1, 2023
This Indore pitch would have resulted in the Mahabharat war being over in 2 days instead of 18 days#IndvsAus #indorepitch
— ? (@SarcasticCowboy) March 1, 2023
Test matches we Test matches we
want to see: are seeing in India: pic.twitter.com/ZtMqN1Dbfd— Factos (@I_say_factos) March 1, 2023
India registered their 4th lowest total at home in the last 15 years
Meanwhile Indore pitch curator to Team India: pic.twitter.com/tqp7wJQqUL
— ? (@SarcasticCowboy) March 1, 2023
Me and my homies after selling 4th and 5th day test tickets to an x person saying bhai ye game bahut lambi chalega pic.twitter.com/RrK4htQX84
— jetha hitler ? (@baapofhollywood) March 1, 2023
And they were talking about home conditions ?
— Atif Awan (@atifaven) March 1, 2023
