The first match of the four-match Test series between India and Australia was played at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on February 9. The visitors faced an embarrassing loss in the opening match by an inning and 132 runs as they surrendered to the Indian spinners. There were so many talks about the Nagpur pitch by some of the ex-cricketers from Australia; they even claimed that the curators had doctored the pitch. But Indian batters performed really well with the bat while Australian batters failed to do anything of substance.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. Australian batters had a horrific start as they lost their openers in the first three overs of the first innings. Indian speedsters Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj gave India a brilliant start.
Later, the rest of the work was done by the spin-twins, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Jadeja who was making his comeback in an international match after 5 months, picked a brilliant fifer while Ashwin also picked 3 wickets to restrict the Kangaroos on the score just 177 runs in the first innings. Marnus Labuschagne was the highest run-scorer for the Aussies as he scored 49 runs.
Axar and Jadeja’s crucial 88-run partnership rescues India
Coming into bat, Indian skipper and opener Rohit Sharma started aggressively and ended up scoring a quick fifty at the end of day 1, however, they lost KL Rahul pretty early. On Day 2, Rohit converted his fifty into a majestic hundred, his first as a Test captain. Australian skipper got rid of Rohit with a beautiful delivery that scattered the off-stump. Australia were looking to make a comeback after breaking Rohit and Jadeja’s partnership.
Later, Axar joined Jadeja and both steadied the ship and put up a brilliant 88-run stand for the 8th wicket. Both scored half-centuries, however, debutant Todd Murphy dismissed Jadeja with a beautiful delivery. Shami came to bat at no. 10 and played a crucial knock of 37 runs which included 3 sixes and 2 fours and helped India to reach the 400-run mark. They ended their innings with 223-run lead over the visitors.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
?? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ?????
????
Hello Australia. #INDvsAUS #AUSvsIND #RohitSharma?#BGT2023 #ViratKohli?— Mann (@Irealmann) February 11, 2023
Jab bol raha tha Australia innings se haregi to log keh rahe the ki possible nahi hai. U can't win in India with just two batters, one of whom is touring Ind for the first time. #INDvsAUS #BGT #BorderGavaskarTrophy
— Kshitij Ojha (@Kshitij070) February 11, 2023
As per my resources:
Aus to bench all the left handers in the second test match
???#INDvsAUS— Naman?? (@NamanShah2607) February 11, 2023
Aussies can't play spin n they have the audacity to do ranting about pitch ??#INDvsAUS
— . (@Fledgling_ria) February 11, 2023
Ashwin eats left-handers for breakfast. @ashwinravi99 #Ashanna #INDvsAUS #Ashwin
— Santhosh bala (@santhoshbala699) February 11, 2023
Aus batsman To @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/c9d67jBzas
— ? (@Acp1095) February 11, 2023
Aussies home track merchants ?#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/1gyB8VXLE9
— KR Amit (@iamitamu) February 11, 2023
Ye Australia khel rhi h ya Bermuda?#INDvsAUS
— Prashant Singh (@Pksingh900) February 11, 2023
