Twitter Reacts As Ravindra Jadeja Leads India's Fightback on Day 2 Against Australia

By Yash Mittal

Updated - 08 Jan 2021, 02:14 PM

Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja (Credits: Twitter)

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Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s defiance ensured that India did not lose any more wickets after they suffered back-to-back blows in the form of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma late in the evening and finish the day at 2/96 after a brilliant bowling performance from Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah helped the visitors bowl Australia out for 338 on the second afternoon at the SCG.

The morning session once again proved to be a stop-start affair thanks to the typical Sydney weather. India started the day with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah consistently employing on the leg-side ploy against Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.

As a result, the runs proved to be difficult to come by. Mohammed Siraj was brilliant in his line and length, especially against Steve Smith, who was constantly troubled with the extra bounce. Just 22 runs came in the first 11 overs, however, Smith and Labuschage ensured that they equal to the task.

The duo soon went on to complete the 100-run-stand but just as it looked as if Labuschagne was warming for a three-figure score, he got dismissed against the run of play after he failed to punch Ravindra Jadeja off the backfoot as Ajinkya Rahane completed a sharp low catch.

Matthew Wade came out in T20 mode as he consistently attacked Jadeja by employing the sweep shot. With Hanuma Vihari putting his body on the line at short-leg, Wade couldn’t reap the rewards.

India, Australia
Matthew Wade [Image Credits; Fox Cricket]
As a result, his impatience grew at the crease, eventually leading to play a horrendous shot- an attempted flick across the line- similar to what he played during the first innings in Melbourne- to give Bumrah an easy catch at long-on.

Steve Smith, on the other hand, continued to look imperious and completely unfazed at the other end as he started dealing in fours soon after getting to his 30th half-century. Smith ensured that he stayed unbeaten at Lunch even as Australia lost yet another wicket in the form of Cameron Green, who registered a 21-ball duck thanks to a sharp nip-backer by Jasprit Bumrah on what proved to be the last ball of the morning session.

It was a perfect set-up from the champion fast bowler where he drew Green forward with a perfect delivery in the corridor of uncertainty before pushing him back further back with a bumper and then finally getting one to tail back in sharply with pace to beat the defense of the all-rounder.

India, Australia
Jasprit Bumrah [Image Credits: Twitter]
Bumrah continued with the set-up against Australian captain Tim Paine immediately after the Lunch break before getting one to jag back in to bamboozle his stumps.

Steve Smith proceeded to convert his start into a 27th Test ton but wickets continued to tumble at the other end as Jadeja knocked over Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon while Mohammed Siraj dismissed Mitchell Starc, who played an enterprising knock of 30-ball 24.

India, Australia, Steve Smith
Steve Smith (Credits: Twitter)

Steve Smith proved to be the last Australian wicket to fall thanks to the brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja, who came running from deep square-leg before nailing a direct throw, meaning Australia was eventually dismissed for 338 despite being 3-232 at one stage

India needed a strong start from its opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill and that is exactly what they got as the duo accumulated 70 runs in 26 overs.

This was India’s first 50+ opening partnership after 15 innings in overseas Tests.

India, Australia
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill [Image Credits; Twitter]
Shubman Gill once again looked a class apart while Rohit Sharma too looked quite comfortable during his 77-ball 26 before Josh Hazlewood ended his stay with a brilliant return catch. Gill, meanwhile, continued to impress with his imperious strokeplay which included nonchalant pulls, sumptuous backfoot punches, and inside-out cover-drive against Nathan Lyon.

The right-hander soon went on to compile his maiden Test fifty and in the process, he became the fourth-youngest Indian opener to score a 50 outside Asia.

But just as it looked like the young opener was looking prime for a big knock, Pat Cummins relentlessness outside the off-stump finally paid off as he induced an outside edge of his KKR teammates bat to land India second blow. But Rahane and Pujara’s defiance ensured that India for through the nervy last hour without the loss of any more wickets.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1347416991536177154?s=19

https://twitter.com/ArjunNamboo/status/1347429516679921664

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1347416991536177154

https://twitter.com/ArjunNamboo/status/1347429516679921664?s=19

https://twitter.com/Naveen99688812/status/1347392326637809667?s=09

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1347369214898823169?s=19

https://twitter.com/JasmineJSports/status/1347369518167855106?s=19

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1347354257721319425?s=19

https://twitter.com/im_yash2307/status/1347346799661510656?s=19

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1347346897716056067?s=19

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