Virat Kohli has failed. To turn a promising start into something significant, he was controversially dismissed by debutant Matthew Kuhnemann on Day 2 of the second Test between India and Australia in New Delhi. Batting on 44, Kohli appeared at ease at the crease, and when a spinner’s delivery smacked into his pads, he confidently went for the review despite the umpire raising his finger. The replays were inconclusive because it was difficult to determine whether the ball struck the bat or the pads. However, the third umpire decided to follow the decision of the on-field umpire. Kohli was seen watching the replays on the screen once he returned to the dressing room, and he, like the coaches, was unimpressed. However, there was no emotional outburst from the right-hander.
As the hosts struggled to 179 for seven at tea, Australian spinners led by the peerless Nathan Lyon strangled the star-studded Indian batting line-up. Lyon (5/41 in 20 overs) led Australia’s comeback with his 22nd five-wicket haul, exposing the Indian batters’ vulnerability against spin bowlers once more.
At the break, all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin (11 batting) and Axar Patel (28 batting) were attempting to stop the bleeding with a 40-run eighth-wicket stand. At tea, India trailed Australia’s first innings score of 263 by 84 runs.
Virat Kohli (44 off 84 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 74 balls) added 59 runs for the fifth wicket in the post-lunch session, but Todd Murphy (1/37 in 14 overs), in his second Test, and debutant left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann (1/64 in 20 overs) dismissed the duo in quick succession to put the visitors ahead.
Even though cracks have appeared to cause the ball to turn and jump, there are still no demons in the track. The difference between the Australian spin attack’s better performance in Nagpur would undoubtedly be the pace off the Kotla track.
Lyon and the two young spinners deserve credit for keeping the pressure on despite losing three referrals in the first hour of the second morning.
Kohli, who appeared composed and confident of a big one, would consider himself unlucky to have to return due to an umpire’s call.
Kuhnemann’s arm ball appeared to brush the leg-bail, and India’s No. 1 batter was visibly upset because there was no conclusive evidence as to whether the ball hit the pad or the bat first.
Previously, a Murphy slider had caught India’s most consistent Test batter, Ravindra Jadeja, in front.
KS Bharat (5), who hasn’t really looked the part in terms of batting, tried an ugly sweep and was caught by slip fielder Steve Smith, becoming Lyon’s fifth victim.
KL Rahul’s bad run continued in the morning session, while Cheteshwar Pujara had a forgettable first innings outing in his 100th Test.
Only skipper Rohit Sharma (32) looked in good form, as a vintage Lyon trounced the top-order repeatedly.
Lyon’s deliveries hurried the batters at times because the Kotla track had a bit more pace off the track than Jamtha. The bowler’s use of more air also raised questions in the minds of the batters.
There were four leg before decisions, all of which occurred when the batters were on the front foot.
Rahul (17), who had survived two DRS appeals from Australia, was caught leg-before when Lyon tossed one from around the wicket that deviated enough to find his pads.
Rahul’s run of failures continued, and it is now being questioned whether the Indian team management is being unfair by forcing Shubman Gill to sit in the dugout.
Rohit seemed to pick up where he left off in the first Test, and he was also using the sweep shot effectively. He did, however, play across the line to a straighter one from Lyon and was castled as a result.
Pujara has rarely walked into bat amid such adulation, with the 20,000-plus Kotla crowd chanting his name, but his milestone match was an anti-climax as he failed to trouble the scorers.
In Pujara’s case, it was another flighted delivery that turned back enough with the orthodox Rajkot man attempting a half-forward defensive stroke. The umpire raised his dreaded finger as a result of the turn.
Shreyas Iyer (4) looked confident in his brief appearance at the crease after returning from injury, but a stroke of bad luck brought him down.
He threw to the leg side, and Peter Handscomb latched on to a reflex catch that would not get stuck nine times out of ten. Handscomb actually fumbled, but the ball got stuck between his legs, allowing Iyer to see his back.
