If the first five sessions of the first Test match in Nagpur were about India’s superior individual quality over Australia’s sincere attempts, the final session of Day 2 and the entire Day 3 was about the disparity between the two sides under these conditions. India simply possessed far too many resources for Australia to constitute a threat. India defeated Australia by an inning and a 132-run victory for India, giving them a 1-0 lead in the four-match series that will determine the World Test Championship finalists.
When India was 240 for 7 at one point, the game was not that drastically skewed in their favor. However, an 88-run stand for the eighth wicket between Ravindra Jadeja (70) and Axar Patel (84), followed by a 52-run stand between Axar and Mohammed Shami (37) extended India’s first innings total to 400, giving them a massive 223-run lead.
Australia’s second innings was always going to be difficult, but the way they fell in only one session, being bowled out for 91 in 32.3 overs, would give their management nightmares. There were no true demons on the field, but it was enough for India’s clever spin attack led by Ashwin to annihilate the Australian batting outfit.
The off-spinner finished his 31st Test five-wicket haul. In an artful performance of spin-bowling on a third-day surface that offered turn and bounce, he dismissed all seven left-handers in Australia’s top seven.
With the new ball, Ashwin joined Shami and hit instantly. Usman Khawaja (5) was caught at slip while attempting a long cover drive. David Warner (10) survived a missed catch at slip but was shortly lbw.
In the interim, Jadeja lbw Marnus Labuschagne (17). Ashwin did the same to Matt Renshaw (2) two overs later, as Australia crumbled to 42-4 in 15.2 overs.
Smith offered some resistance, but Ashwin was relentless. Peter Handscomb (6) followed, also lbw. In 17.2 overs, Australia was reduced to 52-5.
Alex Carey (10) tried to reverse sweep his way out of trouble, but he was out lbw again as Ashwin finished his five-wicket haul.
Australia’s misery did not end when Ashwin stopped attacking. To make it 75-8, Pat Cummins (1) was caught behind off Jadeja, and Todd Murphy (2) was caught off Patel.
Shami (2-13) bowled Nathan Lyon (8) for a 30-minute delay in tea. Jadeja did bowl Smith off a no-ball, and the match went on for seven more deliveries.
To end Australia’s agony, Scott Boland (0) went out lbw to Shami.
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener, India had numerous heroes. On Day 2, Rohit Sharma hit a superb century, his eighth in this format and first as captain, making him the first Indian captain to score hundreds in all formats of the game.
Ravindra Jadeja delivered an outstanding effort with both bat and ball on his comeback to international cricket after a five-month absence. His 5/47 in the first innings helped Australia be dismissed for 177 after Pat Cummins won a key toss and chose to bat first.
The bat was then used by Axar Patel. He only took one wicket, but his 84-run knock at No.9 knocked Australia out of the game.
With the pitch in his favor, Ashwin unleashed his A-game in the second session on Saturday, taking apart Australia’s batting lineup.
The two teams will meet again in New Delhi on February 17 for the second Test match.
