Lunch India 72 for 2 (Rahul 48*) v Australia
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Mitchell Starc removed Abhinav Mukund in the third over of the day © AFP
Test matches are a bit like long cons, in that the future often dictates the actions taken in the present. Both India and Australia were extremely conscious of the dangers of falling behind too early in Bengaluru, where the pitch is likely to change character far more gradually than the one in Pune. For the first couple of days, it is expected to be good for batting and the way KL Rahul went about his business making 48 not out, it was apparent his team knew they had to make the bulk of the runs in such conditions. One session in, India have 72 on the board, but they have also lost their best man capable of playing time – Cheteshwar Pujara.
The wicket also signalled lunch and Australia went to the break quite buoyant. They have to deal with a longer batting line-up, but have so far shown that they have the discipline to not be fazed by that. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were in prime form with the new ball. Six of the first 12 overs on Saturday were maidens, the result of just enough movement in the air and off the pitch and equally importantly their lines, ever so tight around the off stump. Abhinav Mukund, the 27-year-old opener playing his first Test in over five years, was done for an eight-ball duck within the first 15 minutes. His mistake was playing across the line of a low full toss on leg stump from Starc, which swung just enough, according to Hawk-Eye, to hit the leg stump.
The batsman shoulders most of the fault for a shot like that, but considering even Rahul was often lured into such positions at the crease, his head falling over, and his hands pushing out in front, the bowlers deserve credit too. Hazlewood, in particular, was excellent. He targeted middle stump and with the ability to get the ball to straighten, he was basically manoeuvring his opponent into the weakest positions. But this little con, however beautiful to watch, has so far been unsuccessful. Rahul was slowly being dragged across to off stump, hoping to be better balanced to play the outswinger, but then came the inswinger, messing up all his plans. He often had to adjust and block with soft hands and an open face, but through it all, he has persevered and the crowd building up at M Chinnaswamy stadium will be keen for a big one from their hometown boy.
Australia could have dashed those hopes in the 16th over, when Steve O’Keefe, proving he can be threatening even on a first-day pitch that wasn’t at all roughed up, deceived Rahul in flight even as he came down the track. With silly mid-off in play, the plan was working perfectly. And considering the fielder was Peter Handscomb, whose agility is already becoming legend, events from the first Test were happening all over again. Rahul, having put in the work, playing out the first hour, played a loose stroke but this time it didn’t result in a catch. The ball was going low to Handscomb’s left, his wrong side, and it was coming quickly at him. It was a very difficult grab.
While that was a spinner doing the batsman in the air, there was evidence that they could expect help off the surface as well. Nathan Lyon established that by having Pujara caught at short leg with the ball turning and bouncing sharply. It wasn’t the only incident of the offspinner getting some bite off the surface and that should tell both teams that first-innings runs are rather important. India chose six batsmen and a wicketkeeper for Bengaluru, prompted to do so perhaps because they totalled only 212 runs in Pune. Karun Nair, who had his parents watching him in Chennai when he struck 303 not out against England in December, returned as the second hometown boy in the XI. Australia were unchanged from the first XI, aware that if they win this Test, they will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo