LunchIndia 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 14 overs on Saturday were maidens, the result of their getting 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 HawkEye, to hit the leg stump.
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Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo