Ajinkya Rahane surprised a lot of viewers including former India and Australia cricketers when he did not give the ball to debutant seamer Mohammed Siraj in the first session of the Boxing Day Test at MCG against Australia and instead operated with spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja from both ends towards the end of the morning session.
India are playing with three seamers-Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, and Debutant Mohammed Siraj- including two spinners- R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ideally, everybody thought that the first session will be covered at the strong end with three pacers bowling alternatively and R Ashwin to apin it from another end.
IND vs AUS: Ajinkya Rahane’s decisions fell in place
Captain Ajinkya Rahane had different plans in mind where he introduced Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin in the very first session of Day 1 which resulted in two big wickets including lethal Steven Smith who departed for a duck off Ashwin. Ravindra Jadeja explained the strategy behind the India stand-in captain’s decision.
Jadeja said he wasn’t expecting to be introduced into the attack that early on Day 1 but Rahane threw him the ball after seeing the purchase on offer for Ashwin.
“Bowlers were spot on (on Day 1), they were getting wickets in every interval. The wicket was damp, the ball was turning so Ajinkya Rahane threw the ball told me to get ready and bowl a few overs before lunch,” said Jadeja on the pre-match show on Sony Sports Network ahead of the second day’s play.
Different Approach From Rahane’s Captaincy As He Started Debutant Siraj Post 1st Session
Rahane sprang in another surprise when he started with debutant Siraj after lunch. The tall Hyderabad pacer did not start well but came back strong in his second spell removing Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green to hand India the advantage even on the second session. Siraj bowled beautifully inside outs and was a constant threat for Australians.
India bowled Australia out for 195 despite losing the toss. Indian bowlers were constantly putting pressure on batsmen. Jasprit Bumrah ended with four wickets, and Ashwin sneered three. Steven smith knocks are been missing in this test for Australia to get going. India now have 82 runs lead with the help of captain Ajinkya Rahane leading from the front with his hundred.
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