India vs Australia: Umesh Yadav equals Virat Kohli’s batting record, leaves behind Ravi Shastri

India’s batsmen put up a disappointing performance on the first day of the third Test against Australia in Indore as the hosts were bundled out for just 109 runs. Almost all the batsmen failed to get going against the Australian spinners, but Umesh Yadav added another run. A big milestone in his name. The fast bowler hit two massive sixes off Matthew Kuhnmann to equal Virat Kohli’s tally of 24 sixes in Test cricket. During the match, he also surpassed former head coach Ravi Shastri’s tally of 22 and currently stands at 17.^th List of Indian cricketers with most Test sixes. Overall, Virender Sehwag tops the list with 91 while MS Dhoni is second with 78.

Taking advantage of favorable conditions, left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnmann took his maiden five-wicket haul as Australia bundled out India for just 109 on Wednesday.

India’s aggressive approach on a badly turning track backfired as they succumbed in just 33.2 overs after opting to bat.

As in the previous two Tests, the pitch was expected to provide plenty of turn, but the ball’s turning square and low odds in the first hour of play came as a bit of a surprise.

Virat Kohli top-scored for India with 22 off 52 balls, while opener Shubman Gill, who replaced KL Rahul, contributed 21 runs.

After losing seven batsmen towards the end of the opening session, India could only add 25 more runs to their total with Kuhnmann (5/16), playing only his second Test, finishing with career-best figures in first-class cricket. .

Had it not been for Umesh Yadav’s 13-ball 17, India would have struggled to cross the 100-run mark. He ended with two sixes and a four, using the slog sweep effectively.

Kuhnmann trapped Umesh in front of the stumps to complete a memorable five-wicket haul. The run out of Mohammad Siraj along with Axar Patel ended the innings.

Usman Khawaja (33 off 77) and Marnus Labuschagne (16 off 51), who was out on a no-ball, batted well on a rank turner to take Australia to one wicket in 22 overs at tea on the first day. Wrapped up for 71 runs.

Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were expected to dominate the Australian batsmen more than they managed to. The only wicket that came India’s way was that of Travis Head (9), who missed a straight delivery from Jadeja leg before.

Jadeja forced Labuschagne to play on his stumps but he was guilty of bowling a no ball for the third time in the series.

Unlike the previous game, Australia were able to impose themselves in testing conditions. Both Khawaja and Labuschagne relied on their defense to counter the spinners. Ashwin bowled too much full in his nine-over spell.

It was a sign of desperation that India ended two of their three runs in the first 10 overs. Labuschagne got a second life after India didn’t review an LBW call off Ashwin. Earlier, Matthew Hayden on air called the black clay surface at Holkar Stadium a day-three pitch and it certainly behaved like one.

Three batsmen including skipper Rohit Sharma (12), Jadeja (4) and Shreyas Iyer (0) were killed trying to attack.

Kohli looked assured in the middle order before being dismissed lbw by Todd Murphy towards the end of the session. After winning the toss for the first time in the series, India decided to bat first as expected. Shubman Gill came in place of out-of-form KL Rahul, while Umesh Yadav came in place of Mohammed Shami.

After regaining match fitness, both Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green made it into Australia’s playing XI.

Starc’s first over to Rohit was the highlight of the morning session. Before the spinners took the Indian batting to task, Starc swung the ball and put the Indian skipper in trouble.

Rohit’s outside edge got weak on the very first ball but Australia didn’t take a review. Three balls later, Starc swings the ball back and flicks it off Rohit’s pads. Ball tracking showed that the ball would have hit the off stump but Australia again decided not to take DRS.

Gill faced Green from the other end and started his innings with a brilliant cover drive.

Spin was introduced in the sixth over and Kuhnmann got the ball to turn quickly. On the last ball of the over, Rohit came out to play across the line and was beaten in flight and clean stumped by Alex Carey.

Kuhnmann had Gill caught at first slip and the opener, offering forward defence, took a thick edge outside off.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s stay lasted only four balls as Lyon got a massive turn from wide off stump which crashed into the middle stump. The ball was low too and Pujara was found wanting on the back foot.

Jadeja’s fall reduced to 44 runs for four wickets.

After surviving a close DRS call, the right winger went on the attack against Lyon and was caught at short extra cover.

Kuhnmann got his third wicket of the morning when Iyer attempted a cut on his stumps and within the first hour of play India had lost half their team.

Kohli and KS Bharat shared a 26-run partnership for the sixth wicket before departing towards the end of the session.

Kohli was lbw to Murphy while attempting a flick, which pitched onto the off-stump and turned to hit the middle.

Bharath, who had hit Murphy for a six, was trapped leg before by Lyon while offering a long defensive stride.

(With PTI inputs)

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