India vs Australia - 3rd Test, Day 2: Talking Points

India locked horns with Australia on day 2 of the 3rd test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Nathan Lyon’s eight-wicket haul helped Australia bundle India out for 163 runs in the second innings. Australia will be needing 76 runs to win the game on their 2nd innings on Day 3 and take the series score line to 2-1. India will need a miracle from here to get over the line, there is an outside chance with the pitch playing the way it has in this test match. Jadeja and Ashwin will do the bulk of the bowling tomorrow and looks to get a highly unlikely victory.

Ashwin & Umesh bundle out the Aussies

Earlier in the day, in the 1st session play on Day 2, The Ashwin-Umesh combo worked in tandem to enforce an Aussie collapse. But Cameron Green and Peter Handscomb were successful in negotiating the Indian attack of Siraj, Jadeja, and Axar for the first hour. From 156-4, they went down to 197 within the first session. India was back in the game big time and now it was up to the batters to bail India out of this precarious situation. Australia ended their first innings with a lead of 88 runs and was still sitting in a comfortable position.

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India lost early wickets and Aussie broke the back of the batting lineup in the 2nd session.

Shubman Gill got out early post Lunch and the Indian skipper followed his path after costing a review to his side. Virat Kohli was the next one to depart as Kuhnemann got the better of the living Delhi-born. Jadeja, who was promoted up the order fail to show some spark and returned back to the pavilion at the cusp of Tea. The lower middle order was a total flop. The Men in Blue failed to thrust back from deep waters as Axar Patel was strangled with the tail after Pujara was trapped by Lyon at leg slip, courtesy of a stunning catch from Skipper Smith. It was Cheteshwar Pujara (59) who played a knock of supreme value. The Saurashtra batter kept his calm and kept on negotiating the spin attacks from Australia. Shreyas Iyer (26) showed some attacking intent with the bat but Steve Smith was quick enough to plan things accordingly and trap the Mumbaikar. 

India 163 all-out with a lead of just 75 runs

Mitchell Starc was brought back to clear the tail but Lyon reaped the rewards with the final wicket. The Indian innings was bundled up at 163 with Australia needing 76 runs to chase on the next day and Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowler for Australia in this match, he finished with eight wickets and has put Australia in a commanding position. Lyon has been the chief of the Australian attack and will next the next test high on confidence. Australia will need to chase 76 runs to help them get their first win of in the four-match series. India have a huge task ahead of them to bundle the visitors within 75 to emerge victorious, which is looking highly unlikely but you never know with this rank-turner in Indore.