India vs Australia - 4th Test, Day 4: Talking Points

Virat Kohli plays a brilliant knock

Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli resumed the day for India with the former getting out cheaply within the first hour. Kohli hung around from one end and had the support of KS Bharat who looked as neat as it ever could be. The duo glued 84 runs together and narrowed down the trail. Bharat was ultimately dismissed by Lyon, six runs short of his half-century. He was present while Kohli was grinding for his 75th Test century but returned back to the pavilion at the brink of his former skippers’ milestone. Virat Kohli was brilliant with bat in hand and kept chipping away with runs, he got this century and looked solid in the first session of the day, putting India in a secure position in the game.

Axar Patel’s quick-fire half-century alongside Virat’s brilliance extended the lead

Axar Patel followed and anchored the innings well while Kohli switched gears with time. As soon as Axar reached his half-century, he started to take on the Aussie bowlers. There was a barrage of slog sweeps from the southpaw and the tag team boosted the total past the 500 mark, thereby securing the lead. The 162 runs partnership between Kohli and Axar was dismissed after Mitchell Starc got to reverse the second old ball. The all-rounder dragged one length delivery back into the stumps and saw his departure for 79 off 113 balls. India had got a lead by this time and any runs added by the tail were going to be a bonus.

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The Indian tail failed to contribute with bat

India was 555-5 and soon they lost four wickets scoring just 16 runs. Ashwin failed to assist his former skipper and Umesh Yadav went for a diamond duck via a run-out. It was Kohli at the end who had to go for the aerial shots and the open field setting helped Steve Smith to put the icing on the all-out folding. With a trail of 91 runs in mind, Australia came out to bat for six overs. Surprisingly, it was Matthew Kuhnemann who was sent up to open alongside Travis Head. Usman Khawaja was injured but Australia’s tactic to send a nightwatchman to open was successful in negating the Indian attack. Australia ended day 4 with 3 runs on the board and trailing by 88 runs. Matthew Khunemann and Head are still at the crease and will look to Australia to a good start in the first session tomorrow.