INDIA NEEDS TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME AT THE CREASE TOMORROW: GAVASKAR

India struggles after top scorer Yashasvi Jaiswal run out

Yashasvi Jaiswal in action.

Khel Today Bureau

New Delhi: Indian cricket team is struggling in the Boxing Day 4th Test match against host Australia. At the end of second day’s play, India were 164 for 5 in the first innings, trail by 310 runs as Australia have scored 474 runs in the first innings. At stumps, Rishab Pant (6)and Ravindra Jadeja (4) were at the crease. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) was top scorer for India. Virat kohli (36) and KL Rahul (24) also contributed. Australian captain Pat Cummins and Scott Boland took two wickets each.

Post the second day’s play Speaking exclusively on Star Sports, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar and former Australian coach Justin Langer shared their insights on the day’s action.

Sunil Gavaskar.

Sunil Gavaskar on what India can do tomorrow and what Australia’s plans could be:“Jadeja batted really well at Gabba, so he needs to bring in the same application here as well. Pant is the kind of player who we know can take the game apart. So we need another—India needs another 100-plus partnership. It’s not just about saving the follow-on. India needs to spend a little more time at the crease tomorrow. Even if they can take it till post-lunch, they give themselves a very good chance.

I think Nathan Lyon will come into play tomorrow. He hasn’t had much of a role to play in the entire series, but now, with what we saw from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja bowling, they were getting the ball to grip, turn, and maybe get a little more bounce as well. So Nathan Lyon will certainly enjoy bowling to the left-handers. There are three left-handers now, two at the crease, with Washington Sundar still to bat. He will probably be used a little more.

Clearly, India needs to put their heads down. Like I said, they have to try and take their first innings past lunch, maybe as close to tea as possible, and therefore get as close as possible to the Australian total. Australia will not give you the follow-on, make no mistake. Even if India falls short of 274, Australia will not give you the follow-on. They’ll want to bat you out of the game.”

Sunil Gavaskar on Jaiswal’s run-out:

“It would have been a quick run, and somebody like Virat Kohli would definitely have made it. But the thing was, he looked at the fielder. When you look at the fielder, when you turn, you’ve lost that vital second. And so naturally, you then think, ‘No, I want to be able to make it.’ Your balance is completely off. And it would have been a tight run. I think at that stage, why do you need to take a run that carries an element of risk? You’re batting well, runs are coming. At that stage, the risk was not really necessary. But it could have been completed only because Kohli is such a fantastic runner between the wickets.”

Justin Langer on Jaiswal’s run-out:

“I thought it was a risky run because Pat Cummins is a brilliant athlete. Even if he hadn’t picked it up, in the head of Pat Cummins, he would have gone for the non-striker. It would have been close, but I thought it was a risky run. At that stage of the game, there was no need for it. They were on top. They had it absolutely under control. As fast as he is, I thought it was too risky a run to take. I love seeing guys drop and run hard, but that was a risky run. I think that’s what Virat was saying.”

Day 3 promises more excitement as India looks to fight back while Australia aims to consolidate their position. Catch all the live action of the #ToughestRivalry tomorrow at 5:00 AM on the Star Sports Network.