India vs Australia 4th Test, Day 2 Highlights: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill Take India to 36/0 at Stumps After Australia Post 480

It was a testing day for both teams, Australia began the day’s play at 255/4, Usman Khawaja scored 180 runs, Green added 114 while Murphy also contributed 41 to take Australia to 480. Ravichandran Ashwin took a six-wicket haul after which Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill took India to 36/0 at stumps, as they trail Australia by 444 runs.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill keep India steady at 36/0 at stumps on Day 2, in reply to Australia’s mammoth 480-run total from their first inning. Gill has scored 18*, Rohit at 17, that’s curtain on a brilliant day of cricketing action between these sides.

The ball dispatched by Gill in the stands has strangled somewhere near the side screen, one of the fans from the crowd went in to search for the ball and he comes out with the ball treated with a huge cheer from the fans.

Gill steps out and goes down the park, delivering one into the stands from over the bowler’s head. Gill find his radar, sees the ball and executes a brilliant shot. India 34/0 after 9.2 overs.

Good patient start from India, both openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill want to return not out and they’re playing in that manner. 2 runs from Kuhnemann’s over, India 28/0 after 9 overs. Just one more over remaining ahead of Stumps on Day 2.

Kuhnemann and Lyon pair are now back at it. Smith has decided to try and tempt the resolve of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. So far, the Indian openers have not been troubled much. Just a solitary run from Kuhnemann’s over to begin with. Another good disciplined over from Lyon, India 26/0 after 8 overs.

Proactive captaincy from Steve Smith, he’s replaced Green with Nathan Lyon who has already dismissed Rohit Sharma on a couple of occasions. He beats the Indian skipper with his first ball, and Rohit goes after him on the second ball, that travelled in the air and goes towards the boundary. 5 runs from the over, India 24/0 after 6 overs.

So far this has been an interesting battle between Cameron Green and Shubman Gill. The Indian batter has looked good with his defence so far. Meanwhile, Starc has been looking to challenge Rohit Sharma. The Indian skipper slashes one towards mid-off but there’s a fielder there, just a single. Australia 19/0 after 4.3 overs.

A maiden over from Starc, Rohit and Gill taking a cautious approach so far, they know this is going to be a very gruelling chase, thus looking to find their rhythm. It will be key that India do not lose a wicket today. India 16/0 after 3.1 overs.

Shubman Gill since replacing KL Rahul has yet to leave a mark. This inning, with India needing 480 runs to surpass Australia’s total could use some of that class of Gill. He smacks a boundary against Green, just 7 runs from Green’s over, India 14/0 after 2 overs.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill come out to overcome Australia’s mountain total of 480. After two singles, Rohit hits Starc for a boundary towards deep mid-wicket. Promising start, India 7/0 after 1 over.

Australia have put up a total of 480 runs in their first innings, many valuable contributions, it was a gritty display from the visitors. India will have to play out of their skins to surpass this mountain of a total and take a lead then, but first they must see out Day 2 without losing any wickets. That should be the plan.

Ashwin completes his six-wicket haul, gets Lyon to edge the ball into Virat Kohli’s hands and Australia’s stubborn first innings comes to an end at 480. Usman Khawaja scored 180, Green added 114 and then Lyon as well as Murphy took Australia further away.

Ravichandran Ashwin smiles after getting Murphy, India need just one more wicket now and Kuhnemann joins Lyon in the middle. Ashwin writes his name in the history books, and edges closer to Lyon’s 113 all-time wickets tally in history of Border Gavaskar Trophy. Also, he has the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket in India.

Ravichandran Ashwin gets Murphy plumb in front of the stumps, the Aussie batter seems to be walking away, having opted for a DRS first, the replays show three reds and that’s the end of a valiant counterattacking knock of 41 runs from Murphy. Australia 479/9 after 165.2.

India have taken the third new ball, this happens very rarely, has happened only once in the past decade at home. Rohit goes to Shami although Lyon and Murphy both look very settled. Later in the over he played a sublime shot over Shami’s head, followed by a graceful pull shot to make it two boundaries and 11 runs from just 4 balls.

Australia 475/8 after 164.4

For India to seal their place in the WTC final, they must win this ongoing fourth Test. If this match ends in a draw, or Australia win, then India’s fate in lie in Sri Lanka’s hands, who have to win their ongoing Test series against New Zealand by 2-0 to pip India and seal a place in the final of WTC.

The partnership between Murphy and Lyon has blossomed into an important one, every run they add will put India under more and more pressure. They might as well be thinking about the 500-run mark. Meanwhile, Axar is back in attack, just a solitary run from the over, Australia 463/8 after 163 overs.

So far in this Border Gavaskar Trophy, India’s lower order had made meaningful contributions but now Lyon and Murphy are proving to be a thorn for India. Murphy is closing in on his fifty, Australia 459/8 after 161 overs.

450 up for Australia, the partnership between Murphy and Lyon is closing in on a fifty, meanwhile Jadeja is back in the attack and a huge shout by Indian players for a catch but it fell short perhaps, Iyer not interested, just like the umpire.

Australia 452/8 after 158 overs