
India and Australia have locked horns in the round two of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022-23. India defeated the visitors by an innings and 132 runs in the Nagpur Test and the action has now shifted to Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
A win here will help India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Notably, India need to beat Australia 3-0 or 3-1 to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 which will be played in June at Kennington Oval.
Australia lost 9 wickets for 52 runs and India chased a moderate target of 115 with ease. Cheteshwar Pujara scored the winning runs on his 100th Test match as the hosts secured a victory by 6 wickets.
With the win, India have gone 2-0 up in the series.
Nathan Lyon started in fantastic fashion for Australia as he struck multiple times in the first session. KL Rahul departed cheaply yet again, so did Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer. Rohit Sharma also fell after a decent start as India were 88/4 at Lunch on Day 2.
Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja started the rebuilding, but the latter fell to Todd Murphy. Kohli soon departed under controversial circumstances as debutant Matthew Kuhnemann picked his prized wicket. Srikar Bharat's awful shot ensured Lyon's 5th in the inning as India were tottering at 139/7. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel steadied the ship lower down the order for India as they finished at 179/7 at Tea.
Ashwin and Axar batted exquisitely post-Tea as India steered close to the Aussie total. India were bowled out for 262 runs.
Australia started off in an aggressive manner and are on 61/1 at the end of the second day's play.
Australia came up with a better batting performance in Delhi and managed to accumulate 263 runs after winning the toss. Had the likes of David Warner (15), Marnus Labuschagne (18) and Steve Smith (0) chipped in, Australia could have easily managed to pile up more than 300 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Labuschagne and Smith in a span of three deliveries. But credits to Usman Khawaja (81) for holding one end, and Peter Handscomb (72*) for getting involved in two fifty-plus partnerships. Australia captain Pat Cummins counterattacked for his 33 including three fours and two maximums.
The spin duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked three wickets apiece. Jadeja could have finished with four wickets but he dismissed Handscomb on a no-ball. Mohammed Shami grabbed the opportunity to bundle out Australia and end with figures of four for 60.
In reply, India did not lose any wicket in the nine overs they had to play on Day 1. On the third ball of the last over, Nathan Lyon and Australia appealed for a catch dismissal at short leg and the on-field umpire nodded in confirmation, however, the third-umpire overturned the decision after Rohit immediately reviewed the decision. India trail Australia by 242 runs at the end of Day 1.
Pujara goes over the top to seal it on his 100th Test. India complete another comprehensive victory as they win the 2nd Test by 6 wickets. Australia's capitulation in the 1st session was the telling blow as India go 2-0 up in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
KS Bharat moves to 22 with a fantastic six. India a hit away from victory.
KS Bharat has played two cracking drives as India cross the 100-run mark. Just 14 runs needed to win.
One shot too many for Shreyas. Tries to slog and finds deep mid-wicket. India lose their fourth as Iyer goes for 12 runs. India: 88/4, India need 27 runs to win.
Shreyas Iyer gets his first four. Punched off the backfoot and gets a boundary. He and Pujara have to see the next few overs through. India: 76/3
Todd Murphy has struck as Virat Kohli is gone. Kohli came down the ground but missed the ball completely, leading to him being stumped. India: 69/3
India need 56 runs to win. Virat Kohli becomes the fastest player to reach 25000 international runs. The Indian talisman has been an amazing servant to Indian cricket.
50 comes up for India. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are steering things in the right direction. The hosts need 65 runs to win. India: 50/2
Absolute catastrophe in running and Rohit Sharma is run out. Pujara was storming for the second while Rohit just stopped, in the end the Indian captain sacrificed his wicket. India: 39/2
Rohit Sharma steps out and clears the fence. Positive intent by the Indian captain. Fantastic Six! India: 25/1
India need 96 runs to win now. India: 19/1
Ravindra Jadeja joins unique list as five of his seven dismissals came via Bowled. The last bowler to do so was Shoaib Akhtar against New Zealand in Lahore in 2002. Anil Kumble was the only spinner to do so, as he rattled the stumps 5 times against South Africa in Johannesburg (1992).
Lunch: India: 14/1. India need 101 runs to win the Test match. KL Rahul has departed as Pujara and Rohit Sharma at the crease. India will breathe with a bit ease and hope to wrap things up by the next session. Australia need quick wickets after the break.
KL Rahul is gone! Very unlucky as the ball hits the pad of the forward short-leg fielder and skies, Alex Carey completes a simple catch then. That's how things happen when you are having a torrid period. India lose their first. India: 6/1
First Boundary for India in the second innings, comes off Rohit Sharma's bat. India: 6/0
India will be hoping to not make the mistakes that the Aussies made. They need 115 runs and sensible batting can win it with ease.
Jadeja finishes the final act with his 7th wicket. Kuhnemann's timber is disturbed as Australia bundle out for just 113 runs. India need 115 runs to win the match.
Jadeja gets his 6th wicket as Nathan Lyon cleaned up. Australia are on the brink of all out. Australia 113/9
Carey perishes while attempting a reverse sweep. Ravindra Jadeja gets his 5th wicket in the inning. Australia: 110/8
Double wicket maiden for Jadeja. Outstanding over, has tilted the game firmly towards India.
Nathan Lyon negotiates and survives the hat-trick ball. Australia have committed suicide today. Reckless batting to say the least, leading to their downfall.
Jadeja on a hattrick
Australia have lost their last four wickets in 11 balls.
Pat Cummins! This is inexplicable. Cummins gone now. He attempted a slog on his first ball, missed and Jadeja castles him. Australia: 95/7
Indian spinners again showing their utmost superiority against an Australian team. The sad story of Australia continues in India. It is looking increasingly likely that they will lose their final four quickly as well. They have lost their last 4 wickets in just 5 overs.
Handscomb falls now. Ravindra Jadeja strikes this time. Outside edge gobbled up by Virat Kohli at slip. Australia falling like a house of cards. Australia: 95/6
Brainless batting by Australia. In the name of playing shots, they are attempting some ridiculous shots and losing wickets. Lead is only 96 and if India can wrap up the tail, they can win it by today only.
Matt Renshaw departs as Ashwin is rattling the visitors yet again. Attempted sweep missed, struck absolute in front. Australia in deep trouble as they have lost half of their side. Australia: 95/5
Ravindra Jadeja cleans up Marnus Labuschagne as Australia lose their fourth wicket. Australia: 95/4
Smith is disappointed as his DRS didn't save him, but reckless shot to say the least that leads to his demise. Steve Smith, after a duck in the first innings, falls cheaply again with just 9 runs this time. India sniffing blood as they know a couple of more can open the floodgates.