IND vs AUS: Two wickets big achievement in first session of Ahmedabad Test, says Manjrekar

ind-vs-aus-ahmedabad-test-sanjay-manjrekar

After Australia lost just two wickets in the first session of the fourth Test, cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar opined that the Ahmedabad pitch is one from 1970s and 1980s and better suited for Test cricket.

He applauded India for taking two wickets in the first session on a batting-friendly wicket. Notably, Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed opener Travis Head and Mohammed Shami castled Marnus Labuschagne in the first session of the series-decider at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

"Two wickets in the first session on a wicket like this is a big achievement. There were not a lot of wicket-taking deliveries bowled by India. There was one bowled really well by Umesh Yadav, the catch was dropped," Manjrekar said during the Lunch break on Day 1 of the Ahmedabad Test.

"This pitch is now, like one we have not seen for a long, long time, so two wickets on what looks like a pitch from 70s or 80s, it is a good performance from India," Manjrekar added.

Further, former Australia opener Matthew Hayden predicted that the spinners would eventually get help but expressed uncertainty about the exact timing of it.

IND vs AUS: Hayden also gives his verdict on Ahmedabad pitch

"It's a shared session and it is a better pitch for Test match cricket. This will eventually turn and break up, the question is when. We have already seen Ashwin and Jadeja come into the game and even Axar Patel getting overs inside the first session of the game," Hayden said.

"Nice to see positive energy from Australian batters. This does not look like a 3rd or 4th day wicket on Day 1," Hayden added.

The first three pitches used in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy were tank turners where spinners dominated from the very first our of the match. All the three matches ended inside three days. India won the first two matches, while Australia thrashed India by nine wickets in Indore. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann picked five wickets in the first innings, while Nathan Lyon picked eight wickets in the second innings.

Australia have opted to bat first after winning the toss in Ahmedabad. India need to win the match to qualify for World Test Championship (WTC) final. If they lose, they will have to depend on the result between the matches between Australia and Sri Lanka.