Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin were the stars as they took four and three wickets respectively to bowl Australia out for 195 against India.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat against India in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India were under a new captain in Ajinkya Rahane while Ravindra Jadeja was handed a debut. Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill were included in the team for their debut while Rishabh Pant became the keeper in place of Wriddhiman Saha. On a placid batting track and with India reeling from the scars of their 36 all out in Adelaide. However, Ajinkya Rahane's wonderful captaincy got India the upper hand on an exciting day in Melbourne.
Jasprit Bumrah was the star with four wickets and he accounted for a dangerous partnership as well as the tail. However, it was Ravichandran Ashwin who struck a big blow as he dismissed Steve Smith for 0. It was Ashwin's wicket of Smith that galvanised India and after he had gotten the wicket of Australia skipper Tim Paine, Australia never seized the initiative. Mohammed Siraj bowled well to take two wickets, with the big one being of Marnus Labuschagne. Although India lost the wicket of Mayank Agarwal for 0, Shubman Gill played some confident strokes and India ended the day in a much better position as compared to Adelaide.
1. R Ashwin removes Smith
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Australia won the toss and chose to bat in Melbourne. India, though, started brilliantly with Jasprit Bumrah taking the wicket of Joe Burns for 0. Matthew Wade struck some good blows but R Ashwin got the wicket of Wade for 30. However, the offspinner had the massive wicket when he dismissed Steve Smith for the second time in the series. Smith fell for 0 and his scores in the series. so far were 1,1* and 0. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)
2. Jasprit Bumrah strikes
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Jasprit Bumrah had removed Joe Burns and was regularly troubling the batsmen. Bumrah's spell ensured Australia could not get away and release the pressure. It was Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head that stabilised Australia to a certain extent. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)
3. Ravindra Jadeja Shubman Gill
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Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill almost collided as Ravindra Jadeja took the catch despite colliding with Gill. Wade was key with his attacking strokeplay but he fell for 30. It was a magnificent display of fielding from India and they dropped fewer catches as compared to Adelaide. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)
4. Jasprit Bumrah four wickets
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Jasprit Bumrah broke the stand between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne as Head was dismissed. However, Mohammed Siraj got the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne and India were in control. Labuschagne's wicket was the key as Jasprit Bumrah ended with four wickets. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)
5. R Ashwin Siraj
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Mohammed Siraj and R Ashwin took the remaining wickets as Australia were bowled out for 195. In response, India lost Mayank Agarwal cheaply to Mitchell Starc but Shubman Gill ended the day with some positive strokes as India ended on 36/1, trailing by 159 runs. (Image credit: BCCI Twitter handle)
