India are far from winning the match in Brisbane. As the batters failed, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash deep combined to cover the shame of the follow-on. That brought smiles back to the faces of the team’s batters.
Akash Deep sent Australian captain Pat Cummins’ ball over the turf. And immediately in the dressing room, coach Gautam Gambhir and former captain Virat Kohli jumped up and shook hands. Current captain Rohit Sharma started clapping. The channel broadcasting the picture of the dressing room at that time can play it as a picture of India winning the match at any time. But India is far from winning the match in Brisbane. As the batters failed, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash together covered the shame of the follow-on. That brought smiles back to the faces of the team’s batters.
Australia scored 445 runs in the first innings. India needed to score 246 runs to save the follow-on. Gambhir’s excitement showed that that was the target of the Indian team. With Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Virat, Rohit not scoring runs, it was natural to give up hope of winning. Among the batters, only Lokesh Rahul scored runs. He got a new lease of life in Tests by getting a chance as an opener. However, if Steve Smith had not dropped the easy catch he gave at the beginning of the day, his name might have been in the book of shame. Rahul stopped for 84 runs to give Smith life. He was out after catching Smith.
Rahul showed that if you stay at the crease, runs will come. Taking risks will not. Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy followed his path. The two Indian all-rounders put on a 53-run partnership. The pair gave confidence to save the follow-on. But after Nitish was out for 16 runs off 61 balls, Jadeja was likely to be left without a partner. The way Siraj was running out at the crease to take runs in a ridiculous manner, it was difficult to trust him. He was out for 1 run off 11 balls. Jadeja was also out for 77 runs. Unable to handle Pat Cummins’ bouncer, he gave away a wicket. India still had 33 runs left to save the follow-on. Which seemed impossible.
Bumrah and Akash made the impossible possible. Although the captain failed with the bat, vice-captain Bumrah continues to give the team confidence with bat and ball. He took 6 wickets in Australia’s innings. He also played a big role in saving the follow-on with the bat. At the end of the third day, Bumrah reminded a journalist that he can bat. On the fourth day, he showed it in action. At the end of the day, Bumrah was unbeaten on 10 runs from 27 balls. He remained unbeaten after handling Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Cummins. And Akash accompanied him He was also unbeaten on 27 runs from 31 balls. India will play its first innings on Wednesday morning. Which seemed impossible at one point on Tuesday. Bumrah and Akash hit a six each. Akash also hit two fours.
Virat gifted one of his bats to Akash. Since then, Akash has been playing with that bat. He did the same on Tuesday too. He scored runs with that bat. While Bumrah and he were batting, Virat sent Abhimanyu Ishwaran from the dressing room to say something. Maybe he sent him to play with singles. Not to rush. Rohit, while Virat is batting, coach Gambhir should also send someone to remind him of these words sometimes. If only the Indian batsmen make the right shot selections.
Akash and Bumrah have brought joy back to the dressing room with the bat. If the shoulders that were bent on Monday morning are strengthened again, then India will benefit. Wednesday is the last day of the match. Australia will get a big lead against India, who are trailing by 193 runs. However, it may not be possible to win the match. Because it will be difficult to take 10 wickets in India’s second innings in a rain-affected match. Even if Virat and Rohit get out early, it can be said that Bumrah and Akash will not give up easily.
