The third test match between India and Australia has finally come alive on the third day with a total of 15 wickets falling in the course of the day after two days in which only 7 wickets fell. The visitors managed to secure a lead of 292 runs in the first innings after an exceptional display of fast bowling by Jasprit Bumrah ensured that the hosts could only make it past the 150 run mark before being bundled out at the MCG.
The Indian fast bowler, playing only his 10th test, registered figures of 6/33 on a pitch where the hosts toiled for close to 170 overs to pick only seven wickets. Indian skipper Virat Kohli however decided not to enforce the follow-on despite the mammoth first innings lead, taking everyone by surprise. Openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal started off well for the visitors but it was Cummins once again who bagged the opening wicket for Australia, dismissing Vihari with a well directed short delivery for the second time in the test match.
The dismissal of Vihari triggered a collapse as stalwarts Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma were dismissed for scores of 0,0,1 and 3. Cummins emerged as the biggest threat for India on a deteriorating Melbourne wicket, varying his lengths cleverly and reaping rewards for the same. Pujara and Kohli were both dismissed for ducks and were dismissed in an identical manner by the right arm pacer, who ended the day with figures of 4/10 having bowled only six overs.
It was one of the rare occasions when both Pujara and Kohli both failed to anchor the innings and fell for the leg side trap set by Tim Paine. The collapse from India in the second innings however stirred mixed reactions from fans on Twitter. While some felt that the duo being dismissed for ducks was one of the rarest things to happen, others felt that it was definitely a moral victory on part of the Australian cricket team.
Here are some of the reactions :
Pujara flicks and out for Duck!
Kohli flicks and out for Duck!
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) December 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheAjayTarak/status/1078532681078530048
https://twitter.com/Disturbedsoul1/status/1078533375453945857
https://twitter.com/rakmakmakk/status/1078537036951359489
Well, well, well…..Cummins might be making a declaration redundant…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 28, 2018
