The Third Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane has been plagued by rain, making it difficult for fans to watch. The weather has led to disputes regarding play. Amid these challenges, Australia was bowled out for 445 runs, with Jasprit Bumrah taking another impressive six-wicket haul. India then came out to bat but got off to a disappointing start, quickly reduced to 22/3. Key players like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were expected to provide stability at the crease, struggled to perform. In response to this situation, cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle shared his thoughts on the performance of the Indian batting lineup via his 'X' handle.
Jaiswal's Errors
Before the start of the innings, Jaiswal was seen practicing his flick shot in the outfield. This could be his strategy to counter Starc's swing, which consistently brings the ball back to left-handed batsmen. Jaiswal had an extended session practicing this shot, and as Starc approached to bowl, Jaiswal came down to bat.
The first ball was a length delivery that resulted in an outside edge for a boundary—a fortunate start for Jaiswal. However, on the next ball, Starc bowled a half-volley on his pads, and Jaiswal flicked it directly into the hands of Mitchell Marsh. How ironic was this dismissal? It felt like a perfectly planned move by the Australian bowler to get Jaiswal out again in this series.
While Jaiswal's shot selection was good, placement is what truly matters, and unfortunately, he was dismissed for just 4 runs off 2 balls. His ongoing struggle with form continued as Mitchell Starc claimed another wicket in the first over.
The Outside Off Tradegy Continues…
With India down early by one wicket, Shubman Gill made his way to the crease. He knew the first few overs would be difficult, but he seemed to take the Australian bowlers lightly. After two balls—one he blocked and the other he took a single—Mitchell Starc bowled a full delivery outside off stump. Gill attempted to play an expansive drive through the covers but ended up edging the ball, which was comfortably caught by Mitchell Marsh at slips. This marked India's third wicket loss, with Gill's dismissive innings being characterized by impatience. Despite being an experienced campaigner in Australia, his wicket gave the opponents an easy break and put India on the back foot right away.
Next, it was Virat Kohli's turn to bat. As he came to the crease, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood targeted Kohli's weaknesses with a well-executed strategy. Although Virat faced a few deliveries before getting off the mark, he was kept under pressure. Starc bowled a mix of in-swingers and out-swingers, while Hazlewood maintained the same line but adjusted his length. This led to Kohli losing his wicket again to the outside off trap. It was surprising to see a batter of Kohli's caliber lose patience so quickly and attempt to play a shot outside his off stump, a common strategy by opponents. Hazlewood's delivery was slightly fuller, and Kohli was trapped as he headed back to the pavilion for just 3 runs off 16 balls, leaving India at 22/3. Soon after Kohli's dismissal, rain started to pour, and play was temporarily suspended.
After the rain break, Rishabh Pant came into bat, joining KL Rahul, who was playing a lone hand at the other end. Pant looked steady, finding gaps, but Pat Cummins had other plans. He trapped Pant with a good-length delivery that found the outside edge, which was collected by Alex Carey. This marked Pant's third dismissal in this series, mirroring those of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. Pant could have left the ball alone but chose to play the shot, resulting in yet another wicket as India lost its fourth at 44/4.
This reflects the current state of the Indian Test team, which often fails to adhere to their defensive instincts and ends up losing wickets too easily. This disappointment is perfectly captured by Harsha Bhogle's one-line tweet, echoing the frustration of Indian fans in this series.
