Final thoughts
This Test just sumps up how difficult it is to beat India in India. It is a bit like Rafael Nadal at his best on clay. There are no easy points. You can have everything going for you: win the toss, post the runs, have India at 139 for 7, then run away to a great start in the second innings, but still India will keep throwing punches back at you. The depth in their batting and their bowling is incredible.
Australia definitely missed Hazlewood, Starc and Green, but they still had a lot going for them. It is just that India had more quality and more depth in their ranks. See you in the next Test then.
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Implications
This Test win has big implications. Here are two of them
1 India have retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They have now win it four times in a row.
2 India are all but through to the WTC final. Even if they lose the final two Tests, Sri Lanka will have to win 2-0 in New Zealand to deny India the final.
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Pujara hits one in the air
R Ashwin and batting coach Vikram Rathour will do well to observe Cheteshwar Pujara has done what they have been begging him to do. Hit a spinner in the air after stepping out. Twice in fact. The second of those has brought India the winning runs.
Pujara played the perfect anchor for others to bat breezily. KS Bharat was the final act in that with 23 off 22. It will give the young wicketkeeper a lot of confidence.
This ends the Test. Here is a teaser from our report
This is what a Test on steroids looks like. Australia started the day effectively 62 for 1, had India worried as they raced to 86 for 2, then lost their last eight wickets for 28 runs, and India went on to win a Test that seemed lost on more than one occasion, retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the process. Ravindra Jadeja registered his best Test figures, 7 for 42, and his second 10-wicket match haul; the other three wickets went to R Ashwin, who had looked more threatening when Australia were running away with the game.
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Iyer falls now
This Test match refuses to die down in interest. Shreyas Iyer comes out, scores a few quick runs including a six, and then holes out to deep midwicket off Nathan Lyon. There is just too much grip in the surface to back yourself. But the idea is right. The more you nudge and prod on this pitch, the likelier you are to get out without having moved the scoreboard. Iyer added 19 off 20 with Pujara. India need 27 now.
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Kohli walks past one
This one will keep Australia interested. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara have looked good, scoring at a fair clip, chipping away at the target, but Todd Murphy has gone past Kohli. Bowling from round the wicket, he has Kohli stumped. Two pieces of deception here. Firstly making sure he keeps it away from Kohli's reach, which means he has to play a defensive shot. Then the ball pitches and keeps going with the angle. He is stumped. India 69 for 3. A 30-run stand comes to an end. India still need 46. This is not a done deal yet.
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Should Rohit have asserted himself?
Rohit Sharma has run himself out here after looking in pristine touch. He hits into the leg side, call for a second, Pujara responds, and Rohit then stops a third into the second run. Rohit realises he has made the mistake so doesn't quite back to make the crease, letting Pujara cross over. The question, though, is, should he have been a little selfish in the interest of the team? He is out for 31 off 20 having looked as good as any batter in this Test. Should he have just yeah my bad but it happens. Sorry Puji you have to go, let me see India through. Also the other question is, should Pujara have been more proactive and sacrificed himself? Which is to say, I know you have made a mistake Ro, but you are looking way better. Go on and win it for India. Mind you, it all has to happen instinctively in a fraction of a second.
In the end, Rohit is gone. India still need 76 with eight wickets in hand.
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India come out attacking
Welcome back after lunch. India have hit three boundaries in the first two overs bowled by Kuhnemann and Lyon. Pujara came out to Kuhnemann and found a full toss, which he drove for four. Rohit came out and lofted Lyon over wide long-on. And then he plays the sweep shot. The paddle sweep. Four more.
India looking confident in chase. They are 31 for 1 already. need 84 more.
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Finally a break in play
Frenetic action. Ten wickets for 66 runs. Nine of those Australian. India will be the happier side after that session but there is work to do. Australia will know India had three collapses in the first innings. If they can get taking wickets, anything can happen on this pitch. Quickly do your chores and come back in 40 minutes. You don't want to miss the second session.
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Ten wickets in the session
KL Rahul is desperately unlucky. A proper flick to the right of short leg, the ball hits the top of his pad and lobs up for a catch to the keeper. India 6 for 1. Tenth wicket of the session.
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To sweep or not to sweep
Now that I have a moment, let's focus a little on the buzz word this morning: the sweep.
If you look at the eventual numbers, you will of course say what a bad choice. Australia have lost 8 for 80 on the sweep this Test, India 2 for 15.
However, Khawaja and Labuschagne had played it so well that at one point they had scored 71 runs off 27 sweeps for the loss of only two wickets. The difference perhaps was that Khawaja and Labuschagne are natural sweepers.
Then Smith played it, and he is not a natural, and got out. Renshaw likes the sweep, and missed the length. After that a procession followed, which, to be fair, could have occurred to any shot. The crux of it was: Australia wanted to do unto the bowlers before the bowlers did unto them.
I won't change my assessment of the sweep based on the results as many people have done. The story here is: Australia want to score as many as they can before the ball with their name on it appears. That is what they expect of the pitch. Have they exaggerated the demons in the pitch? We will soon find out. What I know is, this is not going to be an easy chase at all.
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Jadeja's personal best
Another reverse sweep leads to a wicket. I kid you not this has not been Ravindra Jadeja anywhere near his best but he has ended up with his best figures in an innings, 7 for 42, and his second 10-wicket haul in a Test. Australia lose 9 for 53 in this session. India need 115 to win.
Five of Jadeja's wickets have been bowled. The last bowler before Jadeja to dismiss five batters "bowled" in a Test innings was Shoaib Akthar vs NZ in 2002.
That will raise a big question about how Australia have batted. Still not an easy target.
Around 17 minutes of play before lunch.
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Jadeja hits the wicket again
Ravindra Jadeja has been lethal once he got on the toll. Lyon has played him on. That is six wickets for Jadeja, who now is one short of a 10-wicket match haul. Australia 113 for 9.
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Yet another five-for for Jadeja
No. 12 for Ravindra Jadeja. Australia keep taking the risk against him. Jadeja never leaves the wickets. Carey tries the reverse-sweep. He misses. He is bowled. Australia 110 for 8 now.
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Speaking of similarities
We love this, don't we? Just looking for similarities. We have been mentioning quite a few over the Test, and here is Sampath Bandarupalli with another eerie one.
India led by 62 runs with 9 wickets in hand at end of day 2 in Adelaide 2020. Lost 4 wickets on the score of 15. Australia started the day with 62-run lead and 9 wickets in hand. Lost 4 wickets on 95!
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Team hat-trick
Ravindra Jadeja doesn't leave the wickets. He is always straight at you. And Pat Cummins tries a big slog-sweep first ball. It goes straight on, stays low, beats the inside edge, and he is bowled. Australia 95 for 7 now. What a turnaround. Jadeja with his fourth, and he is on a hat-trick.
Nathan Lyon survives the hat-trick ball.
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India surge again
Virat Kohli takes a sharp slip catch, Jadeja gets a third, Peter Handscomb is gone for a duck, but at one level, these are not good signs for India. Jadeja is firing them in, and in the last over one stayed low and went straight on. Against Handscomb, it rips away, and he makes the mistake of following the movement. As this has been fired in, it goes quickly to Kohli, who shows great reflexes. Australia 95 for 6 now.
Jadeja and Ashwin have three each. Another race to a five-for.
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Another sweep, another lbw
The numbers on the sweep are not looking quite that good now. Guess it depends on how well you are playing that shot. Matt Renshaw is beaten completely in the flight when he plays it, and the ball pitches on middle, straightens against the angle, hits him in front of middle, and is hitting the middle of middle. Renshaw takes one review with him too. Ashwin has three this morning. Australia 95 for 5.
Australia on the sweep this morning: 31 shots, 73 runs, four wickets.
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Smith and sweep
Yes Australia have benefited from the sweep shot, but this is an important point from Alex Malcolm about Steve Smith and sweeping.
Steven Smith has played 18 sweep shots in total in Tests in India for 8 singles and two boundaries and now one dismissal. Very odd option. He rarely practices it and openly admits he doesn't like to use it as an option.
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Jadeja makes his comeback
Ravindra Jadeja has been going at over five an over, but he still manages to take out Marnus Labuschagne with one that stays low. India now have two new batters at the wicket.
Labuschagne sees the flat trajectory, goes back, and even though he is beaten in the flight, he would have kept this out had it not stayed low. But it does stay low, and it's 95 for 4 now. Labuschagne gone for 35 off 50.
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Ashwin has Smith again
You live by the sweep, you die by the sweep. The shot, with its many variations, has been a big part of Australia's method in this Test. This time Smith tries the big regulation sweep off Ashwin. The ball stays low, turns more than it has been, hits him in front. The review shows an umpire's call on the leg stump. Smith throws his head back. Relief for India. Australia 85 for 3. Two wickets lost in the first half hour, but Australia have added 24 runs in the period.
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Labuschagne with early initiative
Despite the wicket in the first over, Marnus Labuschagne has been proactive on the third morning. He is now 26 off 31.
India are forced to have a field for his sweep. Ashwin then runs in but doesn't bowl, just to see what Labuschagne is planning. Labuschagne plays the same paddle sweep next ball and gets four. When Ashwin tries to deny him the shot with a backward short leg, Labuschagne gets four with a reverse-sweep.
Eventually Rohit Sharma suggests an over-the-wicket angle to Ashwin, who does draw uncertainty with two balls he bowls from there. It only results in India losing a review. During this Test, Australia have played 27 sweeps for 71 runs and two wickets.
India have played only seven of those for 15 runs and two wickets.
The biggest alarm for India will be the run-rate right now: 4.66 as Australia are 78 for 2. Jadeja is going at above 5 an over, Ashwin 4.55.
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Ashwin makes a comeback
He didn't have a great time on the second evening, but he has stuck in the first over on the second morning. He conceded an early boundary when he tried to bowl full, but at the end of the over, he got the ball to dip late, creating a gap between Travis Head's bat and where the ball pitched. It turned enough to take the edge. Australia effectively 66 for 2.
Ravindra Jadeja will share the attack with two right-hand batters, Labuschagne and Smith, in the middle. India have a fielder for his slog sweep, which worked for him last evening
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Day three, Australia in ascendence
Welcome back to the Delhi Test. Australia must be feeling good about where they are in the Test. India will be looking for a way to drag them back. Australia 62 for 1 effectively.
Travis Head has been just the impetus with bat that Australia needed, one that they have stumbled upon thanks to a concussion to David Warner. Quite a few similarities to how Ravindra Jadeja was replaced by Yuzvendra Chahal in a T20I in Sydney on India's last tour to Australia.
Jadeja didn't take a concussion test not changed the helmet. Ditto Warner. Both developed belated concussion symptoms. Both also had other injuries, which were revealed after the concussion. The replacements in both cases proved significant.
India shouldn't be thinking about all that right now. They should be looking for ways to get past these batters because anything above 150 is difficult in these fourth innings.
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Australia 62 for 1 at end of day 2
That mini session in the end makes it Australia's day for sure. They took the 10 Indian wickets for an addition of 241 runs, and then knocked off 62 of those in just 12 overs of batting. There was excellent intent and execution from them before stumps after India's bowlers painstakingly took them close with the bat. Things are happening quickly. Australia have played 23 sweeps in the match for 63 runs. They have taken Jadeja down for 23 in his three overs. Ashwin has looked better but he, too, has conceded 26 in six.
Travis Head, opening for the first time in Tests, has been nothing short of sensational, scoring an unbeaten 39 off 40. Marnus Labuschagne is unbeaten on 16 off 19. India will not be able to show similar intent when they are chasing. How will their bowlers respond to this? Be with us tomorrow morning to find out.
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To everything sweep, sweep, sweep
Australia are bringing out the sweep big time, and they are already 43 for 1 in eight overs. Through the match they have played 24 sweeps for 63 runs and two wickets. India played only seven, and lost two wickets for 15 runs. Australia have taken early advantage in this one-innings shootout.
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Iyer returns the favour
Shreyas Iyer has reason to believe he shouldn't have been out, and that Peter Handscomb manufactured his wicket. Iyer has returned the favour by manufacturing the wicket of Usman Khawaja with a sensational catch at backward short leg. This is great anticipation and great reflex. The moment he sees Khawaja go down with a low back lift, he knows the paddle sweep is coming so he starts moving to his left and take this by his throat even as Khawaja has kind of middled it. Quick start for Australia, though. They are 23 for 1 in six overs.
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head is Australia's opener
In the absence of the concussed and broken David Warner, Travis Head walks out to open with Usman Khawaja. What do the next 13 overs have in store for us? R Ashwin has the new ball in hand.
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Australia lead by one
It is a one-innings shootout. Mohammed Shami misses a straight full toss to be bowled. India bowled out for 262. They have lost their wickets in clusters: 4 for 20 after a 46-run opening, 3 for 14 after a 59-run stand, and now 3 for 9 after a match-saving - at least for now - stand of 114 between Axar Patel and R Ashwin.
Nathan Lyon ends up with five, two each for the other two spinners, and Pat Cummins gets one.
A maximum of 13 overs left in the day. Wow this match could rattle along today itself. Do not look away.
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Unbelievable catch
The catcher can't believe it, the batter can't believe it, but Axar Patel is out. After hitting Todd Murphy for a six, he has slog-swept Murphy for what looks like a four over mid-on, but Cummins has plucked it. He seems to be suggesting he hasn't quite picked it. What an amazing innings that has kept India alive in the match: 74 off 115 balls.
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The new ball strikes
Well, I will be the first one to admit, it is not because of the ball. It is a length ball on the pads from Cummins, Ashwin sees runs, times it well, but fails to keep it down. Renshaw takes a catch a little similar to the one KL Rahul took to get rid of Khawaja on day one. Cummins finally on the board. Ashwin gone for a well-made 37. India still 10 behind.
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New ball is available, and is taken
Just to continue with the point of batting getting easier as the ball has become older. So far in the match the first 40 overs have produced 250 for 8, and post that it has been 265 for 9. And India have just built the momentum with a flurry of boundaries just before the end of the 80th over. So I am not sure Australia want it immediately.
After a long drinks break, I can confirm they have taken the new ball as soon as it has become available.
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Hundred for the stand
1 The number of hundred-run stands in this Test series. Axar and Ashwin have now added 108 to take India to within 16 of Australia's score
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Half-century for Axar Patel
Australia must have had reason to believe they have broken the game open when they got Jadeja and Kohli in quick succession, but India still have Axar Patel and R Ashwin. Axar Patel has been the quicker of the two. With six overs to go to the second new ball, Australia go the left-arm spin of Matt Kunhemann, and he slogs him for another six to bring up a half-century. What a special innings this has been. He is 51 off 95 with an 88% control rate. India just 33 behind now.
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Get down
While India hang in through Ashwin and Axar, here is a quick reminder that Australia have let through two half chances in the half four after tea. Smith at slip couldn't get to a low catch when Axar was on strike, and Renshaw let through a similar offering from Ashwin at leg slip. What's more? They brought India eight runs. These catches are never easy, but Mark Waugh, one of the best slippers ever, has been pointing out their upright stances on air. Smith missed one in Nagpur too. India 206 for 7, trail by 57.
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A new-ball pitch?
This happened yesterday too: batting seemed to get easier as the Australian innings progressed. Not taking anything away from Axar Patel and R Ashwin here, but just looking at the numbers.
Both sides put together have scored 250 for 8 in the first 40 overs of this Test. Post 40th over, they have scored 215 for 9. Now this goes against the logic of spinning pitches, which this clearly is. Lower order, older ball, turning pitch should make for a much bigger drop in returns, but there isn't.
It just seems that the new ball is still better to bowl with. The second new ball is 11 overs away. Can India even last till then? Australia couldn't.
India 202 for 7, and the partnership between Axar and Ashwin is worth 63. It's Murphy and Lyon, who have been bowling post tea.
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A law clarification
I know I described the Kohli dismissal as the ball hitting the pad and bat simultaneously but it is important to report that the third umpire ruled it "pad first" clearly. Had he ruled it as simultaneous impact, he would have over-ruled the on-field call because of the lbw law. Here I quote 36.2.2 of the MCC Laws of Cricket
In assessing point 36.1.3, if the ball makes contact with the striker’s person and bat simultaneously, this shall be considered as the ball having first touched the bat.
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Australia ahead but India hanging in
For the first time in a long time, India's batting depth has faced a proper challenge thanks to deteriorating pitch and a good Australian score. leading up to the break, Axar Patel and R Ashwin have added 40 for the eighth wicket in 67 balls. There will be a fresh challenge of fresher bowlers post tea. Australia still lead by 84. This Test will continue to be a gripping affair when we come back.
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India keep fighting
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R Ashwin started positively, but 10 minutes before tea, Axar Patel has laid into the left-arm spin of Matt Kunhemann and the pace of Pat Cummins. India still a long way behind, but the eighth-wicket stand now reads 35 off 57. India are 174 for 7. Axar 24 off 39, Ashwin 10 off 21.
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Lyon has five
Nathan Lyon comes back, and he now has a five-for. Another collapse for India. KS Bharat, after a successful reverse-sweep earlier, tries a regulation sweep, but is early into the shot, and the ball lobs off the glove for an easy catch. The shot is on as this is fired outside leg from round the wicket, but he is just way too early into the shot. India 139 for 7. And on such pitches with great jeopardy does a long batting order start to look short.
With this wicket, Lyon also becomes only the third man to take 100 wickets in India-Australia Tests. Also just the third bowler with 100 wickets against India.
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Such a Kohli dismissal
He batted beautifully, but just can't catch a break. All the luck against him in this dismissal as Matt Kuhnemann has a massive maiden Test wicket. The seam is pointing towards slip, so he is right to expect some turn or straightening of the line. However, this one lands and goes straight on. And it is tight on impact. After many replays, all we can conclude is it has hit bat and pad together. So it all comes down to the on-field call. And that on-field call is out. And it stays out. [Edit: The third umpire has ruled it is pad first]. I swear this is the third or fourth time I have seen him lbw with bat and pad so close together to the ball. No evidence to over-rule the on-field call, though. Kohli gone for an imperious 44 off 84 with a control percentage of 92. India 135 for 6.
If there is one small criticism: India batters are not attuning their techniques to DRS and technology. So many of them get caught with bat behind the pad or beside the pad. Pujara, Kohli, Kl Rahul and Jadeja definitely do. Also we will do well to remember these are pre-DRS batters whom their game has served well.
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Murphy gets Jadeja
Nathan Lyon doesn't have a shot at all-10 any more. And he will be glad he doesn't because this partnership was beginning to threaten Australia. Todd Murphy has trapped Ravindra Jadeja plumb in front. The seam position on this is towards slip, which means he is attempting an offbreak and not the parallel seam that gives it a chance to go straight on. And yet this has pitched and gone straight on to strike him middle of middle. Jadeja takes away a review with him. India 125 for 5.
And interestingly, KS Bharat is batting ahead of R Ashwin and Axar Patel. Clearly the plan seems to be to have the newcomer with the safety of some batting behind him.
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Shiva Jayaraman on Kohli
Here is Shiva Jayaraman to add his observations on Kohli, and some luck:
In the last three years, and before the start of this Test, Virat Kohli averaged 26.5 against bowlers in Tests. Among 79 batters to score at least 500 runs his average ranks a poor 72nd. He has often looked good while at the crease only to play that one shot that gets him out. He hasn’t had much luck going his way either, like in the first Test when he was caught down the leg side.
According to ESPNcricinfo’s control data, Kohli’s control percentage is the 10th best out the list of 79 batters mentioned above, suggesting that either he had made fatal mistakes more frequently than others, or hasn’t had the rub of green go his way, or both. Out of the 69 batters who’ve played with lower control than Kohli, 62 have averaged better than him.
On an average he has been dismissed every 7.6 false shots he’s played to bowlers. Only three other batters have had a lower false shots per dismissal number out of the 79.
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Kohli's mini classic
Virat Kohli has played quite a few mini classics on square turners, especially in the second innings, that don't convert into hundreds. This one is shaping up to be one of those.
We often talk about having your own method and trusting it. Kohli is doing just that. He is not sweeping, he is not trying to hit spinners off their rhythm, and he is just being calm despite a low strike-rate. This is just Test batting at its purest: reacting to the ball and playing on its merits. He is hardly caught on the wrong foot. And he has 93% control percentage on this pitch. India 112 for 4 now with this partnership nearing 50.
Don't forget Ravindra Jadeja, who is providing him great support, matching him run for run. Kohli 24 off 66, Jadeja 25 off 66.
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We are back
Welcome back for the post-lunch session. It is Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy at the start of the session. Lyon has looked the most threatening, and has started off with a maiden. Murphy has bowled only four overs so far.
It will be interesting to see if the pitch eases out ever so slightly as it did in the middle session on day one. The logic with spin will tell you it should keep getting more and more difficult.
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Australia's session
A lovely tussle in that session, and Australia have India down at 88 for 4. Never forget that India will now have to bat last here. The bowling has been superb, especially from Lyon, who is 11-1-25-4.
the ball moved off the cracks for Pat Cummins too. And Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy have been asking questions themselves with combined figures of 17-4-40-0.
Typical scenes from a spin-dominated Test: a lot of spin bowling, in-out fields, a lot of appeals.
India will draw heart from the unbeaten 22-run stand between Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. The interesting thing is that Kohli has trusted both his defence and this pitch. Rarely has he been caught on the wrong foot. There is a long way to go for him and India. On the other hand, India have been reduced to low scores from the top order quite often by the opposition. The real question is, do they have enough quality and depth in their bowling and enough jeopardy in the pitch to take this home?
We will see you soon with what promises to be yet another cracking session.
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No. 4 for Lyon
The scorebook will say c Handscomb b Lyon, but this is entirely Handscomb's wicket. Also good fortune. Shreyas Iyer has firmly clipped it off the back foot, almost a punch, but it has hit Handscomb's midriff, then his arm, then his knee, and then somehow he sights it perfectly when it is falling to his right, and gets a hand to it, which lobs it up perfectly for a rebounded catch diving to his right. Usually these things happen to visiting sides in India. The signs are ominous that it is happening to India now. India 66 for 4, trailing by 197.
Now you look back at the Khawaja counterattack. Now you look back at the economy rates of Jadeja and Shami, the back-foot runs off Jadeja.
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Australia out of reviews
Ashwin and you might say anything, but I will never veer off my hypothesis that teams waste their reviews on other batters and are very conservative when Pujara is batting. Australia prove me right by burning one on Shreyas Iyer for a bat-pad catch when he is nowhere near the ball. The fielder didn't even appeal seriously. Now Australia have no reviews left. India 65 for 3, trailing by 198.
As an aside, I feel India should have promoted Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Iyer.
And an update from Alex Malcolm at the ground: "Renshaw just stepped off. I think he's getting his right knee checked. He had an issue in Nagpur with it too and was sent for a scan."
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Is this a repeat of Gabba?
Rather, is it too early to start looking for parallels.
Gabba: Australia hadn't lost a Test in 33 years; Arun Jaitley Stadium: India haven't lost one in 36 years.
Gabba: Total experience of India's bowlers was two Tests; Arun Jaitley Stadium: Australia have two bowlers with combined 70 first-class wickets and one Test cap.
Gabba: Nathan Lyon's 100th Test; Arun Jaitley Stadium: Cheteshwar Pujara's 100th.
Is Lyon going to get a shirt signed for Pujara by all Aussies? IS is too early to imagine "toota hai Arun Jaitley ka ghamand"?
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Australia finally review successfully
The stubborn beast has found runs through his stubborn methods, but one thing that has been questioned about his game is his stubbornness to still defend with his bat beside the pad, and at times behind the pad. It worked like a charm in pre-DRS days, but nowadays he is always extremely tight on impact. Often extremely close to being pad first, often escaping it narrowly. This time Australia take the dip, and Pujara's bat is clearly behind the bad. He is also beaten in the air. He has locked his front foot early, which means his second movement is jerky. Plumb in front once the replays confirm it is pad first. Lyon is on absolute fire. India 54 for 3, still 209 behind.
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Lyon gets Rohit
He came in for criticism for being unable to bowl the right length in the Nagpur Test, but Nathan Lyon is keeping Australia in this Test. He has found the right length and the right pace for this pitch. After getting Rahul with an offbreak, nearly getting Pujara with another, he has Rohit Sharma bowled with the one that doesn't turn as much as the others. That Rohit is caught neither forward nor back, playing this in panic, is enough to tell you Lyon has first done him in the air. India 53 for 2 now. Still 210 in Australia's bank.
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Pujara, and non-reviews
When I was working with R Ashwin on his tribute to Pujara, I asked him if opposition under-rated him and didn't use reviews on him. Ashwin laughed it off, saying it was ridiculous to think even the opposition would under-rate him.
I remembered at least two occasions when a review against him would have lost India the Test. Off memory, he hadn't even opened his account when Lungi Ngidi failed top convince Faf du Plessis to review in Johannesburg. He went on to score fifty at a time when Indian batters looked like getting out any ball.
Then later that year in Adelaide, Australia had him caught-behind even before he had cut loose, but they didn't review. That innings proved to be the platform for India to win the Test, and the series. I am writing this off memory, and will reproduce extracts from commentary soon.
And today, Pujara should have been out for nought when Nathan Lyon couldn't convince his captain to review. It was a beautiful delivery, dipping on him even when Pujara had jumped out of the crease. It is possible Australia didn't review because they had wasted two already on KL Rahul. So i stay with Ashwin's reading that Pujara is not under-rated. Now it remains to be seen if this non-review proves to be as significant as the other two I remember.
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Pujara's time
And now is the time for Cheteshwar Pujara to walk in to bat in his 100th Test. Here are some of the pieces on Cricinfo to celebrate his career.
R Ashwin writes an intimate tribute full of genuine friendship and respect. As expected, he reveals a stubborn beast whom he calls Mirugam.
Karthik Krishnawamy writes on a most singular batter.
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Boot in the way
What makes this pitch difficult is that once in a while a ball turns more than how much it has been turning for a while. This is what happens with KL Rahul facing Nathan Lyon from round the wicket. He is defending in front of the pad because he is wary of DRS and also because Lyon has managed to drop it shorter than he expects. It is when he is trying to track the turn, though, that the toe of Rahul's bat hits the boot and misses the ball. He is gone lbw. India 46 for 1.
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India's half hour
Six overs bowled, 22 runs added, KL Rahul looking decent, and also eating two of Australia's reviews. It has been India's morning so far. Matt Kunhemann has found turn, but hasn't bothered the batters much. Pat Cummins has found movement off the surface back in, but India have negotiated him well. India 220 behind.
Reviews have been lost off the bowling of both Kunhemann and Cummins.
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Khawaja's innings
The pace of play was so hectic yesterday we didn't get to this. Look at his wagon wheel. Hardly anything down the ground. Mainly R Ashwin made him play in front of square because he didn't give him the pace to work with, and also did more with the ball in the air than the others. Otherwise, Khawaja found a way. His reverse-sweep was almost like a push down the ground for a single. They say you have to find your own method and stick with it if you have to succeed in India. Khawaja did just that, and executed it well, and didn't let the spinners bowl at a stationary target.
Here is Khawaja talking about his approach, from Alex Malcolm's piece on him.
I just play by feel. I play by what I think is right for the wicket. I don't go out there thinking I want to play a certain way. I just feel how the bowlers are trying to bowl to me and then I read the game from there. So it's as simple as that. And that's pretty much what I did today.
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Did Ashwin mean to bowl it?
R Ashwin is now the only bowler in the world to have got Steve Smith out for a duck twice. He did so with a beautiful delivery if you look at what had happened earlier in the over. Two balls ago, an offbreak - seam towards leg slip - turned appreciably against his angle from round the wicket to beat the inside edge of Marnus Labuschagne and have him lbw.
The seam position to Smith was pretty much identical, the trajectory perhaps flatter, and it pitched in the same spot and kept going with the angle. My immediate reaction was that it was a natural variation because he had not used more of the palm on this one. However, this is what Ashwin told Star Sports this morning:
For Steve, I wanted to change the seam position and get it a bit more round-arm, to get it to move away. I was looking more to get him caught at slip, but I was happy to get the wicket.
Also let's read from Karthik Krishnaswamy's description of that over
How much of this was intentional is debatable. Ashwin's release differed only by degree, the seam of the ball perhaps pointing to leg slip against Labuschagne and leg gully to Smith, but both times there was overspin as well as sidespin, and both times the seam wobbled just before the ball landed.
It would be far-fetched to think the wobble was intentional, but it certainly made the two balls land differently - one on the seam, probably, and the other on some part of the leather, probably. The Labuschagne ball turned, and the Smith ball kept going with the angle across him.
Some day, I am sure Ashwin will reveal the secrets if it was indeed intentional.
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Day two is here
Plenty happening overnight. David Warner has failed a concussion test, and he has been replaced with Matt Renshaw. He didn't appear to take the concussion test immediately when he top-edged a Mohammed Siraj bouncer into the side of his head, but we know how concussion symptoms can set in belatedly too.
The Test is deliciously set up. it is Australia's best chance to fight their way into the series, but they have a long Indian batting line-up to contend with. Australia's biggest problem is they still have only four bowlers although this time that fourth bowler is a spinner so they can bowl longer spells than they did in Nagpur.
Never count out the pitch of the equation. A treacherous pitch can make a long batting line-up ineffective. To be fair, it didn't look that treacherous yesterday. Australia will be hoping it has deteriorated quickly.
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A teaser to end the day
The penultimate ball of the day is a proper shooter from Nathan Lyon, which sets up a delicious day two. Australia will be thinking what great position they might be in if they can deny India a lead. India will be thinking what great position they might be in if they get ahead by 100. This Test will rattle along on the next two days. As of now India are 242 behind with all their wickets standing. We sign off with a teaser from the end-of-the-day report. Thanks for joining us. See you tomorrow.
In one of the only two Tests India have lost at home in the last 10 years, Australia won the toss on a turning track and posted 261 in Pune in 2016-17. They batted with similar urgency after winning the toss on a Delhi pitch they played just one seamer, and managed to get to 263.
They will be hoping the similarities endure even though the black-soil track of Delhi got better to bat on as the day progressed. The pitch started off with more turn than Nagpur had on day one and also more bounce than the usual Delhi pitch, but batting looked easier as the day progressed, which will worry Australia.
R Ashwin looked the most threatening bowler, operating over two long spells for 57 for 3 in 21 overs, including the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in the same over moments before lunch. Mohammed Shami bowled attacking lines and lengths, which showed in his economy rate of over four, but he also produced four wickets. It wasn’t the best of days for Ravindra Jadeja, who went at 3.23 an over and conceded boundaries regularly off the back foot, was still good enough to take three wickets.
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Kunhemann straight into thick of things
5 Number of spinners who have opened the bowling on their debut. Before Matt Kunhemann, Nathan Hauritz did it in Mumbai in 2004.
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Australia hoping for Pune repeat
Australia scored 261 in Pune in 2016-17. They have scored 263 here. They will be hoping the similarities endure.
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Shami ends the innings
The reverse-swing from Mohammed Shami does the job as he goes through the defence of the debutant Matt Kuhnemann, ending Australia's innings at 263. Shami has been expensive, but he has made up for it with four wickets.
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Jadeja gets another wicket off a no-ball
The Indian openers were running in to get ready when they heard the siren of the no-ball. Ever since the third umpire has started calling no-balls, Ravindra Jadeja is being called more often because it is not always easy for the on-field umpire to call it because of the way Jadeja lands on his toe while pulling his foot back. Handscomb enjoys the relive with a swept boundary next ball, takes a single after that and keeps the strike. Australia 262 for 9, Handscomb into the 70s.
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Shami 3, Ashwin 3, Jadeja 3
There will be no five-for. Mohammed Shami has burst through a loose Nathan Lyon drive with a reverse-swinging 75-over-old ball, ending a 19-run ninth-wicket partnership. He has been expensive but this has been a stellar effort from Mohammed Shami to help reduce Australia to 246 for 9 on day one.
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Third double strike for India
India took two wickets on the score of 91. Then two on 167 and 168. And now they have taken two more on 227. A loose drive away from the body from Todd Murphy shows Jadeja the gate, and he bursts right through to bowl him. And we have another race to a five-for here between Jadeja and Aswhin. Dare I saw Jadeja has all the momentum here, and Ashwin is not even in the attack
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Jadeja get Cummins
In the Pune Test that Australia won on the last trip, Mitchell Starc scored 61 for them. Pat Cummins will hope he has played a somewhat similar hand with his 33. However, I don't think this pitch is doing as much as that Pune pitch. Also whatever turn is there is slow.
And it is Ravindra Jadeja who has broken through for his second wicket. This is bowled from a wide angle, it holds its line, but not much more. It beats the inside edge, and has Cummins dead in front. Atsralia 227 for 7. Handscomb still unbeaten on 54.
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Fifty for Handscomb
A nice push into the covers to get to to 50. He has looked the most assured batter out there. His first fifty in over five years. His footwork has been spot on apart from a few deliveries from Axar where he went back to full deliveries. Australia 220 for 6 in 65 overs.
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Pathaan
KS Bharat has been calling Ravindra Jadeja "Pathaan" after the character played by Shah Rukh Khan in a recent movie. We saw him do the Pathaan dance during the last Test.
Australia have added 19 since tea, and looking assured. India now looking more at control than attack. The pitch has got better to bat on as the day has progressed. Australia 218 for 6.
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Welcome back
We are back for the post-tea session, and India have begun with back-to-back maidens, just the control they need after having gone at close to 4 an over. It's Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel as Australia resume their quest for a big total.
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Australia nick the second session
Pretty similar sessions in terms of numbers: 94 for 3 in the first, and 105 for 3 in the second, but India would have hoped to have run through the lower order in the second session. Australia are 199 for 6 at tea. Handscomb stays unbeaten on 36 off 75, but Cummins has counter-attacked and slog-swept Ashwin for two sixes in his unbeaten 23 off 31. The one thing about Delhi has remained: the turn has been slow. Australia seem to have been proactive, India have been good, and we are set for an exciting final session in a but
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Forward, back, on the crease
And once again India push through. One brings two. R Ashwin gets Alex Carey. Draws him forward, pushes him back, then a quick offbreak, which lands on the seam and jumps. Carey is caught on the crease. Sharp catch taken by Kohli at slip. Australia 168 for 6, and the game looks different again. Ashwin 17-4-40-3
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250 Number of Ravindra Jadeja's Test wickets. Only seven Indians have taken more wickets
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Rahul gives India an assist
Usman Khawaja has reverse-swept with good control all through the innings, and he is right to think he has done just that when he takes Ravindra Jadeja away from outside leg. It is travelling, and right enough of co0ver-point, but he is a tall man, who is off his feet and sticks out his right to take a big big catch for India. Australia 167 for 5, Khawaja agonisingly short of a hundred by 19 runs.
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Khawaja, Handscomb look assured
Australia's most assured partnership reads 47 off 64 balls as they reach 155 for 4 at mid-afternoon drinks. On a pitch that the ball has turned more than it did on day one in Nagpur, Australia have shown better intent and execution, denying the bowlers a stationary target. Usman Khawaja has led the charge with reverse-sweeps and sweeps to be unbeaten on 77 off 121. Peter Handscomb has been busy without being frenetic in his 19 off 31. And once R Ashwin has come o0ff after a spell of 14-4-37-2, batting has seemed easier against Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Jadeja, in particular, has been expensive at 7-0-30-0. Khawaja is playing an innovative gem here. Hardly playing anything down the ground, which is not what coaches tell you.
India will be mindful this pitch is not going to get easier so they want a bigger premium on runs.
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India continue taking wickets
A little surprising post lunch that India attacked with seam at one end and spin at the other. Ashwin kept the spin end going while Siraj was followed by Shami. There was control from both ends. India looked close especially when Head batted against Ashwin. In the end, though, the wicket went to Shami. Similar delivery to the one that got Warner from round the wicket. Travis Head, though, went harder at it, and the edge went sharply to second slip where KL Rahul took a good catch. Australia 108 for 4 now. Shami is 2 for 32 in 7.2 overs on a pitch that Australia have played only one seamer.
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Shared session
This Test match is moving at a rapid pace. Australia have counterattacked India and gone at nearly four an over, but Ashwin stuck to his task and eventually drew the rewards twice in one over. India drew 44 false responses in 151 balls, which is quite something in a first session in India. That's twice the rate of uncertainty as at the same time in Nagpur. On their part, Australia have scored 94 runs, which should concern India a little if the pitch keeps getting worse. We will be back soon.
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Fifty for Khawaja
This has been an excellent innings from Usman Khawaja. He has not sat there like a stationary target for the spinners. He has swept, reverse-swept and made them think and veer from Plans A. Both spinners have bowled with a man back to deny him a reverse-swept boundary. Khawaja 50 from 71.
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91 for 1 to 91 for 4 and back to 91 for 3
After Ashwin took those two massive wickets of Labuschagne and Smith in the same over, Jadeja thought he had Khawaja lbw but a quick review showed the ball pitched outside leg. How things change dramatically on these pitches.
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Ashwin how has Smith
A two-ball duck for Steve Smith. The pitch has done him dirty here by all evidence. Aswhin has bowled an offbreak that he means to turn back. The seam is pointing towards leg slip. It is not the parallel seam that they bowl when they want to give the ball every chance to go straight on. Smith plays for the offbreak, the ball turns away, and takes his outside edge. KS Bharat takes a good low catch.
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Ashwin finally gets one
R Ashwin beats Marnus Labuschagne by beating him on the forward-defensive off the front foot. Nice drift, and then the break back in. The angle from round the wicket makes sure India have the impact in line. A bit of a personal argy-bargy going on too. Labuschagne has been talking about his preparations for facing Ashwin. Today when Ashwin refused to let one go to see if Khawaja was shaping up to reverse or not, Labuschagne made it about himself by standing behind the wicket at the non-striker's even when it had nothing to do with the mankad. Now Ashwin has his man
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Sweep
17 Number of runs scored off six sweep shots by Australia, including the Khawaja reverse-sweeps. Australia 87 for 1. Now India even have a fielder for the reverse-sweep
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Quick runs
We saw how impatient Rohit Sharma was with his bowling changes in the first Test because the ball was turning from day one, and Australia had won the toss, and you couldn't afford a big chase. This one is turning more than Nagpur, and even though India have drawn errors, the wickets are not coming. This kind of pitch kind of allows Australia play a counterattacking game and not have to set up for a proper first-innings score. They are rushing away at four an over. Not all convincing runs, but the runs are coming quickly. The second-wicket stand reads 27 off 22. Australia are 77 for 1 in 19 overs. India need control.
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Warner in India
21.7 David Warner's average in India, the worst for anyone who has opened in 10 Tests in India. That is probably why there were question marks on Warner's place in the side.
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Reward for India
Despite probing bowling and testing conditions, Australia added 50 for the first wicket only for Mohammed Shami to finally break through. They have been there or thereabouts through the morning. Finally Shami, from round the wicket, has Warner caught on the crease. The ball holds its line, and takes the edge. A familiar dismissal for Warner against seam bowling. Australia 50 for 1.
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Warner and Khawaja's methods
This is from Alex Malcolm at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
It's interesting comparing Usman Khawaja and David Warner's batting methods and mindsets in that first hour. Australia have talked a lot both publicly and privately about each batter owning an individual method and mindset in India in terms of both training it and then implementing it in the Test matches. Proactivity and bravery have been two buzzwords and Khawaja is trying to do that. He very rarely is the last player in the nets but he was on Wednesday at Australia's main session. Right at the end of the session he asked coach Andrew McDonald to throw so offspin so he could work on skipping down and hitting inside out over wide mid-off. He then did that to Ashwin in the first hour. He has had some luck. But he's been positive and been rewarded. Warner on the other hand spent all of the Nagpur centre-wicket practice on Monday shoring up his defence to spin. He was working on getting a bigger stride in to smother the spin. He has tried to do that here to Ashwin. But he is getting bogged down. He is not his usual self. He had long hits in the days leading up to the Nagpur Test. Ahead of this Test in Delhi he barely hit on Wednesday and did not train on Thursday. He looks a shell of his former self having been hit twice on the body by Siraj. But he's hanging tough for now and sticking to his defensive method and mindset.
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Australia survive the first hour
Even though it has been tougher for them here than in Nagpur, Australia have come out without having lost a wicket in the first hour. Their control rate in the first hour was exactly five balls an over, but they lost two wickets in that hour. Here, Australia have been in control of just 55 balls out of 79, and yet they haven't lost any.
Both the batters have been lucky. R Ashwin has got into his groove. Warner has been hit on the arm and on the head with the Mohammed Siraj bouncers bouncing unevenly. Ashwin has been going past the edge of both batters. Neither looks certain in footwork against him. Khawaja 24 off 41. Warner, who took half an hour to get off the mark, is 7 off 38.
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Ashwin in after a half hour
David Warner has survived the first hour even though he hasn't scored a run. He has also survived a mighty close lbw shout, which was given out on the field. An inside edge saved him with Mohammed Shami seaming it in. And now India have gone to Ashwin with already signs of low bounce on the pitch. So bowled and lbw will remain the dismissal of choice here.
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Can you recognise this Australia?
You come to the biggest challenge in contemporary - perhaps historically too - cricket and you want everyone to be fit and available. Australia still don't have Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green ready, but even if they were it would have been quite a challenge. Now look at this side: just one seam bowler, two frontline spin bowlers with 71 first-class wickets between them, and batting looking shaky. David Warner has barely survive the axe in my estimation. Matt Renshaw, who controversially came in ahead of Travis Head in the last Test, has been left out.
One of the spinners, Matthew Kunhemann, has bolted past the spinner originally selected: Ashton Agar, who, it now appears, played himself out of contention in Sydney.
The official position is that Agar's bowling, from Australia's selector on tour Tony Dodemaide is that "his red-ball game is not quite where he wants it to be”.
About Renshaw-Head flip, Dodemaide has said they were looking for the extra bowling of Head, making him the fourth spinner in the side.
It is as confused as you expect a side struggling in India and with injury problems to boot. And this will always stay until they have an attack capable of taking 20 wickets in any conditions in India.
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Hundred for Pujara
What a sweet moment for Cheteshwar Pujara. Three generations of the Pujara family at the ground. Father Arvind, Cheteshwar himself, and wife Puja with daughter Aditi. This is one difficult journey all the way to the 100th Test. Rahul Dravid steals a moment to go and congratulate the family now that the 100th Test is official.
It is followed by Sunil Gavaskar presenting him the special 100th Test cap. "When you go out to bat, it looks like you are not taking just the bat with you, but the India flag with you. You have put your body on the line, you have taken blows... you are the perfect role model for what hard work and determination can achieve. I wish and pray you become the first Indian to score a big hundred in his 100th Test."
Pujara says: "Test cricket is the ultimate format of the game. It tests your character, your temperament, there are so many similarities between Test cricket and life. If you can fight through the tough periods, you always come out on top."
Pujara thanks his family, fans, his team-mates and support staff. We are nearly ready now.
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Australia bat, Warner survives
Australia have won another big toss. You lose the toss, you lose any hope of competing. Now at least they have some hope. Rohit Sharma says they don't worry about the toss even though they would have batted first themselves.
Two changes for Australia. Travis Head comes in for Matt Renshaw. Gives them some bowling back-up. And just one seamer as Scott Boland goes out for Matthew Kuhnemann. It also means David Warner has survived the axe after talk that Head might replace him. Alex Malcolm will soon update us on the fitness status of Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green.
India make only the one change: Shreyas Iyer is fit, and replaces Suryakumar Yadav. That means they have lost a chance to try Shubman Gill in the middle order, which many believe to be his natural station.
Australia DA Warner, UT Khawaja, M Labuschagne, SPD Smith, PSP Handscomb, TM Head, AT Carey†, PJ Cummins*, NM Lyon, T Murphy, MP Kuhnemann
India RG Sharma*, KL Rahul, CA Pujara, V Kohli, SS Iyer, KS Bharat†, RA Jadeja, AR Patel, R Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami
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The pitch report
Sanjay Manjrekar says it looks better than Nagpur. Matthew Hayden says it looks like a day two pitch - "potentially day three" - already. Manjrekar says it seems harder underfoot than Nagpur did. Hayden says it will be a challenging surface for batters.
My experience of having watched cricket in Delhi: the pitch always looks worse than it plays. And apart from the 2012-13 Test between these two sides here, I can't remember a match here when running through a side has been easy.
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Test two is here
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy moves to the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. There is no respite for Australia. India's three spinners will be ready while Australia are juggling combinations. Matthew Kuhnemann, left-arm spinner, has been handed the Test cap with just 35 first-class wickets at an average of 35.
This is also Cheteshwar Pujara's 100th Test. We will bring you all of the colour and analysis around this Test right here.
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