The fourth and the final Test match India-Australia four-Test series seems to be headed either for a draw or towards an Indian win. India has made the nut much harder for the kangaroo`s to crack. India has already taken a lead of 2-1 here and either need to draw or win this Test in order to capture the series.
The Indian team won the toss and elected to bat first. I think this was the right decision taken by Virat Kohli as can be seen now. The visitor`s scored 622 runs at the loss of seven wickets in slightly less than two days of batting. Skipper Virat decided to declare the Indian inning closed and invited the hosts to bat. The only good news for Australia is that they have not lost any wickets in the ten overs that they batted today. Both the Australian openers were at the crease. At the end of the day, the Aussies had scored 24 runs without losing a wicket.
The Indian team has enough runs on the board. Two of their batsmen have scored more than 150 runs each but batting on the wicket was not exactly a cake walk. Pujara played brilliantly once again. He scored 193 runs after facing a mammoth 373 balls. This reminds me of Rahul Dravid. Calling Pujara the Second Wall will not be misplaced. Mayank Agarwal who is playing in just his second Test match has again played an important and beautiful inning for India. he gave India a good start by putting 77 runs on the board. After this inning, it looks as though he has cemented his place as an opener in the Indian team. This was his third international inning and he has justified the faith that the selectors had in him.
When everyone is in the form, Jadeja was not to be left out of the party. He showed his magic with the bat today. This all-rounder batsman scored an attacking 81 runs in only 114 balls. This inning will go a long way in bolstering his confidence. Coming in at the eighth position and contributing such good runs is an excellent job done.
And then, there is this one player who broke few records on this tour. His name is Rishabh Pant. Pant, who had failed to play a telling inning in Australia so far, today played a brilliant inning. He added 159 runs in 189 balls for the visitors. With this inning, he has broken ex-skipper MS Dhoni’s record. Pant became the highest scorer as a wicket-keeper batsman for India on foreign soil. He has overtaken another record in this inning. He has become the highest run scorer in Asian countries as wicket-keeper batsman outside the Indian subcontinent. Mushfiqur Rahim has also scored the same number of runs in one inning but was out while Pant has remained unbeaten today.
I think that this test match will result in a draw. The Indian team has set Australia a huge target to chase. Even if they manage it, it will take their batsmen a good part of two days. With only three days remaining in the match, there will be only one day or slightly more for two more innings to be completed. On the other hand, if the Australians capitulate early in this Inning India is certain to win the match. Given that, there is no way that India can lose this match.
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