Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin power India’s massive win over Australia in 1st Test at Nagpur
India crushed Australia by an innings and 132 runs in the opening test match of the border Gavaskar trophy 2022-2023 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Ground in Nagpur on Saturday. After taking a huge lead of 223 runs in the first innings, Ravichandran Ashwin returned to haunt Australia once again as a splendid five-wicket haul for the right-arm off spinner sparked a collapse in the world No 1 team’s ranks, handing India an impressive win inside three days.
It was India all the way in the opening Test in Nagpur despite Australia winning the toss on the first day and electing to bat. Even though a strong third wicket stand between Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, Australia failed to capitalise and was bundled out for just 177 in their first innings, which gave India a chance to drive home the advantage.
Steve Smith scored 37 from 107 balls and Marnus Labuschagne made 49 from 123 deliveries but it was Ravindra Jadeja who was the star of the play on the opening day. Returning to top-flight cricket after a gap of more than five months, the left-arm spin bowling all-rounder showed no discomfort in his skills as he grabbed a splendid five wicket haul, returning with 22-8-47-5 while Ravichandran Ashwin took 3/42 from his 15.5 overs.
Rohit Sharma led India’s reply in the first innings with the bat and even though the other specialist batsmen such as KL Rahul (20), Cheteshwar Pujara (7), Virat Kohli (12) and Suryakumar Yadav (8) could not make a dent, the captain scored a splendid century to put his team in the driver’s seat.
Rohit Sharma showed no discomfort against spin bowling from the Australians as he hammered 15 boundaries and two sixes to make a 120, an innings that set the platform for a huge first innings lead that India took.
However, Rohit Sharma’s innings was not the only bright spot for the home team as Ravindra Jadeja smacked 70 and Akshar Patel recorded his highest test score — 84 from 174 balls with 10 boundaries and a six — to power India to a huge total of 400 in their first innings.
Australia, who selected two of spinners in Nathan lion and Todd Murphy, did not have a memorable outing despite the debutant spinner entering the record books. The 22-year-old Victorian spinner Todd Murphy grabbed 7 wickets for 124 runs in his 47 overs while his senior partner Nathan lion was kept quiet by the Indians, getting only a solitary wicket for 126 runs from his 49 overs.
Even though Australia captain Pat Cummins looked off-colour with the ball, he grabbed a couple of wickets in the form of Rohit Sharma and Akshar Patel. For that matter, Scott Boland was far more disciplined and aggressive with his line and length and continuously tested the Indian batsmen.
The contributions from Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja had given India a match-winning lead which was enough to bowl Australia out eventually.
The visitors began with an early wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin in the form of Usman Khawaja who went for a drive on a loose ball and ended up giving a simple catch to Virat Kohli at the first slip, which opened the floodgates.
Ravichandran Ashwin went on to claim the wickets of David Warner 10, Matt Renshaw (2), Peter Handscomb (6) and Alex Carey (10) to once again stamped his authority in home Test match situations especially against teams whose batsmen do not know how to play spin.
Even though the Indian middle order flopped with the bat in the only innings they batted, there will be some questions on their vice-captain KL Rahul with the second Test match of the series beginning at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from February 17.
However, serious questions would be posted against the Australian batsmen, who will have to find a way to make runs against the Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel proved too hot to handle in favourable situations.