Since the retirement of Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin has become the leading right-arm finger spinner for India, forming a powerful spin partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. In the Nagpur Test as part of the India Vs Australia Test Series, Jadeja took 5 wickets in the first innings and moved closer to the 250 Test Wicket mark, while Ashwin went past the 450 wicket mark by taking 2. After lunch, both of them bowled brilliantly, taking 6 wickets in quick succession. Ashwin started off slowly in the morning session, but the Australian batsmen attacked him.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were restricted by Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel with their precise bowling in the morning session. On the other hand, they attempted to rattle R Ashwin. At the start of the morning, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first on a pitch favourable for spinners. They put out Travis Head for Matt Renshaw instead. They also included Todd Murphy, an off-spinner to work with Nathan Lyon, the greatest off-spinner for Australia.
Scott Boland and Pat Cummins were playing the roles of the pace bowlers. It was a surprise that Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were replaced by Scott Boland. R Ashwin dismissed Alex Carey (36) and Pat Cummins (6), and Alex Carey became his 450th wicket.
Australia is at 174/8 after the Tea break, with Ravindra Jadeja taking the wicket of Peter Handscomb (31) and ending with a 5/47 performance in his return to Test Cricket after an injury break. India has opted for KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma as openers, while Suryakumar Yadav and wicket-keeper KS Bharat are making their debuts in this Test.
Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Scott Boland (1) and ended with 3/42 figures. Australia was bowled out for 177 in 63.4 overs. India has a good chance to get an advantage over Australia if they start off on the right foot on a pitch that favours spin bowlers!
