Spin bowlers dominated the opening Test of the series between India and Australia. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were key players in India’s overwhelming victory in the opening match of the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Todd Murphy, an Australian rookie, was unquestionably the finest performance for the visiting squad in Nagpur.
In the Nagpur Test, India’s star batsman Virat Kohli was dismissed for 12 runs by Todd Murphy in an unlucky dismissal. Kohli came at the Arun Jaitley Stadium early to train against spinners in order to better prepare for the second Test against Australia.
Vikram Rathour, Kohli’s batting coach, also gave him some pointers. He faced net bowlers Pulkit Narang and Hrithik Shokeen, as well as India. Saurabh Kumar, a regular, also bowled to Kohli in the nets. Only time will tell if Kohli’s battle with spin will continue in Delhi. The Delhi track is likely to be another spin-friendly course.
If the pitch favours spin, Murphy and Nathan Lyon will offer a danger in the second game. Murphy, 22, was outstanding for Australia in the opening game, taking seven wickets.
Both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja completed their fifers in the opening encounter, while the latter even excelled with the bat. The Australian batsmen were powerless against India’s relentless spin threat, collapsing for 91 runs in the second innings.
If the Australian batsmen are unable to devise a strategy to counter the Indian spin trio, the Australians may struggle in the second Test as well. Given the weather and the quality of their spinners, many analysts believe India will win every match in the series. On Friday, February 17, both clubs will face off in Delhi.
