IND vs AUS 2022-23, 3rd Test: Australia loses final 6 wickets for 11 runs; will lead of 88 suffocate India?

While India struggled with the bat on Day 1 of the third Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, the latter batted better comparatively, finishing on Wednesday on top. However, the floodgates for the visitors were opened on Day 2 on Thursday, as they lost their final six wickets for simply 11 runs, while their lead of 88 appears to be misleading.

Resuming at the overnight score of 156/4, Peter Handscomb (19) and Cameron Green (21) added 30 more for the fifth wicket on Thursday before the former fell to veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was followed by the latter just a couple of runs later, after being trapped leg-before by pacer Umesh Yadav.

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Thereon, the Aussies seemed utterly confused, as Umesh appeared to be getting the help of the reverse swing, as the following couple of his victims saw their off-stump go cart-wheeling. The final wicket was cleaned up by Ashwin, as the visitors were bundled for 197, while supporters became concerned, but credit Umesh for making a brilliant comeback.

Given how intermittent the pitch was behaving, they felt that the lead of 88 might appear deceptive. However, the Indians were off to a decent start with the bat in the second. Openers Rohit Sharma (4*) and Shubman Gill (3*) batted it out comfortably for the remaining overs of the session before going for the lunch break.