Ajinkya Rahane played a captain’s knock, a workmanlike century that steered India into a dominant position and took the sting out of Australia’s potent bowling attack within the second Test here on Sunday.
Trailing 0-1 within the four-match series, India ended the second day at 277 for five for a handy 82-run lead after bowling out Australia for 195 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
At stumps, which was brought early due to rain, Rahane was going strong on 104 and giving him company was Ravindra Jadeja on 40, the 2 having added what might convince be a game-changing 104-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
This was Rahane’s 12th Test hundred and his second at the long-lasting venue, after a fine 147 during the 2014 tour.
A day after earning rich praise for his tactical acumen while marshalling the bowlers, Rahane shone bright with the bat and was spot on together with his reading of match situations during his stay within the middle.
“This knock was all about patience, more importantly once you are playing such a top quality pace attack, sometimes you get into shell and unable to attain runs, and therefore the way Ajinkya bhai played, it had been such a powerful knock to observe from outside,” Shubahman Gill said during a virtual news conference .
“How to ascertain off those tough periods, he made it sure that he put the loose balls away.”
Rahane got a life when Steve Smith dropped him on 73 at second stick in Australia’s first over with the second new ball, the unfortunate bowler being Mitchell Starc, who was began the attack after just two overs with the shining red cherry.
That particular phase was crucial from both the team’s point of view and by not losing a wicket to the second new ball, India ensured they finished the day before Australia, in terms of runs also as psychologically.
Rahane got another reprieve when substitute fielder Travis Head put one down after diving forward from gully, but that was after he had need to the three-figure mark.
To start with, Rahane was more watchful that he had ever been but because the day progressed, he went on to play some sumptuous shots and one among his day’s best was the classic off-drive against Pat Cummins.
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc rued the probabilities his team squandered.
