Ajinkya Rahane’s gritty century places India in driver’s seat in Boxing Day Test

Ajinkya Rahane performed a captain’s knock with a workmanlike century that steered India right into a dominant place and took the sting out of Australia’s potent bowling assault within the second Test right here on Sunday.
Trailing 0-1 within the four-match sequence, India ended the second day at 277 for 5 for a useful 82-run lead after bowling out Australia for 195 on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Another dominant day of Test cricket for #GroupIndia.
It was a day that’s undoubtedly headlined by Captain @ajinkyarahane88, whose century (104* off 200) will go down as top-of-the-line by an Indian captain on international soil.#GroupIndia 277/5 (Rahane 104*, Jadeja 40*) pic.twitter.com/zwuHWWHYjP
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 27, 2020
At stumps, which was introduced early owing to rain, Rahane was going sturdy on 104 and giving him firm was Ravindra Jadeja on 40, the 2 having added what may show to be a game-changing 104-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
This was Rahane’s twelfth Test hundred and his second on the iconic venue, after a tremendous 147 in the course of the 2014 tour.
A day after incomes wealthy reward for his tactical acumen whereas marshalling the bowlers, Rahane shone brilliant with the bat and was spot on along with his studying of match conditions throughout his keep within the center.
Rahane acquired a life when Steve Smith dropped him on 73 at second slip in Australia’s first over with the second new ball, the unfortunate bowler being Mitchell Starc, who was taken off the assault after simply two overs with the shining purple cherry.
That specific part was essential from each the workforce’s standpoint and by not dropping a wicket to the second new ball, India ensured they completed the day forward of Australia, when it comes to runs in addition to psychologically.
Rahane acquired one other reprieve when substitute fielder Travis Head put one down after diving ahead from gully, however that was after he had acquired to the three-figure mark.
To begin with, Rahane was extra watchful that he had ever been however because the day progressed, he went on to play some luxurious pictures and considered one of his day’s finest was the basic off-drive in opposition to Pat Cummins.

Ajinkya Rahane’s twelfth Test ton – and considered one of his finest! #OhWhatAFeeling@toyota_Aus | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/hfUBIhI5qZ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
Earlier, Rishabh Pant (29) and Hanuma Vihari (21) frittered away promising begins after doing all of the onerous work, however Jadeja was decided to not do something of that kind.
Vihari fell to off-spinner Nathan Lyon whereas attempting to brush him from outdoors off-stump after he had added 52 runs for the fourth wicket along with his captain.
In got here Pant and regardless of the fixed scrutiny round him, the wicketkeeper-batsman confirmed no nerves and confidently went about taking part in his strokes.
If Rahane managed to blunt the opposition bowlers along with his defensive strategy earlier than opening up, Pant’s aggression pressured Australia to alter their attacking tactic.
Rahane’s first actual authoritative shot was a cracking pull off Josh Hazlewood and there was additionally a luxurious off-drive for a 4. Balls directed on Rahane’s pads have been comfortably whipped by way of the mid-wicket or square-leg area and he was equally good whereas taking part in the drives and cuts.
At the opposite finish, simply when Pant was starting to pose a deal with to the hosts, Starc pressured an edge to convey the match again on even keel. It was Paine’s a hundred and fiftieth dismissal and wicket quantity 250 for Starc.

Test wicket No.250 for Starc + Test dismissal No.150 for Paine! @VodafoneAU | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/yptEW2hFyY
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2020
The second session noticed India rating 99 runs after they managed simply 54 within the first, throughout which in addition they misplaced two wickets in as many overs to the relentless Cummins.
Resuming on 36 for one, India began cautiously earlier than dropping each their in a single day batsmen — debutant Shubman Gill and the seasoned Cheteshwar Pujara — within the house of 11 balls to achieve 90 for 3 at lunch.
At lunch, Rahane was batting on 10 and giving him firm was Vihari on 13 with India trailing by 105 runs.
The 21-year-old Gill impressed on his debut with a fluent 45 and performed some tremendous pictures throughout his 65-ball knock on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While Pujara made 17, having confronted 70 deliveries.
The first to go was Gill, who perished when he edged Cummins for Paine to take a regulation catch behind the stumps.
Australia have been quickly celebrating once more as Cummins picked up the large wicket of Pujara after straightening him up with a superb supply that angled in and moved simply sufficient to induce an edge.
Paine, who misplaced a evaluate after assuming that Gill had nicked the day’s very first supply, complemented his high quick bowler by finishing a tremendous diving catch.