Aussies work hard like Gill, Kohli helps India cut lead

The tremendous promise first seen at international level in Gabba’s memorable triumph in India two years ago blossomed into a peak performance when Shubman Gill applied the handbrake to Australia’s triumphant run on day three of the final test in Ahmedabad.

Gill, whose 91 in his third Test started the famous chase that sealed India’s remarkable streak Down Under in 2020/21, delivered an inning of even greater substance as he gracefully advanced to a career-best 128 on Saturday.

After Cameron Green’s first ton, Gill became the second 23-year-old to tally up three figures on as many days, and celebrated with a bow to help India reach 3-289 on stumps.

With Virat Kohli (59) and Ravindra Jadeja (15) leading, the hosts were still 191 runs down in the first innings after Usman Khawaja and Green had pushed the Australians to 480 for centuries.

A path to victory for Australia now hinges heavily on the surface breaking up much faster than it has been up to now. That’s not unthinkable given the searing heat and cauldron-like effect of the colossal Narendra Modi Stadium.

If India can’t see through all of Sunday and take a sizeable lead in the first innings, Australia will also have the advantage of bowling last in this Test.

However, Kohli threatens to be a significant obstacle.

The former skipper reigned supreme as he scored his first half-century test in more than a year, raising both arms in mock triumph after hitting the 107-ball milestone in the final hour of play.

Conditions could hardly be tipped more in his favor to break a century drought that has spanned 41 Test innings and more than three years.

India appeared to have found a long-term opener after Gill’s hand in its Brisbane miracle in early 2021, but it has been its white-ball stocks that have risen in recent years.

The right-hander hit 126 of 63 balls in a T20I against New Zealand five weeks ago in Ahmedabad. His Test point was less certain, averaging just 25.15 from the 21 innings between his Gabba hand and the start of that Test.

Gill had been left out when captain Rohit Sharma returned from a thumb injury earlier in the series. Suryakumar Yadav passed him for a mid-order berth at Nagpur before KL Rahul, originally picked to open above him in the first two Tests, then made way for his return at Indore.

Gill, widely credited with succeeding Kohli as India’s next Test No. 4, displayed many of the flourishes of the man he adores as he played a series of exquisite shots from Australia’s fast bowlers, relying on timing and supple wrists to turn putting the ball there he liked.

The Aussies tried all their tricks to unsettle Gill on a surface that remained docile despite the match moving into the final session of Day 3 for the first time in the series.

Mitchell Starc, finding backswing but rarely threatening it, bowled to him with just two fielders on the side of his leg. Nathan Lyon bowled offside with only two field players. Gill, who had run to 71 from his first 124 balls, then managed just nine of his next 52.

But the Punjab-born batsman slid past the hundred mark, the second time he has done so, after scoring his first goal against Bangladesh in December before Lyon finally broke through their defense and pinned him at the kink after 235 balls.

Todd Murphy didn’t get the ball thrown past until the 32nd, but he was closer than anyone to sacking Gill before he reached his ton, spinning one past his inside edge only to narrowly miss the bails and for four to run away walkers.

Cheteshwar Pujara (42) was struggling with some ailments in his left leg and required several visits from the physio during his 121-ball stint to assist Gill in a 113-run stance before Murphy got the experienced lbw from near the wicket .

Green’s skewed reverse-in swingers posed some challenges for India’s right-handers, but like Starc, it remained wicketless, with one of the pair’s key weapons – bounce – completely wiped out by the conditions.

Rohit Sharma (35), who had restarted the day alongside Gill, 444 0-36, reprimanded himself as he smashed Matthew Kuhnemann straight to Marnus Labuschagne with a short cover to slam a 74-run opening stand end.

Kuhnemann was then used sparingly, sending just eight more overs for the day after his initial breakthrough and not receiving a single over during the middle session.