नवीनतम
India bowl first; Australia 28/0 before rain
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Persistent rain played spoilsport on the opening day of the third Test between Australia and India, with only 13.2 overs bowled before the weather intervened on Saturday. Australia, sent in to bat after India won the toss, reached 28 without loss with Usman Khawaja (19 off 47) and Nathan McSweeney (4 off 33) holding fort.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma explained his decision to bowl first, citing overcast conditions and a pitch with a hint of grass and softness. “We want to make the best use of the conditions. It’s a big game for us, and we understand the importance of capturing crucial moments,” said Rohit. India made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep in place of Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana.
Australian captain Pat Cummins admitted he would have bowled first as well but expressed confidence in his team’s preparation. “It’s been a fantastic series so far. Early finish in Adelaide allowed us to settle in here. Just one change for us – Josh Hazlewood comes in for Scott Boland,” said Cummins. India's pacers started well, with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep keeping the Australian openers in check. Siraj found movement off the surface, troubling Khawaja, while Akash maintained a miserly economy rate, conceding just two runs in his 3.2 overs. However, the weather soon took centre stage. Rain intensified shortly before the lunch break, forcing the players off the field. Despite the venue's excellent drainage system, the heavy downpour left the ground drenched, delaying any hopes of resumption.
Both captains had anticipated improving batting conditions later in the match, making the early overs crucial. For now, the players and fans can only hope for clearer skies as the match progresses.
