New Delhi: In an intriguing session of traditional Test cricket KLRahul and Cheteshwar Pujara dug deep to take India to 64 for 1 at lunch on Day 2 of the fourth India-Australia Test at Dharmasala, 236 runs behind Australia’s first innings total of 300.
Rahul was unbeaten on 31 in company of another in-form batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (22 batting) adding 43 runs for the unbroken second wicket stand. The only batsman to be dismissed was Murali Vijay (11).
It was a testing morning for the Indian batsmen. Hazlewood and Cummins were at their best exploiting seam and bounce to a great extent.
India were rocked early by Hazlewood, who removed Murali Vijay (11) in the tenth over of the morning with a ball that held its line after pitching on and around the fifth stump. The Australian quick emerged victorious in the mini battle with Vijay.
Last match double centurion Cheteshwar Pujara joined Rahul and started off with a picture perfect cover drive for four.
The boundaries were far and few in between as Cummins and Hazlewood bowled a proving line. Cummins peppered Rahul with some short stuff by keeping a leg gully and short leg but the Indian opener was up to the task. The otherwise free flowing stroke maker ducked and swayed, left and waited to whether the storm.
Rahul, who hit five boundaries in 75 balls during the session, was at his elegant best once again. The first boundary was an inside out cover drive off Nathan Lyon.
He did get a slice of luck when an outside edge flew past Renshaw a first, who reacted late.
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