India are on the backfoot in the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. After getting bowled out for 109 in the first innings, the home team managed to score 163 in their second innings. However, Australia's 197 in their first innings means that the Kangaroos need only 76 runs to win in the fourth innings of the Test match.
Even though the Test has been dominated by spinners with Nathan Lyon picking up an eight-wicket haul on Day 2, one pacer that left his mark in the match was Umesh Yadav. The Indian fast bowler has got limited opportunities in home conditions with the hosts opting for only two pacers but he has always found a way to make an impact.
Thursday was another such day for Umesh who scalped 3 of the 6 Australian wickets to fall in the first session. While he could have a critical role to play on a spin-friendly wicket with the hosts needing to defend 76 in the final innings, when he was asked at the press conference to share if India could win it from here, his answer suggests that the Indian team hasn't yet lost hope.
"In cricket anything can happen. We will try our best and bowl tight lines. It is not an easy wicket, whether it is our batters or theirs. It is not easy to step out and hit," he said as quoted in a report by PTI.
"The ball is keeping low as well, so you can't be sure about stepping out. The runs are less but we will stick to tight lines and push as much as we can," the 35-year-old added.
Umesh had chipped in with a useful 17-run knock in the first innings but got out for a duck in the second. He said that it makes more sense for a tail-ender to attack than to defend.
"It is difficult to get runs here. I feel, rather than defending and getting out eventually, it is better to go for shots on a wicket like this. Even I would have scored 10-20 runs, that would have pushed the lead to 90. That is more important for me," he said.
(With Inputs From PTI)