The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy finally commenced with the first Test currently underway at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. While before the start of the match, there was all the noise about the pitch being a spin-friendly one, Indian seamers reduced Australia to 2/2 in 3 overs with both Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami scalping a wicket each. The new ball-burst by the Indian speedsters nicely set up the match for the Men in Blue.
Knowing the importance of the early breakthroughs, India's head coach Rahul Dravid also seemed pumped up in the dressing room. A video of his reaction to the dismissal of Australian opener Usman Khawaja has gone viral on social media. While on-field umpire Nitin Menon had said no to an LBW appeal off the bowling of Siraj which looked close, Indian captain Rohit Sharma decided to go for the referral with just 1 second to go on the clock.
The replays then confirmed that the ball pitched in line and would have gone on to hit the leg-stump which delighted the Indian camp and undoubtedly the coach was happy.
Here is the video:
Khawaja was the first wicket to fall after which David Warner fell to an absolute peach of a delivery by Mohammed Shami. Although Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne did ensure that the visitors don't lose any more wickets in the first session, Ravindra Jadeja scalped 3 quick wickets after lunch including both the set batters to put the Kangaroos on the backfoot.
Meanwhile, India are fielding two debutants in this side with Suryakumar Yadav and Srikar Bharat getting a game. However, Shubman Gill did not find a place in the Test team despite having been in great form in the recent limited-over matches. Australia, on the other hand, did not give Travis Head a place in the side.