The second day was all about India’s hammering, the following day it was Australia’s turn to get the beating as Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane thrashed the Aussie bowlers all over to park in the first innings to crawl back into the match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Rahane, in particular, was at his brutal best and never allowed Australia to dominate the proceedings. Since the start he played his shots and never backed off on dispatching the loose deliveries and completed his third Test century and first in the series.
Kohli, meanwhile, was playing in a different zone altogether, and despite verbal spat and moments with Mitchell Johnson, played a flawless innings. He scored his third century in the series and fourth overall against Australia, in Australia.
Both Rahane and Kohli were so dominant that Australian spearhead Johnson was thrashed for more than hundred runs. Rahane, especially, took on Johnson and played in unorthodox fashion to pick boundaries whenever, even a lit bit of pressure was created.
Australia paid the price of dropping catches on crucial junctures and the Indian duo made use of them to stitch a mammoth 262-run partnership for the fourth wicket. They also became the first Indian pair this season to make a 200+ partnership.
The hosts finally got the wicket in the post-tea session, when off-spinner Nathan Lyon trapped Rahane (147) lbw, and Australia got few quick wickets after that, including Mahendra Singh Dhoni and debutant KL Rahul.
Lyon again jolted India when he dismissed Rahul for just three. Rahul played only eight balls on his short stay at the crease, and despite been dropped a ball earlier, played a premeditated shot on a very next delivery and was caught by Josh Hazlewood.
Towards the end of day, India lost another big wicket when Ryan Harris dismissed skipper MS Dhoni (11). Harris made the ball talking and then dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin for a duck, just four balls later.
Kohli, meanwhile, held one end firmly but was dismissed in the final over of the day by Johnson. Team India finished the day on 468/8 at an expense of eight wickets, in reply of Australia first innings total of 530.
Earlier in the day, Australian bowlers looked threatening and picked an early wicket when they got Cheteshwar Pujara caught behind. Pacer Ryan Harris dismissed Pujara (25), when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a screamer diving to his right.
Murali Vijay, meanwhile, tried to steady the innings, after an early breakthrough, with Kohli but paid the price of lapse in concentration. Vijay (68) was caught my Shaun Marsh off Shane Watson as India were reduced to 147/3.
It was all India after that as Kohli and Rahane battled their way and completed their centuries to give India a fighting chance with two more days remaining in the Test match. Australia are currently leading the four-match Test series 2-0.
