IND vs AUS: 3 wickets in 16 balls! KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill fall in quick succession | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Australia paceman Mitchell Starc breathed fire, dismissing star batters KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in consecutive overs while Scott Boland trapped Shubman Gill plumb in front as India were left reeling with three blows in 16 balls, late in the first session on Day 1 of the the second day-night Test in Adelaide on Friday.
With around 30 minutes to go for the Dinner break, Starc was brought back into the attack by skipper Pat Cummins and he instantly created an impact, getting rid of Rahul fourth ball into his spell.
Rahul, who had majorly left the balls outside off during his resilient 64-ball 37 knock, eventually got one that rose a bit extra as it flew off his bat to Nathan McSweeney at gully in the 19th over. It was the third time in the series Starc got the better of Rahul as he ended a solid 69-run stand.
On the very first ball of Starc’s next over, which was the 21st over of the innings, Australia tasted a major success as the left-arm quick got rid of Kohli for just 7.
As Starc landed a short of length delivery at around fifth-sixth stump line, Kohli got late in withdrawing his bat as the ball took the outside edge and went to Steve Smith at second slip.
The third blow from India came in the successive 22nd over as Gill shuffled across outside off against Boland and missed the delivery completely to get trapped dead in front of the stumps for 31.
From a position of strength, steady at 69 for one, India slumped to 81 for 4 late in the session, losing three big wickets for just 12 runs.
New batters Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma walked into the Dinner break unbeaten on 4 and 1 respectively as India’s scorecard read a sorry 82 for 4 in 23 overs.
