Day 2 of the Fourth Test: A Tale of Two Halves

The Collapse of the Indian Innings

The Indian innings, which had been going strong with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli at the crease, came crashing down in a matter of minutes. Jaiswal, who had been in a mood to get the game moving, hit the ball straight to mid-on and started running. Kohli, however, did not respond, and the two batters ended up at the same end, looking at each other in confusion.

The Unlikely Wicket

The wicket was all the more surprising given the solid platform that Jaiswal and Kohli had built for themselves and their team. The two had forged a 102-run stand, and India looked to be heading towards a strong finish on a day that had not started too well for the visitors.

Kohli's Dismissal

Kohli, who had shown extreme discipline for large parts of his innings, was eventually dismissed for 36. He poked at a classic Boland delivery on a virtual fourth stump, only to be nicked off. The anguish on his face was all too understandable.

The Australian Comeback

The unexpected run-out triggered a collapse, and the Australians were back in full voice. They added another wicket to their tally, removing night-watcher Akash Deep, to reduce India to 5/159. The game had turned, and the home team was well on top all over again.

Rohit's Captaincy Under Fire

Rohit Sharma's captaincy has been under scrutiny, especially after the first session of the day. He has been accused of being clueless and allowing the Aussies to dictate terms entirely. His decision to promote himself back to open the innings in place of the in-form KL Rahul has also been questioned.

Jaiswal and Kohli's Rebuild

The second act of the day saw Jaiswal and Kohli rebuild the Indian innings and give the visitors something to hang on to. However, the third and most decisive act of the day snuffed it all out, and the Indians were left reeling.

The Australian Lower Order

The Australian lower order, led by Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, had a field day on Day 2. They scored nearly 100 runs in the first hour of play, and the Indians were left struggling to contain them.

The Game in a Nutshell

The game has turned on its head, and the Australians are now well on top. The Indians will need to regroup and come up with a new strategy to turn the game around.