Rishabh Pant showed remarkable resilience after taking multiple blows, but Virat Kohli’s recurring struggles outside the off-stump added to India’s woes, leaving them at 107 for 4 at tea on the opening day of the fifth Test against Australia on Friday.
Pant, unbeaten on 32 off 80 balls, fought through a difficult session, enduring painful blows to his bicep, helmet, and twice to his abdomen.
Despite this, he managed to loft Beau Webster for a straight six, showing some attacking intent. Ravindra Jadeja, at the other end, was more defensive, accumulating 11 runs off 50 balls as he added 35 for the fifth wicket with Pant. The second session saw just 50 runs scored off 25 overs.
India’s top order once again faltered, even with regular skipper Rohit Sharma choosing to "rest" due to his poor form. Kohli, in particular, continued to struggle.
He could have been dismissed off the first delivery from Scott Boland, but the seamer got the better of him in the post-lunch session.
Kohli’s struggles continued as he pushed at a delivery on the off-stump channel, sending the ball straight to the slip cordon, where he was caught for 17 off 69 balls.
If one excludes Kohli’s second-innings century in Perth, his average from his last 20 Test innings stands at a concerning 17.57.
Pant, on the other hand, seemed to have benefited from "honest conversations" with head coach Gautam Gambhir.
The southpaw respected the game situation, with the exception of one instance when he charged at a Pat Cummins delivery.
However, Pant’s confidence grew after a six off debutant Webster and a back-cut boundary off Nathan Lyon, despite suffering a painful bruise on his left bicep from Boland’s delivery.
Shubman Gill, who had shown patience for nearly two hours, fell victim to a poor decision just before lunch. The right-hander (20 off 64 balls) stepped out to Lyon, only to be caught at first slip, leaving India in further trouble.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were reunited as an opening pair, were dismissed within the first hour of play. Rahul (4 off 14 balls) clipped a half-volley from Mitchell Starc to Sam Konstas at square leg.
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Jaiswal (10) was dismissed by an immaculate delivery from Boland that reared up from the back of a length and squared up the left-hander. Webster took the catch in the slip cordon for his first Test wicket.
Kohli, once again greeted with boos from the crowd, was nearly dismissed off a delivery from Boland, which pitched on the eight-metre length. Kohli jabbed at the ball, with the bat face pointing towards mid-off, and a diving Steve Smith was convinced the ball had been caught before touching the grass.
Replays showed the ball had in fact touched the ground, allowing Kohli a reprieve. However, the Indian star could not make the most of the opportunity, and the reprieve did not cost Australia much.
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