On the second day of the WTC final, we again saw Australia having the upper hand on the Indian team. Starting the second day, the Indian bowlers finally had success in breaking the dominant partnership of Steve Smith and Travis Head. It didn’t take much time for the Australian middle order to disintegrate either. Although the team went all out, the score they put on the board for India to trail wasn’t an easy one.
India’s top order crumbled
Team India’s 469-run trail began with skipper Rohit Sharma and youngster Shubman Gill. Once again, cricket enthusiasts saw the Indian top order collapse, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Chetashwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli getting dismissed very early.
In a heartbreaking start to the inning, none of them were able to cross even the 20-run mark. Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja did some middle-order repair, but India found themselves staring down the barrel at 151/5. Now the team will head into the third day trailing by 318 runs.
Gill and Pujara dismissed in same manner
The Indian top order has once again failed to deliver the performance when it was much needed, which has only left fans hopeless for the win. The Australian bowling unit definitely did an appreciable job of taking some essential wickets, but a couple of Indian wickets, especially those of Gill and Pujara, were simply due to some negligent shot selection. Both batsmen shouldered their arms, leaving the balls to hit their stumps.
Gill was dismissed by Boland, and Pujara followed this up with the same dismissal, which looked like the spitting image of his teammate’s wicket. Pujara shouldered his arm to the delivery by Cameron Green, which was straight in the line. His decision to leave the ball left him and both team India scrambling.
Shastri slams the No.3 batter
This wicket was very unlike Pujara, as he is known as someone who knows where his off stump is. He has been on many England tours and was successful, but his playing this delivery in an odd manner gave such an outrageous sight that even former India coach Ravi Shastri didn’t hold back and criticised the batsman.
During the commentary, Shastri said, “It was leaving the ball poorly because the front foot has just crossed, it should go towards the ball. He was looking to play it but suddenly decided to leave it, which left his stumps exposed. Shastri also said that Shubman Gill was a bit lazy with his footwork, but he will learn , he is still young, but Pujara will be disappointed to see this happen.
Also read:- SIRAJ’S ODD EXPLANATION ON HIS HEATED DUEL WITH SMITH DURING THE WTC FINAL