Cheteshwar Pujara’s “slow” batting and dour defence may come in handy for India on the final day of the Sydney Test as the visitors face a tough job of thwarting the Australians from taking a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.
On paper, India need 309 runs more to win the game after Australia set them a stiff target of 407. They reached 98/2 at stumps on Day IV. But given the circumstances, it is difficult to look at it that way and one assumes that India would be trying for a draw, not taking the risk of going for an audacious win.
Two of India’s lower-middle order batsmen — Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant — are carrying injuries and one is not sure how useful they will be even if they come out to bat.
Along with Pujara, who was unbeaten on 9 at the close of play, much of the onus will also be on stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane (4, batting) to bail India out.
One positive for India has been the nature of the SCG track, as it hasn’t really misbehaved.
Senior player Ravichandran Ashwin explained how the team would be approaching the final day.
“Firstly, in a Test match, you don’t look at the overall score and say going into a final day that we must go for a win.
“There are passages of play and the red-ball game is much more different, especially on a Day V pitch. You don’t go into the morning session and say, ‘Chalo hum 300 banaa denge’. That’s not how you play the game,” Ashwin said at the virtual media conference after the day’s play.
“Batsmen walking in will believe they can do it, as that belief is very important when you step on to the park.
“Besides, the wicket is slow and there are no demons in it. In fact, the wicket is getting better to bat on,” he added.
Earlier in the day, it looked really tough for India when Australia’s overnight batsmen Marnus Labuschagne (73) and Steve Smith (81) once again appeared to be on song, before Cameron Green too contributed well with his career-best 84. Dropped catches did not help the visitors either. Australia declared their second innings at 312 for six.
Then openers Rohit Sharma (52) and Shubman Gill (31), who were intelligent in their use of the DRS, gave India a good start before departing late in the day’s final session.
