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The absence of captain Virat Kohli, known as “King Kohli”, had left Indian fans fearing another heavy Test 2 defeat against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
But substitute captain Ajinkya Rahane put on a majestic performance on Sunday, scoring his 12th century test to put India in a powerful position for stumps on day two.
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AP
Ajinkya Rahane from India celebrates its 12th century of trial.
Resuming their 36-1 overnight tally in response to Australia’s 195, India advanced to 277-5 to maintain an 82-run overall lead, with Rahane’s 104 undefeated innings of the match so far.
Coming into his graceful century with 195 balls with a cut through point back to his eleventh limit, Rahane briefly and modestly raised his bat and quietly wiped the sweat from his brow, before continuing, as India struggles to level the game. Serie.
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Showing calm determination on Sunday, India’s hitters patiently cut the host’s lead. India had hit 189-5 by teatime in cloudy sky conditions on a grassy field that favored paddlers.
In a composite hit that has included 12 four out of 200 installments, Rahane stabilized the response on his side, sharing half-century associations with Hanuma Vihari (21) and Rishabh Pant (29) and a century-long position with Ravindra Jadeja (40 no outside).
Robert Cianflone / Getty Images
Ajinkya Rahane’s impressive blow has put India in control at MCG.
India had previously moved carefully to 90-3 at lunch, losing two wickets in the first session on Sunday.
Shubman Gill (45) and Cheteshwar Pujara (17 of 70 balls) added 61 before pitcher Pat Cummins hit in successive overs.
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AP
Australia’s Travis Head reacts after dropping a catch off Ajinkya Rahane.
Gill was caught behind by Tim Paine at 61-2. Cummins pounced again on his next over, eliminating Pujara when Paine made a spectacular dive catch.
That catch gave Paine the ground-keeping record for fastest to reach 150 test starts, reaching the milestone in his 33rd match, ahead of South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (34 matches).
Quinn Rooney / Getty Images
It is understood! Tim Paine dives in to catch Cheteshwar Pujara from India.
Vihari donned a sweep attempt after lunch and was caught at Nathan Lyon’s bowling alley at 116-4.
Mitchell Starc became the ninth Australian man to claim 250 proving grounds when the left arm quickly knocked out Pant trapped back for 29 at 173-5.
Starc caught the second new ball after 80 overs when Australia attempted a late recovery. Three balls later, Rahane at 73 advanced to the second slip where Steve Smith dropped a difficult opportunity to head level at a crucial moment. Rahane was brought down again at 104 by a Travis Head nosedive at the spot, outside of Starc’s bowling alley, at the end of a day of play in which India was the clear winner.
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake / AP
Cheers, jump: Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates with his teammate Tim Paine after taking the wicket off Cheteshwar Pujara of India during the second day of the second cricket test.
India is without its best hitter and captain Kohli for the remainder of the series, after he returned home to be with his wife at the birth of their first child. Kohli went with India trailing 1-0 in the four-game series after an eight-wicket loss in Adelaide, where the tourists were eliminated with a national record of 36 in their second inning.
