[AtheK]

Legacy Rohit Sharma is leaving behind is that we should celebrate saving follow on with 9 players in the team. Well done the worst test captain ever, even worst than Dhoni. He atleast had the shame to walk out, this guy will play the 5th test as well by the looks of it.

Kohli's on the field antics were covered till he was scoring, now it is just antics, which is extremely irritating without the performance. In a way it is our own doing of hero worship that we did not make it to WTC final, which in hindsight is fine if that means we see the end of these two burdens.

Let's see what their PR agencies come up with this time to save these two fossils. I know i am being extremely harsh on these 2, but it's their own doing. Just don't know when to move out and let others take over.

And we had members here thinking kings and hitmans will burn bright today and we will chase down 300+ total on last day. We are just lucky they did not ask us to bat yesterday or as I predicted we would have been 30/3 yesterday, which was the case today eventually.

Originally Posted by Chetan23

Jaiswal and Pant are doing it well at the moment now. I guess if they play similarly till Tea then they can try to attack and chase the target. As of now Draw is likely unless there is again a cluster of wickets like in the morning session.

Amazing optimism!

If we were actually playing 11 players instead of 9 we would have traded blows with blows.

[Chetan23]

Jaiswal and Pant are doing it well at the moment now. I guess if they play similarly till Tea then they can try to attack and chase the target. As of now Draw is likely unless there is again a cluster of wickets like in the morning session.

[NomadSK]

I'm actually surprised to see Rishab Pant not playing his natural game which he displayed in first innings.

Unfortunately till the time we will celebrate saving follow-ons and draws, we won't be a great test team.

[harry10]

Incredible from Jaiswal.
His confidence was low after drop catches and Rohit acting like a buffoon.
But, amazing resilience today.

Kudos to Pant too. Slowest he has ever played.
From cricbuzz-
Pant has defended or left alone 69% of the balls today - the highest for him in 32 innings where he batted at least 50 balls.

With Marnus and Head bowling Aussies are out of idea and resigned to the fact of a draw.

There was no way we could have gone for the win from start when we are literally playing with 9 wickets and in that Rahul got out for 0.

[sharkashwa]

Originally Posted by sharkashwa

Talking about predictions, I think it all depends on Pant's approach in the post lunch session. If he is bent to committing Hara-Kiri even in this innings then I predict India folding up in the post tea session with around 200 on the board. I would love to hear differing opinions.

Shark

Panty definitely showing mindfulness and constraint. It was pleasing for a change seeing Pant stay in his crease and defend/leave deliveries. The last over from Labuschagne just showed how desperate the Aussies are and what it means to wear down their quicks. Will be exciting to see if India does an about turn in their approach post Tea. I wouldn't bet on it as we have no specialist batsmen after this pair. But it would definitely be entertaining to see a last hour explosion from the remaining batters who are known to be T20 talents.

[Col Mehta]

Originally Posted by Col Mehta

Disappointing first session! Any chance of winning this one is gone now. Even a draw seems to be difficult from here. At least two batsmen would really have to grind and apply themselves to save this game.

Finally India found two batsmen demonstrating resilience and resolute! No wicket in the entire session. Brilliant from Jaiswal and Pant who are looking rock solid (barring a couple of concentration lapses from Jaiswal against Lyon). This is what makes Test Cricket so special - players standing up against all odds and winning a session. This partnership might just save the game for us. Touchwood.

Aussie bowlers will start getting tired and with the ball getting softer, it will take a sensational bowling session for them to win. However, everyone knows they are capable to produce great performance plus they will have ~15-20 overs with the new ball. This is far from being over and India will have to ensure to have enough wickets in hand to see through fiery bursts from the fast bowlers. Can't wait!!

[padmrajravi]

Originally Posted by sharkashwa

I wouldn't bet on it as we have no specialist batsmen after this pair. But it would definitely be entertaining to see a last hour explosion from the remaining batters who are known to be T20 talents.

There is still about 12 overs of second new ball to negotiate. If we lose this pair even in the last 10 overs, Australia can still go for the kill with a new ball burst from their three quicks.

[Eddy]

Let us not draw our chickens before they hatch. We are fully capable of losing 7 in an extended session of play.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Let us not draw our chickens before they hatch. We are fully capable of losing 7 in an extended session of play.

5 down, 5 to go. You jinxed it, Eddy!

[harry10]

Originally Posted by Eddy

Let us not draw our chickens before they hatch. We are fully capable of losing 7 in an extended session of play.

Like you said.
Reddy gone too.

Pant opened a window once again with a stupid Needless shot. Now door is wide open for easy Aussie win.

[sharkashwa]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

5 down, 5 to go. You jinxed it, Eddy!

Yeah Eddy, why do you have to state the inevitable. Lol! The first innings centurion is gone now too. As I predicted, we will need a miracle to save this match now.

[sharkashwa]

Originally Posted by harry10

Like you said.
Reddy gone too.

Pant opened a window once again with a stupid Needless shot. Now door is wide open for easy Aussie win.

For once, I don't think it was a brain fade moment from Pant. He may have been trying to up the ante since we were into the last session of play and it being a part time bowler in Head with a half tracker. It was just that the execution was off and the ball got a bit too high for him to hit it where he wanted.
Now we find ourselves yet again banking on youngsters to get us out of the hole that we dug for ourselves. Ah, the deja vu never stops with this team.

[Vinod_nair]

I've switched off my TV, actually the Cable wala pulled the plug (he has no power)

[VW2010]

It would be wonderful if this is the last series for the two most over rated cricketers hogging a spot in this 11. I say over rated because their time is past their ability to play cricket and you cannot win test matches playing 9 while 2 are free riding. Yes I meant Rohit and Kohli should call it a day and move on.

[NomadSK]

Zero motivation, zero resilience, zero application, zero intent, zero grit, zero enthusiasm, zero match awareness. Can someone pls "roko" them from going into the 5th test.

I really don't know what they are playing for and making themselves a fool in front of billions.