Puducherry ke Siechem ground par India A ka jalwa barkarar hai. Pitch apna rang badal rahi hai, bounce uneven ho chuka hai, aur Australia A ke batsmen ke liye har ek delivery ek naya imtehaan ban gayi hai. 363 runs ke pahad jaise target ka picha karte hue Kangaroos ne teesre din ka khel khatam hone tak 55 runs par 2 wickets kho diye hain. Ab unhe jeet ke liye 308 runs aur chahiye, jo is toot-ti pitch par kisi chamatkar se kam nahi hoga.
The Inner Story is:
Khel ki shuruat India A ke captain Devdutt Padikkal ke naam rahi. Apne captaincy debut par unhone dikha diya ki unke paas sirf technique nahi, balki leadership quality bhi hai. Devdutt Padikkal ne 59 runs ki shandaar innings kheli aur B Sai Sudharsan (39) ke saath milkar 68 runs ki mazboot partnership ki. Pitch par uneven bounce ne pareshan karne ki koshish ki, kabhi ball ankle-height par rahi toh kabhi seedha gloves par ja lagi, lekin Padikkal ne apne class se bowlers ko thaka diya.
Lower middle order mein Kumar Kushagra ne phir se apna loha manwaya. Unhone 59 balls mein 46 runs ki unbeaten innings kheli, jisme unhone Todd Murphy aur Corey Rocchiccioli ke khilaaf agresive rukh apnaya. Halaki, unhe chin par ek gehri chot bhi lagi jab Brendan Doggett ki ball achanak uchal gayi, par unhone batting jaari rakhi. India A ne apni second innings mein 199 runs banaye aur overall lead 362 runs tak pahuncha di.
Target ka picha karne utri Australia A ki shuruat behad kharab rahi. Tushar Deshpande ne Campbell Kellaway ko duck par chalta kiya. Iske baad Tanush Kotian ne Sam Konstas ko 20 runs par LBW out karke Australia ko backfoot par dhakel diya. Filhaal Nathan McSweeney aur Peter Handscomb crease par hain, lekin unke liye chautha din kisi দুঃswapna se kam nahi hone wala.
Analysis & Numbers
- Devdutt Padikkal ne 72 balls mein 59 runs banakar team ko front foot par rakha.
- Todd Murphy ne Australia A ke liye sabse zyada 4 wickets liye.
- India A ne first innings mein 163 runs ki lead hasil ki thi, jo game changer sabit hui.
- Target: Australia A needs 363 runs, current score 55/2.
The Guru Gyan Verdict:
India A is in total dominance mode. Puducherry ki pitch par ab cracks khul chuke hain aur yahan se Australia A ka wapis aana namumkin lag raha hai. Devdutt Padikkal ne dikha diya hai ki unhe India ke main squad mein kyu consider kiya jata hai. Tanush Kotian aur Shams Mulani chauthe din Kangaroos ko apni ungliyon par nachayenge. Australia ke liye ye match bachana maut ke kuan se nikalne jaisa hoga.
Stay tuned to The Guru Gyan for more unfiltered cricket masala!