July 17, 2026

Will India Win The Third Test Tomorrow?

By Slogger
First publised on 2021-01-10 15:12:13

About the Author

Holding an extreme view and carting the ball out of the park is what interests him most. He is a hard hitter at all times. Fasten your seatbelts and read.

View all posts by this Author

Will India win the third Test? The odds are not daunting. 309 runs need to be made on the last day. There are eight wickets in hand. Cheteshawar Pujara and skipper Ajinkye Rahane are at the crease. There are no demons in the pitch. The Indians have been playing this Australian bowling attack for the last 5 innings. Yes, they got out for 36 in the second innings of the first Test, but that is history. After that, the Indians came back strongly to win the second Test.

Hence, it can be anybody's game. The Indians have the advantage of having two of their best batsmen at the crease in the morning when the ball is expected to move about in the air and jump off the ground. If these two can negotiate the Aussie pace battery for one session and put around 75 runs on the board without being separated, it will definitely be advantage India. But Pujara will have to do better than bat at a snail's pace.

Having said that, the question mark over the fitness of Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant introduces an element of uncertainty. Will both or either of them be able to bat, and if they do, will they be able to bat at full potential? It is necessary that both of them are able to bat at full potential for India to make a game out of the match.

Hanuma Vihari's confidence was already low and his run out in the first innings must have shattered him. Hence it is necessary that Pujara and Rahane bat long enough to blunt the Aussie attack and put enough runs on the board to make it easier for the lower middle order if they get out. The Aussies, on the other hand, would like to wrap it up as early as possible. Either way, it is going to be an interesting day’s cricket.