Published: Dec 28, 2014, 02:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 28, 2014, 02:34 PM (IST)
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane’s 262-run stand was inspirational and helped India put up a good fight on Day Three of the third Test in Melbourne. However, India lost the initiative late in the day when they lost their last five wickets for 53. With a lead of 68 runs, one would say that Australia have bounced back well in the match. Nishad Pai Vaidya reflects on the Kohli-Rahane partnership.
The last time two Indian batsman put up a partnership of over 250 in a Test outside the subcontinent was back in 2004 — VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar stitched a stand of 353 against Australia in Sydney. More than a decade later, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane dazzled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to script a 262-run stand. This is also the third highest partnership for India outside the sub-continent. These numbers speak volumes of the quality of the duo’s performance in helping India put up a brave fight on Day Three in Melbourne.
If one considers India’s overseas partnerships since 2011 (the year when their fall commenced), this has been their best stand. The previous best was Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 222-run partnership against South Africa in Johannesburg last year. Back then, that had helped put India in a position to win the game, dominating the South African attack. This time, Kohli and Rahane had to play to push India towards a position of relative safety. It was a different challenge altogether as India were behind the eight-ball, needing inspiration.
The manner in which the duo played was inspiration for their side. Though Rahane came in after Kohli, he outscored him and sped away to his ton before the latter.. The most impressive aspect of their partnership was the way they dealt with the short ball. Both held their positions, saw it till the last minute and pulled it with ease. Rahane looked more in control of his pull shots when compared to Kohli, but both were effective in fighting fire with fire.
It wasn’t only about occupying the crease but they also scored runs at a very good rate. In doing so, they put Australia on the backfoot and had their bowlers thinking. Though Mitchell Johnson had a wicket late in the day, he was rattled for a major part. Kohli held his spot and pulled him; driving the fuller ones. On the other hand, Rahane chalked out a strategy to make room and go through with the shots. Johnson didn’t seem the intimidating force of Brisbane that blew India away on Day Four. In many ways, this partnership did bring back memories of the stalwarts notching those big stands all those years ago.
However, India’s middle order capitulated after that partnership. KL Rahul had a forgettable initiation to Test cricket and was out in an uncharacteristic manner. MS Dhoni looked all at sea during his brief stay in the middle. Ravichandran Ashwin, the man who claimed that India would push for 650, did not last long as well. Despite all those positive signs shown by that partnership, India found themselves in that dangerous rut yet again. India lost their last five wickets for only 53 runs. This has been a very prominent feature of their overseas struggles in recent times.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Correspondent with CricketCountry and anchor for the site’s YouTube Channel. His Twitter handle is @nishad_45)
