India vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 2: Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe dismantle Indian middle-order before tea

Australia pushed India in further trouble in the second session of Day One of the second Test at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium. India lost three crucial wickets of captain Virat Kohli, his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, and triple-centurion Karun Nair. While the seniors fell prey to Nathan Lyon’s off-spinners, Nair misjudged Steve O’Keefe’s tossed-up delivery. Meanwhile, KL Rahul steadied India’s ship and scored his third half-century. With him, at the other end, is Ravichandran Ashwin. India go into tea at 168 for 5. Full cricket scorecard: India vs Australia, 2nd Test

Kohli elected to bat, something he was deprived of in the series opener. The track, for that matter, equally helped batsmen and bowlers. There was something on offer for bowlers if pitched in the right area. If line and length missed, the batsmen had no trouble putting it away. India, however, batted with caution in the second innings. Kohli, especially, tried to leave deliveries that were pitched outside off. In fact, there was no doubt that Australia captain would pit Kohli against his go-to man Mitchell Starc. But Kohli is not the one to back down. After getting accustomed to conditions, he played his trademark cover-drive. From the other end came off-spinner Nathan Lyon. He stationed a leg-slip and forward short-leg, trying to get Kohli caught. Full cricket updates: India vs Australia, 2nd Test

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Kohli flicked a few deliveries, while he left the ones that generated extra bounce. In the pursuit of doing so, he missed a stock delivery that would have gone on to hit the stumps. He signalled for a review, but the ball-tracking system suggested what the umpire had adjudged. He walked back to the pavilion for 12.

In came Rahane at No. 5. He used his feet, eliminating the chances of getting bat-pad. But little did he know that the ball would keep low and get stumped. He was Lyon’s second scalp.

Nair wasted no time and hit three delightful boundaries before he missed O’Keefe’s delivery, eventually getting stumped.

Brief scores:

India 168 for 5 (KL Rahul 76*, Karun Nair 26; Nathan Lyon 3 for 40; Steve O’Keefe 1 for 33) vs Australia.

Full scorecard