The Indian camp smelled of winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne after overcoming a humiliating defeat in Adelaide. On the second day of the second Test at Rahane-Jadeja's bat, the visiting team sat in the driver's seat. And at the end of the third day, the Indian camp is on the verge of winning the Melbourne Test with the help of the bowlers.
India started the day with 277 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the morning session on the third day. 49 runs were added to the scoreboard. Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane returned to the pavilion after being run out for 112 runs. Another unbeaten batsman Rabindra Jadeja returned to the dressing room with a personal 57 after completing his half century. After the Rahane-Jadeja partnership of 121 runs for the sixth wicket, the Aussie bowlers did not allow India to build a long partnership. All in all, the Aussie bowlers won the first session of the day, but Rahane's India took a big lead of 131 runs in the first innings.
The second session was then shared by the Aussie batsmen and the Indian bowlers, but the final session of the day was completely dominated by the Indian bowlers. Australia made 65 on the scoreboard, losing to Joe Burns and Marnus Labushan in the second session of the day before the tea break. Umesh Yadav left the field after giving an initial push to the opposition by returning Barnes. Anxiety grows in the Indian camp. But from the beginning of the last session of the day, Bumra-Siraj-Jadejara kept the Aussie batsmen down. The Baggie Greens lost 6 wickets for 99 runs from 65/2 at one point.
Steve Smith, the middle-order batsman, returned to the pavilion after being bowled out for just eight runs at the start of the third session. After that, opener Matthew Wade, who was settled at the crease for 40 runs, returned to Jadeja and collapsed in the Aussie camp. Travis Head (17) and captain Tim Payne (1) returned quickly. Cameron Green and Pat Cummins then spent the remaining 18.2 overs of the day unharmed. After saving the innings rate, at the end of the day, courtesy of these two batsmen, Ajira went ahead by 2 runs. Green is unbeaten on 17 at the crease and teammate Cummins is unbeaten on 15.
In the fourth morning session, the Indian bowlers will aim to pick up the remaining 4 wickets of Ajit. The Indian batsmen should not have a hard time regaining the series if they can wrap up Australia's second innings at least in the first session. In other words, Team India is on the verge of returning to parity in the series after overcoming the Adelaide disaster.
