India's Top Seven Batters Dominate Australia with Record Partnerships


image-lf53xpd5IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli scored his 28th Test century in Ahmedabad (AP Photo)

The ongoing final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is a crucial encounter, with both teams battling it out to achieve their respective goals.

The hosts are putting in all their efforts to secure a win and earn a place in the World Test Championship Final, while the visitors are leaving no stone unturned to level the series at 2-2.

On Day 4 of this fiercely contested match, the Indian batters achieved a remarkable and unprecedented feat that will go down in the history of Indian cricket. For the first time ever, the Indian team managed to build 50-plus partnerships for each of the first four wickets against Australia. In fact, the fifth and sixth-wicket partnerships continued this exceptional record, thus elevating this achievement to an unparalleled level.

The Indian innings commenced with a splendid opening partnership of 74 runs between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, setting the tone for a commanding performance. However, the Indian skipper was dismissed by Matthew Kuhnemann for a score of 35. 

Nevertheless, Gill displayed exemplary batting skills and built a magnificent 113-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara before the latter's wicket was taken by Todd Murphy for 42.

The young opener then partnered with Virat Kohli, as the duo shared 58-run. Gill, in particular, played a magnificent knock, scoring an impressive 128 off 235 balls before being adjudged LBW to Nathan Lyon. The fourth wicket partnership of 63 runs was crafted between Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, after which the latter was dismissed by Murphy for 28.

The fifth partnership of 84 runs was stitched between Kohli and KS Bharat, who was promoted up the batting order in place of an injured Shreyas Iyer. The ongoing stand between Kohli and Axar Patel has also crossed the 50-run mark, and still is running strong.

India will now aim to narrow the deficit and score some quick runs to provide their bowlers with a slim chance of bowling out Australia on the final day of the match. The outcome of this game is critical for India, as a victory here will allow them to directly qualify for the World Test Championship Final. 

However, a draw or loss will make them dependent on the result of the New Zealand vs Sri Lanka series.