IND vs AUS: The Shubman Gill Century Highlighted a Dull Session for India on Day 3
Gill scored his first home Test hundred in Ahmedabad (AP Photo)
Shubman Gill's Test century highlighted the second session on Day 2, but it seemed India didn't come with their weapons for this phase of play. The home team are still trailing by 292 runs, and Cheteshwar Pujara's dismissal late in the session might have pushed them on the back foot.
Gill's block-game took him to 100
A block-game by the century-maker and his partner Cheteshwar Pujara frustrated the opposition as they almost had a wicketless session on the moving day of the Ahmedabad Test match. However, it also seemed that the dual went ultra cautiously with their approach, despite getting off to a flyer in the first session.
Steve Smith's Australia operated with a tight leg side field on a slow turner track, which cut the Indian batters runs by half. Gill and Pujara decided to counter it by showing dead bat as much as they could.
The opener tried freeing his arms as he went berserk against Cameron Green with two successive boundaries, but to that, Smith became proactive and brought in two short covers for Gill.
With that defensive field, runs dried up for India but the two batters trusted their defence and started picking rare singles. However, eventually, the visiting bowlers got tired and frustrated in the end as they bowled looseners to the opener, when he reached in his 90s.
The 23-year-old completed his maiden home Test hundred with a couple of boundaries in a span of just six deliveries. He went down the track to Lyon, before lapping Todd Murphy to fine leg region to get to the three-figure mark.
Gill's remarkable ton followed by Pujara's dismissal
Soon after Gill completed his hundred, Pujara got fouled on the slow-turning Ahmedabad track as he misjudged the drift off Murphy's bowling. He pressed forward and tried blocking off an off-break bowled from round the wicket angle.
Unfortunately for the Indian number three, the ball gripped and turned into the right-hander and plumbed him in front of the strikes.
Pujara's dismissal brought in Virat Kohli onto the crease for just an over before Tea, but the former Indian captain seemed like a cat on a hot tin roof as he survived three close shaves in his four-ball unbeaten stay.
Talking Points
Steve Smith was proactive with his captaincy as he switched his plans between phases and dried up runs with his tactical play. He played with field play and didn't allow the Indians to score freely in a session, which is most suitably for batting.
Unlike his nature, Shubman Gill went into a shell and didn't try doing something extra against the spinners, even after being a set batter.
Prediction
India might loss the plot in his session as a couple of quick wickets will Australian an edge over the home team. For that not to happen, the legendary Virat Kohli will have to end his low phase at Ahmedabad.
Brief Scores
India 1st Innings: 188/2 (63)
Shubman Gill 103* (197), Virat Kohli 0* (4);
Todd Murphy 1/18 (9)
India trail by 292 runs.
.jpeg "CSA reveals the list!")
 "Arjun Bhalla")
