India vs Australia, 1st Test Day 2 HIGHLIGHTS: Jadeja, Axar score unbeaten fifties as IND leads by 144 runs

Last over of the day. Lyon will bowl round the wicket. Lot of turn on that, Jadeja edges it but Smith squanders at slip, Jaddu survives. With that, day 2 comes to an end. India started off strong, had a few blips along the way but has finished the day with a daunting lead of 144. Australia has let the momentum slip after breakthroughs in the middle as Jadeja and Axar put on an unbeaten 81-run partnership.

Matt Renshaw is into the attack, replaces Lyon. Full toss and Jadeja flicks it for a FOUR.

Axar joins the party with a 4-ball 50. If the duo continue this form, India might get to a formidable lead by the end of this innings.

Lyon bowls a maiden. Looks like Axar has bruised his fore arm, physios are in to attend the all-rounder.

Five dots from Murphy.Axar rakes a single off the final ball to retain strike

Low full toss from Labuschagne and Axar charges at it over mdwicket for a FOUR. Seven runs from that over

Maiden from Lyon.

Labuschagne back into the attack. Replaces Murphy. Axar greets Marnus with a four, kept low and offered width, guided away towards the boundary. 300 up for India.

A tad bit short from Cummins and Axar helps it towards third man for a FOUR. Five runs from that over

The fifer-man sat down with our correspondent Ayan Acharya before the series began and this is what the 22-year old had to say:

Cummins into the attack, replaces Lyon. Full and Axar drives it staright for a FOUR.

Murphy continues. Conceded just one run, tidy over. India leads by 111

Straighter delivery from Lyon. Axar makes room and slashes behind point for another FOUR. Five runs from the over.

Murphy drops short and Axar slashes the ball off the backfoot through cover for another FOUR.

100-run lead for India as Jadeja rocks back and punches the ball through cover for FOUR.

Length from Murphy and Axar charges down and drags the ball past the bowler for another FOUR. He retains strike with a single.

Boland slides one in and Jadeja flicks it down to fine-leg for a single. Boland overpitches and Axar crunches the ball through cover for FOUR.

FIFTY off 114 balls for Ravindra Jadeja! His comeback match gets only better as he plays a measured knock to extend India’s lead.

250 up for India with a single from Axar. Cummins continues to attack the off-stump channel and Jadeja leaves the deliveries on length.

Murphy continues to attack the stumps and Jadeja is content with his defence. Maiden over.

Cummins tails one in from the stumps and Jadeja easily pushes the ball past him for FOUR. Leg-cutter from Cummins and hits Jadeja on the pad. Stifled appeal but Australia raises another review. Jadeja survives with the umpire’s call on impact. A probing over from Cummins as he needles the channel outside the off-stump.

Loud shout as Murphy hits Bharat’s pad from around the wicket. Looks like pitching outside leg but Australia reviews. OUT! Three reds on the replay and it’s a five-for on debut for Todd Murphy!

First FOUR for KS Bharat as he unleashes a slog-sweep through mid-wicket off Murphy.

Pat Cummins starts with a no ball with the new ball! EDGED and dropped at second-slip by Steve Smith! Rohit gets a reprieve. Cummins to Rohit, OUT! Knocks him over. A ripper from Cummins as the ball moves in and straightens to hit the off-stump. A sensational knock comes to an end. KS Bharat walks in.

Rohit Sharma b Cummins 120 (212b 15x4 2x6)

Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja are back in the middle.

Rohit Sharma and Jadeja leads India to Tea with an unbroken 58-run stand. A fruitful session for the Aussies as they put India in some trouble with successive wickets of Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.

Rohit advances and flicks Murphy through square-leg for a single. Loud shout. Murphy slides one in and hits Jadeja close on the pads. His bat his pretty close to the ball and the umpire denies a wicket. Australia reviews. Seems like it is indeed pad first. Umpire’s Call on Impact! Huge reprieve for Jadeja and the Aussies are in disbelief.

Full toss from Murphy and Jadeja slaps it straight to mid-wicket. Short from Labuschagne from around the wicket and Jadeja cuts through point for FOUR.

FOUR! Rohit steps out and bisects short mid-on and mid-wicket for a cracking boundary,

Marnus Labuschagne into the attack. Some turn off the rough from his leg-spin and Rohit prods forward to defend. Rohit and Jadeja nudge about the gaps for a couple of singles.

Boland tails the ball in and hits Rohit high on the pads. Stifled appeal from the keeper and the bowler. Australia decides against a review. The ball continues to keep low but Rohit does well to bend forward in defence.

Lyon continues to toss the ball up and attempts to lure Jadeja into the drive. Good restraint shown by the left-hander. Just one run from the over.

Rohit steals a single after Labuschagne’s misfield. SO CLOSE!! Jadeja checks his defense off Boland’s outswinger, takes an edge but goes just past Smith in the slips for a FOUR! SIngle to finish the over

200 up for India as Jadeja plays a late cut off Lyon for a FOUR! Five runs off that over

First loose ball from Boland and Jadeja capitalises, drives it through the covers for a FOUR! Single to finish th over

Uneven bounce catches Jadeja off-guard but he plays a very late front foot defense to avert any danger.

Boland continues to trouble Indian batters. This time its Jadeja as Boland’s back of a length delivery misses the bat by a whisker. Just one from that over

Two consecutive economical overs. Boland gave away just two while Lyon bowled a maiden Time for DRINKS break

Slightly outside off from Murphy and Jadeja rocks back to cut it away for a FOUR! Five runs from the over

Jadeja smashes a boundary off Lyon in an otherwise tight over. That should ease some pressure off India’s shoulders

ROHIT GETS TO HIS CENTURY IN STYLE!! FIRST AGAINST AUSTRALIA and he becomes the first Indian captain to score a 100 in all formats of the game. Elite! Lofts Lyon over the infield and the ball races away to the boundary. With that, India has also taken a one run lead.

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Rohit defends on the front foot off Lyon but it takes a huge leading edge and goes agonisingly close past the short leg fielder. One run from that over

WHAT A DELIVERY FROM LYON TO DISMISS SURYAKUMAR! Huge turn and the ball castles the stumps through his legs. Ravindra Jadeja is the next batter in. Three runs and a massive wicket in the over

Murphy bowls yet another maiden

Short from Cummins again and Rohit uses the pace to pulls it for a four, brilliant display of batting from the Indian skipper.

Cummins chips in with a two-run over as India struggle to find momentum

A couple of singles in the over as Murphy continues to employ a tight line of attack.

Short from Cummins, Rohit tries to hook but misses. Two runs coming from that over

Rohit and Kohli walk into the middle. Murphy with the ball. WICKET STRAIGHTAWAY! Outside leg and Kohli edges it as Carey completes the catch comfortably. Suryakumar Yadav is in at 6. And starts of with a boundary!! sweeps Murphy to perfection.

Lyon bowls a tight over, giving away just one run. And that will be the end of he 1st session. LUNCH BREAK

Just one run from Murphy’s over

Kohli drives through mid off against the spin and drives it fine for a FOUR. Single to end Lyon’s over

Murphy continues. A single on the final delivery and it is yet another tidy over from the 22-year old

Mix-up between the batters but a mediocre throw ensured Rohit stays safe! Maiden over

Kohli gets off the mark in style, overpitched from Murphy and he drives it straight for a FOUR.

Lyon replaces Boland. Just two runs from that over

MURPHY STRIKES YET AGAIN!! MINDLESS SHOT FROM PUJARA, outside the leg stump and he sweeps it straight to Boland! Former captain Virat Kohli is in the middle now. Wicket maiden

Boland continues to bowl tight overs and maintain pressure on one end. Just one from the over

Murphy bowls to Rohit’s legs and he flicks it towards midwicket for a FOUR! Rohit takes a couple of steps down, huge appeal for a wicket as Steve Smith completes a catch at slips. Cummins opts for DRS. Replay shows no bat involved, Rohit is safe! On the pads again and Rohit goes for a similar flick! If the Hitman manages a century from here, he will become the first Indian captain to score a 100 in all formats of the game.

Boland oversteps and it is a no ball. On the legside and Rohit steals a run, one bye. Huge LBW appeal but Illingworth stays put, replay shows an inside edge, Pujara survives.

Murphy traps Ashwin leg before but looks like it is going down the line, Nitin Menon thinks the same. Cummins opts for DRS, and it is three REDS! ASHWIN HAS TO WALK BACK! BRILLIANT REVIEW FROM AUSTRALIA. Pujara is in at four and he gets off the mark immediately with a couple of runs. Width offered and Pujara slaps it through the covers for a FOUR!

Boland continues and Carey is still keeping close to the stumps. This has restricted runs on the board but the batters are still going strong. Maiden again

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Maiden over yet again. India has managed to score just 6 runs in the past 30 balls but won’t mind it as long as it doesn’t lose wickets. Australia on the other hand, looks clueless and is still in search of that elusive wicket. DRINKS

Boland continues. Carey moves closer to the stumps. Australia s trying all sorts of things in search of a breakthrough. Maiden over

Two quick singles off consecutive deliveries. Three runs from Lyon’s over

Boland bowls a maiden

Lyon continues. Four off the final delivery and the batters keep ticking the scoreboard constantly

Scott Boland replaces Cummins, will bowl his fourth over. Cutter first up as it nips back and crashes on to Rohit’s knee roll, half hearted appeal but nothing happens, one leg-bye.

Full length delivery and Ashwin slog sweeps it for a maximum! India is picking up momentum. Single off the final ball and Rohit retains strike

On the off stump line from Cummins, Ashwin attempts to drive it but takes an inside edge. Short delivery and Rohit hooks it for a SIX!

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Ashwin plays a front foot defense and Rohit steals a quick single, Ashwin was hesitant at first but completes the run rather comfortably. Just one from that over

A maiden over from Cummins as Australia searches for a wicket. Rohit has defended all six deliveries and looks like he is in excellent touch.

Rohit has the leeway to get singles as Ashwin, technically a night watchman, is capable of getting big runs on the board. Ashwin pushes one through covers off Lyon for a couple of runs.

Cummins continues. Wide outside off, Ashwin opens the face of the bat and guides the ball towards the boundary. Two outswingers on the previous 2 balls and Cummins runs in with an inswinger this time as Ashwin is beaten for pace.

Lyon replaces Murphy. Huge turn on the first ball, Ashwin tries to defend but it takes an outside edge and runs away for a FOUR. Appeal for an LBW as Ashwin gets beaten on the flight but Nitin Menon is unmoved. Lyon is extracting the maximum out of this pitch, constantly turning the ball. Couple of runs to finish.

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins is into the attack. Rohit continues his brilliant stroke-making as he just guides an outside-off delivery into the deep for a couple of runs. Mix-up between the batters, Rohit defends on the backfoot, Ashwin is almost halfway through the pitch and the Indian skipper says no, Ash survives a scare. Dot to finish the over , just 2 came from it

First runs on the board for the day as Rohit gets a quick single off the second ball. Murphy bowls around the wicket. Quicker through the air and a bit of spin from Murphy as Ashwin is beaten. Just one from the over

India skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravi Ashwin walk into the middle. Todd Murphy will bowl the first over

Although India opener KL Rahul (20, 71b, 1x4) lost his wicket with just seven balls remaining for the close of play, it would seem the host has done enough to avow ascendancy on the first day of the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rohit Sharma (56 n.o; 69b, 9x4, 1x6) and nightwatchman Ravichandran Ashwin, will be resuming the Indian innings on Friday, trailing by just 100 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (22-8-47-5) dictated the order of the day, registering his fourth fifer against the Baggy Green, an opposition he is especially fond of. Sixty-seven of his 247 Test wickets – his highest – have come when playing against Australia.

The fact that the 34-year-old registered a seven-wicket haul in his only Ranji Trophy game in 2023, after having been out of action for five months after knee surgery, should have sounded the alarm bells for Australia.

On Thursday, he started his comeback international game right from where he left, helping restrict the visitors to 177 in the first innings.

Not long after lunch, Jadeja got wickets off back-to-back deliveries as Marnus Labuschagne (49, 123b, 8x4) and Matt Renshaw were undone by the turn. The World No. 1 Test batter fell one short of what would have been a fifty on his very first tour of India. Renshaw, meanwhile, was struck on the pad and the on-field call of ‘Out’ was upheld by the DRS.

Steve Smith (37, 107b, 7x4), holding one end until this point, targeted Axar Patel and looked to break free. He even hit three elegant boundaries in the 41st over. But Jadeja was up to the task. In the very next over, he breached Smith’s defence with the straighter delivery. Later, debutant Todd Murphy fell without bothering the scorers.

Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja’s spin twin, ably supported him from the other end, taking the wickets of Alex Carey (also his 450th Test scalp), Pat Cummins and Scott Boland.

Carey (36, 33b, 7x4) and Peter Handscomb (31, 84b, 4x4) got the second fifty-plus partnership of the day – the first an 82-run stand between Smith and Labuschagne – and helped fix the run rate at a point when Australia seemed to be struggling.

Earlier, in the first session, it seemed the pitch had something in it for everybody. At the ends, it had enough grass to hold the wicket together. There were a few cracks right about the centre and some patches of roughness.

Usman Khawaja’s maiden Test stint in India turned out to be merely seven minutes long, the opener undone by Mohammed Siraj’s (7-3-30-1) opening delivery. David Warner followed his partner shortly after as Mohammed Shami (9-4-18-1) removed his 400th victim in international cricket, sending the off-stump cartwheeling with a 138.8 kph corker. The left-handed batter, cramped for space, ended up exposing the gap between his bat and pad.

- Santadeep Dey