New Delhi: A day after hilariously shutting down a reporter for doubting his batting credentials, star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah channelled his inner batter in the ongoing Brisbane Test against Australia. Bumrah (10*) combined with a superb Akash Deep (27*) to help India avoid follow-on with an unbeaten partnership of 39 runs as India crossed the dreaded 246-run mark to avoid follow-on. At Stumps on a rain-hit Day 4, India are 252/9, still 193 runs behind Australia’s 445.
When India lost a well-set Ravindra Jadeja (74) at 213, India were still 33 runs away from the 246-run mark but a gritty partnership between Bumrah and Akash deep saved India’s blushes.
Just before the official time for stumps, both batters walked off the field to heroes’ welcome while the Australians trudged off the field as the unhappier of the two teams.
Bumrah, Akash Deep use long handle against Cummins
While both Bumrah and Akash Deep showed grit and determination, the partnership comprised moments of aggression. In the 68th over, minutes after Jadeja’s wicket, Bumrah played an insane shot off Cummins. Batting at 1 off 5 balls, Bumrah took on the short ball, got inside the line of ball and hooked it high and long into the stands. The sensational shot even left Cummins impressed.
Jasprit Bumrah just smashes Pat Cummins for six! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/vOwqRwBaZD
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024
Akash Deep also showed his batting prowess and hit a boundary off Cummins to breach the 246-run mark and then smashed a massive six over mid-wicket to leave the commentators and his teammates stunned.
Akash Deep makes sure India avoid the follow-on and then smashes Pat Cummins into the second level!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HIu86M7BNW
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024
India’s lower-order steps up in Gabba
Barring KL Rahul, who played a sensational knock of 84, no other top-order batter had the stomach for a fight. The lack of runs from the established players left India in a precarious position at 74 for 5. But when the chips were down, India’s middle and lower order stepped up and showed a great fight to thwart the Australians.
Rahul and Jadeja added 67 runs for the sixth wicket to steady the ship for the visitors before the latter joined hands with Nitish Kumar Reddy (16) to stitch a 53-run stand for the seventh wicket. Bumrah and Akash Deep followed suit and stitched an unbeaten 39-run partnership to take India out of the woods.
AUS vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah smashed Pat Cummins for a massive six over fine leg. Soon after, Akash Deep also showed his batting prowess and hit a maximum over mid-wicket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
