The Indian test team is usually seen making runs in excess of 3 to the over, in fact the mark of 4 runs to the over is no tough task for the current set of aggressive batsmen in the side and this is often a case against the best of the world’s bowlers – however, against a West Indian bowling unit that is budding and still gaining some international experience, the Indian batsmen have had their fair share of trouble.
On day 3 of the second test, the 2 Indian batsmen in the middle were Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha. While Rahane was quite ahead of Saha at the start of the day, the wicket-keeper batsman was quick to catch up as Rahane took his own time to get used to the conditions and apply himself in order to perhaps play out a big innings – score a century maybe.
The run rate from the Indian team remained below 3 to the over which was quite surprising, the runs weren’t coming easy and that’s a due credit to the West Indian bowlers – who’ve had troubles during the course of the 2 test matches taking wickets but still the ability to fight and make Indian batsmen struggle for runs is something that is appreciable and will help them gain at least some confidence from the performance.
Saha after making a 116 ball 47 departed LBW to Jason Holder, who had something to show in the wickets column after bowling some fine spells but not getting rewarded earlier for the same. The Mr.Consistent in Rahane unfazed by the wicket continued on his way of scoring runs and taking the scorecard forward. He however needed someone to spend some time at the other end and hang around for him to continue the run scoring and Amit Mishra provided just that support.
If one observes the pattern of lower order and tail enders in this series, the Indian batting unit gives an indication that the management has been working closely knit with the lower order batsmen to give them the confidence that they can bat – be it promoting Ashwin up the order, Mishra’s handy runs lower down to the order or Umesh Yadav’s explosives with the bat – it’s a positive indication because on any foreign tour, it’s the low order’s lack of resistance shown that often leads to a collapse.
It was due to the 21 off 42 from Mishra and 19 of 14 balls from Umesh Yadav that enabled Ajinkya Rahane to move forward with his innings and reach 7th hundred of his career i.e. 23 tests old. It is also an interesting stat to note that Ajinkya Rahane is the only Indian batsman in the current lot that has at least one 90 in the 8 test series’ that he has featured in, since 2013-14 tour of South Africa. None of the other Indian batsman has had such consistent runs.
Soon after Rahane reached his century, the Indian team declared which also happened to be end of play on day 3 – India 500/9 DEC at run rate of 2.92 to the over, India lead by 304 runs.
