In 2014-15 tour of Australia, young Virat Kohli made centuries in both the Innings of Adelaide test and in the second innings just when it appeared to be a match-saving final day for India, he continued to chase it down. But a strong bowling unit led by Nathan Lyon took it home as India lost the first match by 48 runs. So the final session of the final day was typically dominated by the home side.

 

To compare that young Kohli to 2021 Sidney star Pant must be frenzy, but it, somehow, reminded me of that old contest. Virat Kohli was more accurate while his partners failed to stay a little bit longer and Pant was comparatively aggressive alongside patient and disciplined Pujara and later a beautiful partnership between Vihari and Ashwin saved the game, if the dry pitch and the dropped catches are not taken into account.

 

So as I said in my last article, India vs Australia- Match Preview: 3rd Test, we witnessed a few runs on the board. Australia scored 338 in the first innings and took almost 100 runs lead. With 407 to chase in their second innings, India saved the game only because they were a little better while the comparison between two team’s batting units are in discussion. Either it’s the first test or second or third, India were better with the bat.

 

Australia, on the other hand, must be happy with their performance when everything is not going okay with them. In the midst of batting failure, they got India out once in 36 and fought well in the last game. Even when Pujara and Pant were going hard against them, they created a number of chances. Lyon trapped Pant as patience finally rewarded and a dream delivery of Hazlewood hit on the middle and off of Pujara’s defence.

 

Back to tomorrow’s match, it’s how leadership thrusts upon a young sportsman. To perform well early in your career is, no doubt, very charming, but when you receive sudden responsibility to lead a department or a side at that stage, it only anticipates your chance of ‘achieving greatness’. Md. Siraj, on his third match, has to handle that leadership. Navdeep Saini and someone else who will join the unit have to be very accurate against Australia’s strong middle order.

 

India produced their backups well against Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli. But when your backups stumble with newer injuries, you have to fall back upon either inexperienced debutants or off-form players from the bench. So we can expect changes in place of Vihari, Jadeja, and Ashwin in favour of Agarwal, Shaw or Saha, and Kuldeep.

 

Australia in respect of the playing combination are at a little better position. Though the Australian bowlers bowled a good many overs in the last game, I think, Hazlewood and Starc will make the playing XI. It’s only Cummins who might have been rested as he played all the games of IPL 2020, almost every game of the last limited over series and now three five dayers in a row. But in a deciding game, Australia may not go with Sean Abbott in place of him. To comment something on Australia’s batting, it’s how their lower middle order players bat.

 

To conclude, here at Gabba, I’ll put Australia a little bit ahead. Though pace-friendly, it’s a fine batting track too. It’s going to be between unbeaten Rahane as captain and years-long unbeaten Australia in Brisbane.