With the overnight score of 168 for 5 wickets, India on pursuit to avoid a follow on in reply to Australian score of 454 all out would have had long team meetings on how to cope with the Australian seam attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starch and Scott Boland.
The Indian top order barring Jaiswal, who was run out for 82 , the rest were tentative to a great extent.
Virat Koholi looked better with the bat, but the temptation to poke at 4tht stumps deliveries, which he kept out, came to halt after the run out of his partner Jaiswal who looked set for a MCG test century, that pressure I guess might have cost him his wicket as he was caught by Alex Carey off Pat Cummins for 36.
India was 221 for 7 wickets in the first session of play today with both recognised batters Rishab pant dismissed for 26 and Ravindra Jadeja for 17 , bottom line to enforce a follow on would have crossed the minds of the Australian think tank with the state on how this Test match was heading on day 3.
The Australian plane was getting the 3 scalps quickly with the second new ball since their bowlers have had a good rest get India back in the park with the pressure of a follow-on scenario since the bowlers looked somewhat fresh.
However I as a scribe, felt that Australia might bat again, not enforce the follow-on as the pitch was good for batting, especially at the MCG on day 3
With Washington Sunder on 5 and Nitesh Kumar Reddy on 41 at lunch, the Australian bowlers were in for a long day since the pair are no mug with the bat.
The left-hand right-hand combination played better cricket than their top order batters. They skilfully never poked at deliveries outside the off stump , used soft hands in defence or reaching for the ball , flicked at deliveries on their pads , cover drove on the up with excellent technical skills and most importantly played with a straight bat.
Nitesh Reddy and Washington Sunder stiched an unbelievable partnership of 127 runs for the 8th wicket, with Nitesh Reddy stroking his maiden test century whilst Washington came to the party with a well compiled 50 with a strike rate of just 30.02 facing 162 deliveries is no mean task. Nitesh won the hearts of many being not out on 105 with 10 boundary hits and 1 six.
Indian Media even compared his skill levels to that of kapil Dev. What a compliment for the young Nitesh Reddy, who even made a record score of 422 in a school cricket match back in his hometown.
The end of day 3 india is 358 for 9 wickets , 2 days left , hence our beloved game is known for its glorious uncertainty. Let’s wait in hope for a result.