Legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday hailed India’s lower division players, especially Axar Patel and Mohammed Shami, for their valuable score during India’s thrashing of Australia in the first Test in Nagpur. A brilliant 84-run batting by all-rounder Axar Patel and an entertaining cameo by Mohammad Shami put India at the top of the game, with a 223-run lead at lunchtime on the third day of the first Test against Australia in Nagpur on Saturday.
“India trailed by 5 runs even before we took the lead and now we lead by 223 runs. A lot about our batting depth and our lower order contribution. Well done @akshar2026 and @MdShami11! #INDvAUS,” Tendulkar tweeted tweet said.
India start 321/7 with Ravindra Jadeja (66*) and Axar Patel (52*) leading
The hosts added just seven points to the previous day’s total as debutant Todd Murphy clinched gold for Australia, sending Juddjah off the stumps. The all-rounder was out for 70 off 185 balls. India is 328/8.
Mohammed Shami is not far behind.
Shami priced in his wicket and hit some fine shots, including fours and sixes. Axar also continued to defend his wicket. India broke through 350 in the 128th innings.
The duo took India’s lead to over 180 runs.
Shami continued to entertain the fans, knocking down Murphy for two sixes in the 131st innings, which also gave a fifty-point advantage for the ninth wicket. However, the debutant had the last laugh in the ensuing overs as he dismissed him with 37 off 47 balls, two fours and three sixes. With this, Murphy scored his seventh wicket in the innings.
India are 380/9 in 132.4 overs, leading by 203 runs.
Mohammed Siraj was the last to reach the Indian crease.
Cummins dismissed Axar Patel with a well-made 84 off 174 balls, including 10 fours and a six. India ran 400 runs and led by 223 runs before lunch.
Murphy had a fantastic spell in his debut, taking seven wickets for 124 in 47 overs. Cummins scored two 78 in 20.3 overs. Spinner Nathan Lyon managed only 126 scalps in 49 rounds.
Brief scores: India: 139.3 over 400 (Rohit Sharma 120, Axar Patel 84*, Todd Murphy 7/124) ahead of Australia: 177 (Marnus Labuschagne 49, Steve Smith 37, Ravindra Jadeja 5/47) 223.
