AT approximately 12.35 PM IST on Friday, when Usman Khawaja ran back to catch Nitish K Reddy out for 41 in The Perth Stadium, every Indian fan whether they were watching from the stands or glued on to television/mobile screens would have let out a sigh of frustration.
Every possible nightmare scenario they would have imagined before going to sleep on the eve of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy had come true. India, led by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, opted to bat first on a pitch with ample grass cover and had been bowled out for 150 in less than 50 overs (49.4). As many as seven batters had gotten out in single digits. Yashasvi Jaiswal's expected struggles came to light. Virat Kohli was bounced out by Josh Hazlewood. Devdutt Padikkal got out for a 23-ball duck. So much so that, if not for the rescue from Rishabh Pant (37) and Reddy, they would have ended with another double digit total.
As Reddy took the long walk back, many questions lingered. Did India make the right choice by picking Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana ahead of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja? Was the decision to bat first wrong? The biggest of all, however, was what happens after Bumrah finishes his spell.
In less than an hour, the captain, and the best all-format bowler in the world, shattered all the doubts, lifting the spirits of millions of Indian fans.
Bu hikaye The Morning Standard dergisinin November 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Morning Standard dergisinin November 23, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Acting is the hardest job in the world'
Manoj Bajpayee in conversation with Sudhir Srinivasan, Executive Editor (Entertainment), TN/E, who was invited to moderate the session, Mastering the Unseen, at the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa
HOME RUN
Athletes, authors, and sports enthusiasts meet in the city to celebrate sports literature
ALL STRINGS ATTACHED
IF intimacy is portable, singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad has been plugging it in our lives for more than a decade now.
Italy set up semifinal clash with Australia
WORLD No 1 Jannik Sinner triumphed in singles and doubles to help Davis Cup holders Italy beat Argentina 2-1 on Thursday to reach the semifinals.
India U19 women set to play tri-series with SA in Pune
WITH less than two months to go for the second edition of Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup, Indian women are set to play a tri-series featuring India A, B and South Africa early next month (December) in Pune.
Rhythm & blues: Satwik-Chirag on song, Lakshya eliminated
IN their first assignment since the Paris Olympics, ace doubles duo of Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy seems to be taking a fresh approach. The Indian duo is operating with a free mind at the moment and that seems to be paying dividends. On Friday, they recorded their third straight win in the ongoing China Masters, thereby ensuring a spot in the semifinals of the BWF Super 750 tournament.
Gukesh seeking right moves to reach the promised land
N a normal December afternoon in the city in 2023, D Gukesh was feeling the weight of the world on his young shoulders.
BUMRAH CASTS SPELL ON OZ
Stand-in captain's inspiring show (4/17) puts India in command on Day 1 after early collapse
Bitcoin nears $100k mark; 60% increase since US election day
THERE has been a surge in market confidence since the US Election Day, and now Bitcoin inches closer to $100,000 mark.
NTPC Green IPO subscribed 2.39 times on final day bid
THE initial public offer (IPO) of state-run NTPC Green Energy was subscribed 2.39 times on final day of the subscription period, with the retail investor portion being booked 3.35 times.
