The ball fizzing around, fielders chirping, pitch exploding, yet the industrious duo of Pujara and Rahane stood tall. Coming in at a time when India desperately needed a partnership in order to salvage this test match(or maybe even the series), Rahane and Pujara used the off stump guard to ward off Lyon’s venom spitting deliveries, a ploy that is absolutely necessary against the kind of bounce and turn that Lyon is extracting from the pitch.
Also, apart from Rahane not many of the Indian batsman use the sweep shot to counter spin. Rahane with his off stump guard used it to perfection today, judging the length of the ball early and taking his front foot outside off stump to sweep anything that was full. The sweep shot gave him a scoring option and prevented the ball from turning.
Here is how Twitter reacted to this monumental effort from the duo:
https://twitter.com/bowlologist/status/838708523596824578
One minute silent for those who thinks team India bundle out in final session of the day. Pujara and Rahane top of the world@cricketaakash
— Mahinwal (@itsmahinwal) March 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/Rahul_bill/status/838746178816659456
The third session was played today only so that Pujara and Rahane could finally settle that who is going to be the Next Dravid. #INDvsAUS
— Herry Gulabani (@HerryGulabani) March 6, 2017
Also Read: Twitter salutes Jaddu after he gets 6 for 63
https://twitter.com/AniketBabuta/status/838742084496433154
* When Pujara and Rahane went back to the dressing room after the 3rd day of the 2nd test match * #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/oKLlzLlzKF
— Hunटरर ♂ (@nickhunterr) March 6, 2017
"Pujara and Rahane":
Saathi haath badhana,ek akela thak jayega Milkar bhoj uthana !
— Vinay Isloorkar (@vaisloorkar) March 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/ZadkhanZk/status/838747858752925696
As rightly put by Twitteratti, Pujara and Rahane would look to replicate what Laxman and Dravid did in Kolkata in 2001. And if they score even half of what the duo of Dravid and Laxman did, India would in a more than commanding position going into the final day.
It’s going to be a cracker of a Day 4, do not miss out.
