Melbourne (Australia): Steven Smith breathed a sigh of relief at the end of Day 2 of the fourth Test, as Australia successfully weathered the storm of a potential batting masterclass from India’s Virat Kohli at the MCG.
Smith left the ground with a smile, accompanied by his teammates, as Australia continued to assert their dominance in the match. The day began with the imposing presence of Kohli and the swagger of Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease.
While Jaiswal displayed aggression against the Australian attack, Kohli relied on discipline, leaving deliveries outside the off-stump to force the bowlers to target his body. Over the 86 balls he faced, Kohli played very few deliveries, apart from the one that led to his dismissal. His solid technique and selective shot-making kept the Australian bowlers at bay, with the ball hardly threatening an edge.
Kohli seemed in complete control of the proceedings until a moment of misfortune struck. In a mix-up with Jaiswal, Kohli lost his concentration and was run out. Just minutes later, Kohli edged a delivery to Alex Carey, departing for 36 off 86 balls.
Smith, one of the closest observers of Kohli’s innings, expressed relief at the dismissal after witnessing the Indian star’s composed play. “He is a class player. He played really well in Perth for a hundred. He looked really good today. Geez, he is in for a good one here,” Smith said in the post-day press conference.
“He was really disciplined today. He was leaving (the deliveries) nicely. He made the bowlers bowl a bit closer to him and scored well through the leg side,” Smith added. “I thought we were in a bit of a masterclass there, but fortunately, he played that delivery. It was fortunate to catch that edge.”
At the close of play, India was struggling at 164/5, trailing by 310 runs in response to Australia’s formidable total of 474.