A miscommunication between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal proved disastrous for India on Day 2 of the fourth Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, shifting momentum firmly in Australia’s favor.
After Australia posted a challenging first-innings total of 474, India seemed poised for a strong counterattack despite early setbacks, with captain Rohit Sharma (3) and KL Rahul (24) departing cheaply. Yashasvi Jaiswal, however, anchored the innings brilliantly and, alongside Virat Kohli, forged a century stand, taking India to a promising 153/2.
But disaster struck when Jaiswal attempted a risky single off Pat Cummins’ delivery. Kohli, standing firm at the non-striker’s end, declined the call, leaving Jaiswal stranded mid-pitch. Cummins capitalized on the mix-up with a direct throw to the wicketkeeper, resulting in Jaiswal’s dismissal for a well-made 82.
The run-out triggered a collapse. Kohli, who appeared set for a significant innings, was dismissed for 36, while Akash Deep fell for a 13-ball duck—both scalped by Scott Boland. India stumbled to 164/5, trailing Australia by a daunting 310 runs at stumps.
Steve Smith Reflects on the Game-Changing Moment
Australian captain Steve Smith, speaking to Fox Cricket, acknowledged the pivotal nature of the Kohli-Jaiswal mix-up.
“It seemed like Jaiswal called for a single, but Virat sent him back. It was a straightforward misunderstanding,” Smith explained. “Breaking that partnership was huge, and taking two more wickets in the final hour made it even better for us. It turned out to be a critical moment in the context of the game.”
When asked whether the Australian bowlers had a preference between dismissing Kohli or Jaiswal, Smith replied, “Both were batting really well. Jaiswal played an excellent innings, capitalizing on loose deliveries, while Virat appeared ready for a masterclass with his disciplined approach. At that point, we were happy to dismiss either of them.”
India’s Task Ahead
At the close of play, Rishabh Pant (6) and Ravindra Jadeja (4) remained unbeaten and will look to rebuild the innings on Day 3. However, with a steep deficit and Australia’s bowlers in form, India faces an uphill battle to remain competitive in the match.
This moment could be remembered as the turning point in a thrilling Test series.
