NEW DELHI: Australia’s star batter Steve Smith lauded Virat Kohli‘s discipline and Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s aggression after a dramatic second day of the fourth Test at the MCG saw India’s innings derailed by a mix-up between the two batters.
Speaking after Australia gained the upper hand, Smith acknowledged the quality of both players but emphasised the fortunate timing of their dismissals.
“He [Kohli] looked really good today. I thought, ‘Geez, he’s in for a good one here,'” Smith said, reflecting on Kohli’s composed start. “He was leaving nicely, making the bowlers come to him, and scoring well through the leg side when we went short. I thought we were in for a bit of a masterclass.”
However, Scott Boland’s ability to hit the perfect line ended Kohli’s innings on 36, with a delivery on the fifth or sixth stump line catching the edge. “It was probably the first ball he actually played at on that line,” Smith added.
Kohli’s steady approach complemented Jaiswal’s attacking play during their 102-run stand. Jaiswal punished any loose deliveries in an aggressive knock of 82, allowing Kohli to bide his time. But the run-out of Jaiswal, followed by Kohli’s dismissal seven balls later, dramatically shifted momentum in Australia’s favour.
The turning point came when Jaiswal called for a quick single, only for Kohli to remain stationary, leading to the opener’s dismissal. Asked who Australia would have preferred to see out, Smith laughed and diplomatically dodged the question: “I’m not answering that!”
Both players, Smith noted, were pivotal to India’s innings. “Jaiswal played a nice innings today, aggressive, hit any loose ball that was bowled basically, and Virat looked like he was in for a bit of a masterclass with the patience he showed,” he said.
Kohli, who had earlier engaged with the Melbourne crowd and taken a controversial bump on Sam Konstas in stride, appeared set to respond with the bat. But his exit, along with Jaiswal’s, left India reeling. Nightwatchman Akash Deep’s dismissal to Nathan Lyon compounded the damage, capping off a dramatic collapse.
Smith acknowledged the psychological edge gained by Australia. “Sometimes when you have one of those things happen, like a run-out breaking a partnership, you can get that other guy out quickly, and it happened today, which was good for us.”
