Australia’s spinners have ripped through India in chaotic fashion to begin the third Test, bowling the hosts out for 109 on a rank turner in Indore.
Left-armer Matt Kuhnemann, playing in his second Test, starred with 5-16 as India crumbled for its fourth lowest total at home against Australia.
Australia’s trio of spinners – Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy – took nine wickets before India’s innings ended 30 minutes into the second session on Wednesday when Mohammed Siraj was run out.
After captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat, India stumbled to lunch at 7-84 as Kuhnemann and Lyon (3-25) stunned the hosts at Holkar Stadium.
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India lost 5-18 in a collapse similar to the trouble Australia found itself in during the first two Tests.
The hosts briefly steadied through Virat Kohli (22) but young spin sensation Todd Murphy (1-12) claimed the Indian superstar’s wicket for the third time this series with 20 minutes remaining in the session.
Lyon struck again in the dying stages before lunch to trap impressive wicketkeeper KS Bharat lbw for 17.
Bowling all-rounders Axar Patel (12 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin (three) rescued India out of immense trouble during the second Test in Delhi, but there was no repeat of their heroics this time.
It was drama in Indore from the start, with Sharma nicking Mitchell Starc to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off the first ball of the match.
However, umpire Nitin Menon gave Sharma not out and Australia failed to review the decision.
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Starc trapped Sharma in front on the fourth ball of his first over with replays revealing the India opener would have been out had Australia used DRS.
But Sharma only scored 14 as he was stumped by Carey while trying to smash a Kuhnemann delivery.
Kuhnemann also picked up the key wickets of recalled opener Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
The most extraordinary wicket of the day was Lyon’s first, getting a ball to turn and keep low to smash into Cheteshwar Pujara’s stumps.
Starc and all-rounder Cameron Green opened the bowling after returning for their first match since suffering respective finger injuries during the Boxing Day Test win against South Africa.
Starc replaced Pat Cummins as Australia’s frontline quick after the captain made the decision to return to Sydney to be with his seriously-ill mother.
Steve Smith is filling in as skipper for the third time since Cummins became Australia’s red-ball leader in November 2021.
Green is playing his first Test on Indian soil, replacing Matt Renshaw, who was subbed in for a concussed David Warner during the last match in Delhi.
India axed vice-captain KL Rahul, recalling young gun Gill to open the batting with Sharma.
Rahul has been under mounting pressure from the Indian faithful for his form and selectors have finally lost patience with the 30-year-old.
India also opted to switch in veteran fast bowler Umesh Yadav for fellow quick Mohammed Shami.
Whoever wins in Indore will secure their spot in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June.
-AAP
