India batsman KL Rahul is confident that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can run through the Australian batting once he gets into his rhythm.
Australia ended day one on 40-0, 149 runs behind India’s first innings total in the Bengaluru Test. The hosts were bowled out for just 189 after some superb bowling from Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon who accounted for eight wickets.
Rahul was India’s only saving grace, scoring 90. Only four other Indian batsmen reached double digits with the second-highest score in the innings being 26.
“We know Ash [Ashwin] is a top class bowler and once he gets a couple of wickets and gets into that rhythm, then he is going to run through the Australian batting line-up which we are very confident of,” said Rahul.
The 24-year-old, who is playing a Test on his home ground for the first time, added that India’s left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja will have some rough to work with in this match.
“Jadeja didn’t get to bowl a lot today but like Lyon, he too has a lot of rough to bowl on to the left-handers outside the off-side stump. If he can come in and bowl consistently on the rough, we will get a lot of wickets,” he said.
Take away KL Rahul.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) March 4, 2017
And, Indian batsmen average 8.00 this series.
Extras average 9.67.
India have batted worse than leg byes & byes!
