END OF DAY'S PLAY: Australia started off with confidence, despite the blow with their opener Renshaw departing early. Together Smith and Warner guided their side to a sensational 131/1 at the end of session one. But then there was ashift in momentum. Indians roared back to strike off five wickets giving away around 70 runs. Debutant Kuldeep was the architect taking three and Yadav taking his second. Post-tea session continued with their dominance as they bundled up the Aussies for 300. Young leggie took four while Bhuvi, Ashwin, Jadeja got one each. Indians come out to face just the reamaining one over, but Hazlewood gets a maiden. All eye surely on tomorrow's showdown.  


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Over 1 | Score 0/0 | Vijay 0* ; Rahul 0*


Just one over for the Indians. That was complete one sided game. Indians continuing with their dominance ceasing the visitors for 300. Players are out on the field. Rahul on strike, Hazlewood with the ball. Leaves the first ball. Maiden. And thats the end of Day 1.



Over 88.3 | Score 300/10 | Lyon 13 ; Hazlewood 2*


Bhuvi returns and finishes off Aussies in style. Swings in, strike towards mid-wicket and Pujara right in place to take that catch.


NM Lyon c Pujara b Kumar 13 (28b)


Over 88 | Score 300/9 | Lyon 13* ; Hazlewood 2*


Ashwin continues with the old ball to give away just a single of his over. Jadeja strikes his first to dismiss Wade. Crucial wicket from the no. 1 Test bowler.  


BOWLED! Jadeja gets his first. Wade departs for 57


MS Wade b Jadeja 57 (125b)


Over 86 | Score 293/8 | Lyon 13* ; Wade 52*


Kuldeep in. Coming around the wicket. Ohh waht was that! Misfiedl by Umesh and it costs a boundary. And yet again. Beauty from Lyon with another sweep past the leg umpire. Costly over.
Jadeja is the next bowler. Wade drifts it towards deep square leg for a single.


Over 84 | Score 283/8 | Lyon 5* ; Wade 50*


Wickets are falling around him, but Wade comfortably notches up his fifty. Awesome!
Jadeja back. No new ball till now. Maiden.


Over 82 | Score 280/8 | Lyon 4* ; Wade 48*


Kuldeep comes in and gives away three runs. Iyer is now off the field, was in place of Murali Vijay. Ashwin with the ball, donates a leg-bye for a boundary.  



Over 80 | Score 271/8 | Lyon 1* ; Wade 46*


Kuldeep gives away one run. Ashwin with the ball. Flatter, into the pads, and substitute fielder Shreyas Iyer throws it hard to get Keefe off the pitch. Sensational run-out and Indian dominance continues.  


SNJ O'Keefe run out 8 (16b)


Over 78 | Score 268/7 | Keefe 8* ; Wade 44*


Wade seems to take charge for the Aussies he lofts over Kuldeep to strike a four and match into his 40s. 5 of the over. Umesh comes in. Much slower session. Ohh a bouncer! Keefe ducks it. Beauty by Keefe with that straight drive to get a boundary.  


Over 76 | Score 258/7 | Keefe 4* ; Wade 38*


Kuldeep comes back. Can he get his five-wicket haul on his debut? Three of the over. Another Yadav comes in. Cheeky shot, between two slips and goes for a four. Keefe of the mark with a flick shot to the staright ball.  


Over 74 | Score 246/7 | Keefe 0* ; Wade 30*


Kuldeep comes back to claim his fourth for the day. Spins, goes for the cover drive, but the ball dips and goes straight to Kuldeep. Caught and Bowled. Keefe walks in. Umesh comes back. Indian dominance continues in third session.  


PJ Cummins c & b Kuldeep Yadav 21 (40b)


Over 72 | Score 242/6 | Cummins 21* ; Wade 26*


Chinaman comes back. Cummins seems like he is unable to judge the spin. Gets a maiden.
Ashwin comes in next. Both rotates strike off a single.  


Over 70 | Score 239/6 | Cummins20* ; Wade 24*


Jadeja over the wicket. No mid-wicket and Cummins strikes yet another four down leg-side. And now off the middle of the bat.
Ashwin comes in next. Maiden.


Over 68 | Score 230/6 | Cummins12* ; Wade 23*


Phenomenal captaincy too. Rahane has surely been great with bowling selections and field placements. Result, session 2, which was the turning point of the game. Jadeja whacked for another boundary. Straight past mid-off and Cummins stikes a four.  


Over 66 | Score 223/6 | Cummins 7* ; Wade 21*


Quick feet and Wade drives it down mid-wicket for a four. Troubling carrom balls from Ashwin


Over 64 | Score 218/6 | Cummins 6* ; Wade 17*


And the final session for the day is underway as India steps out to strike off the remaining Aussies. What a way to get of the mark! SIX from Cummins, down the wicket. Run rate now below four.  



TEA BREAK: Aussies were 131/1 when they went in for lunch. Brewing with confidence they came back, but only to crumble to the Yadav-attack. The second session witnessed a complete change of momentum from the visitors to the home side as the debutant Kuldeep Yadav palyed a crucial role to remove three Aussie batsmen. Ashwin indeed got the main man off the pitc, Steve Smith. What awaits is surely building curiosity. Will it see the end of Aussie first innings ?



Over 61 | Score 208/6 | Cummins 0* ; Wade 13*


Last over before tea. 30 overs, 77 runs, 5 wickets- incredible session for the Indians. Anil Kumble is surely enjoying the show from the dressing room.  


Over 60 | Score 208/6 | Cummins 0* ; Wade 13*


Jadeja back. Smith, on backfoot, timely cut for a boundary. What an artisan! Six of that over.
Ashwin round the wicket to Wade. Goes fro the big one, but ball goes below the bat. Ashwin! Dismisses the big man. Slip right in position to take the catch. Brilliant session indeed


SPD Smith c Rahane b Ashwin 111 (173b)


Over 58 | Score 201/5 | Smith 106* ; Wade 12*


Jadeja finally back, replaces Kuldeep. Three from the over. Ashwin gets a maiden then.


 Over 56 | Score 198/5 | Smith 105* ; Wade 10*


Kuldeep back into the attack. Bowls another brilliant over. Ashwin back. Nicely tossed up delivery and turns past the bat. Beauty.


Over 54 | Score 194/5 | Smith 103* ; Wade 8*


Killer of a delivery. Beautiful leg-break. Turns just past the Wade's bat. He is sure to take that fourth one. Just one of the over.
Ashwin comes back. This session- 63 runs 4 wickets




Over 52 | Score 191/5 | Smith 101* ; Wade 7*


Aussies are need for some oxygen. Smith cant handle it now, it seems, as the other end seems to crumble down to the young debutant leggie. Hundred comes up for the skipper. Sure Captains's innings. He is the only one fighting there. His third in this series.  



Over 50 | Score 179/5 | Smith 96* ; Wade 0*


Kuldeep into the attack. Maxwell goes big. One bounce over the rope. Four from Maxwell. GOOGLY AND A WICKET! Kuldeep yet again and this time Maxwell departs. Absolutely awesome.


Over 48 | Score 172/4 | Smith 94* ; Maxwell 3*


Phenomenal Kuldeep continues. Overcast in Dharamsala now. Gives away just a two. For the first times in 14 innings, Handscomb has departed on a single digit. Great fightback by the Indians.
Bhuvi in. Just a single in his over


Over 46 | Score 169/4 | Smith 93* ; Maxwell 1*


All four to the Yadavs. India has been more disciplined after lunch taking three already- 15 overs, 38 runs 3 wickets. Probably waiting for the big man to depart now. Maxwell out on the field now. Another brilliant over with the ball.


Over 45 | Score 169/4 | Smith 93* ; Maxwell 1*


Leggie Kuldeep has been dangerous in this session. Outside off and Kuldeep spins it beautifully in to dismiss Handscomb. Brilliant from the debutant.


Over 44 | Score 167/3 | Smith 92* ; Handscomb 8*


Kuldeep continues. Smith drives to deep square leg to get a single. Full toss and Handscomb smacks it to the boundary straight of mid-wicket.


Bhuvi comes up for the next. One of that over.


Over 42 | Score 159/3 | Smith 89* ; Handscomb 3*


Kuldeep back in. Squared to deep point and Smith gets a single off the second delivery. Bhuvi comes back, replaces Umesh. This session is turning to be more interesting. Smith again the lone man battling for his side.  


Over 40 | Score 155/3 | Smith 87* ; Handscomb 1*


Short delivery, rib high and Marsh gets inside edge and the ball flies to the keeper. Umesh has indeed been a phenomenal pacer in this series. Proved himself in every aspect. Indians have bounced back strong after lunch. Already picked up two wickets. Kuldeep came in next to get a maiden. Superb from the leg-spinner. Umesh again with the ball. Run rate falls below four.  


WICKET! Umesh strikes back to dismiss Shaun Marsh. Short delivery, rib high, and Marsh gets the inside edge. Saha makes no mistake to catch it


SE Marsh c Saha b Yadav 4 (14b)


Over 37 | Score 152/2 | Smith 85* ; Marsh 4*


Virat isn't sitting quite at the boundaries. He is constantly in contact with his boys. Kuldeep just had a small chat with Virat. Umesh Yadav gives away three runs in his over.
Kuldeep in. He is bowling tighter deliveries now. Got that confidence now. That was indeed a tidy over.  



Over 35 | Score 147/2 | Smith 83* ; Marsh 1*


Kuldeep Yadav back in. Didnt turn much, edged and to the slip. WICKET for the debutant. Excellent. India surely needed that. Brilliant


DA Warner c Rahane b Kuldeep Yadav 56 (87b)


Over 34 | Score 144/1 | Smith 83* ; Warner 56*


Umesh starts off with a danger of a delivery. Doesn't swing and straight to Saha. And now a four. Smacked down mid-wicket. Rahul rums from deepsquare leg but fails to stop it. OH! Just short of length and Smith strikes it but doesn't travel to Rahane at slip. A boundary to end the over. Fired down mid-wicket yet again.


Over 33 | Score 136/1 | Smith 75* ; Warner 56*


Chinaman walks in. Length ball and skipper defends. Rahane not over attacking. Takes a single to rotate strike to Warner. Just that one off the over.


Over 32 | Score 135/1 | Smith 74* ; Warner 56*


Umesh Yadav picks it up after lunch. Both the batsmen gets a single. All of a sudden a bouncer to Smith and the skipper ducks it.  


POST-LUNCH BREAK: With the blazing fire Aussies setting up a carnival of boundaries at Dharamsala, can the Indians bounce back to find their momentum?



LUNCH: The final Test between the two took off with confident India leading the charge initially. A failed opportunity to topple down an opener in the very first ball, but then Umesh Yadav came strong to strike off young Renshaw. Big blow to the visitors, but then it was all about Smith taking charge. First his fifty, then came Warner with his half-century and together they have set the Dharamsala track on fire with their continuous flirting with boundary.


Over 31 | Score 131/1 | Smith 72* ; Warner 54*


Four minutes to lunch. Ashwin into the attack. Just two runs off that over.


Chinaman Kuldeep comes in. Chance of a catch out, but whistles to the boundary. Smith gest another four. That's it. They depart for lunch. Excellent, excellent session as Aussies dominate Session 1  


Over 29 | Score 125/1 | Smith 67* ; Warner 53*


Eight minutes to lunch and still no sign of Kuldeep Yadav. And here he is. 288th Test player for India. 24th fifty comes up for the opener as he edges it past slip.   


Over 28 | Score 120/1 | Smith 67* ; Warner 48*


Cuts off the backfoot for four. This surely isnt the same Warner that was struggling to score for the Aussies in the previous matches.  


Over 27 | Score 115/1 | Smith 67* ; Warner 43*


Ashwin comes in round the wicket to Smith. SIX! Warner lofts it over mid-off to get the get the big one. Warner is surely easing in. More confidence from the opener.
Jadeja now. A single and 100 up for the duo now. 100 off 147 balls. Warner again! Four, wide off cover.



Over 25 | Score 102/1 | Smith 65* ; Warner 32*


Jadeja in. Edged past slip and Rahane is far to get hold of it and Warner lucky again with that four. 100 up for the Aussies.  


Over 24 | Score 98/1 | Smith 65* ; Warner 28*


Runs rate has fallen from five to four. Doesn't matter for the skipper. Smith has been unbelievable. First, down the wicket shot, lofts it over Ashwin's head for a four and then a cover drive for another.


Over 23 | Score 90/1 | Smith 57* ; Warner 28*


Steve Smith has handled things beautifully after that initial blow. And with Warner slowing down his scoring pace, Smith picked it up to get that fifty and take charge of his side as they are piling up pressure on the bowling side. Ashwin gets a single off the 22nd over.
Jadeja into the attack. Gives away just a single.


Over 20 | Score 83/1 | Smith 50* ; Warner 28*


Jadeja comes in, Smith on strike. Two, with a shot to mid-wicket.
Ashwin comes in to attack Warner. Few anxious deliveries and then a comfortable single. Smith, a run away from his fifty. And there comes up the 21st Test fifty for the skipper. Ever consistent Steve Smith


Over 18 | Score 79/1 | Smith 47* ; Warner 27*


Round the wicket to Smith. Ashwin gives away a single. Trouble over Warner continues. Struggling against the offie.  


Over 17 | Score 78/1 | Smith 46* ; Warner 27*


The no.1 Test bowler now comes on. Jadeja replaces Bhuvi. On strike, Smith. Skipper taking it with patience. Miscues a shot a gets a single. Saved. Over the wicket for Warner.  



Over 16 | Score 77/1 | Smith 45* ; Warner 27*


Ashwin, now to Smith. Gets a single to put Warner on strike. Three off the over


Over 15 | Score 74/1 | Smith 43* ; Warner 26*


Another wide off the crease and is whacked for a four by Smith. Ashwin standing there thinking while the travels zips past him. Another shot, now at deep point, gets a two.


Over 14 | Score 67/1 | Smith 36* ; Warner 26*


Ashwin to Warner. This what the home team wants. Escapes with a single though. Two off the over


Over 13 | Score 65/1 | Smith 35* ; Warner 25*


That last over certainly showed that confident Warner was nervous against that spin attack. Bhuvi continues. A single and fifty-partnership comes up for the duo. Wide off the crease and travels down deep-point for a boundary. Excellent from the skipper. He is certainly ruling the pitch


Over 12 | Score 59/1 | Smith 30* ; Warner 24*


Kumar into the attack. Varying his length. Last ball, cracks for a boundary. Runs are just rushing in for the batting side.


Finally its Ashwin who comes in. Round the wicket. Warner steps out, sliced away, tries the big one, but no fielder and misses. Two off the over


Over 10 | Score 52/1 | Smith 25* ; Warner 22*


Kumar comes back strong with a maiden after all that Aussie firing off the last few overs. Ot-swinger is what his weapon is and has been using it smartly in that last over.
Yadav comes in. Wide of crease, out-swinger and it whistles past mid-on for a four.  


Over 8 | Score 45/1 | Smith 19* ; Warner 21*


Kumar with the ball and travels all the way to the boundary. Runs will obviously come fast in a pitch like this. Kumar now going for loose balls. Edged for a another boundary off Warner's bat.


Yadav, whacked for a four by the skipper, over the cover region. Amazing display with bat from the duo. And then another. Aussies are on fire at Dharamsala. 11 off that over.


Over 6 | Score 26/1 | Smith 8* ; Warner 16*


Kumar with the ball. He seems to love to swing the ball. Smith looking dangerous with that two, aiming to play against the line. Goes round the wicket, but no help, gets another two.
Yadav comes up. There is a barren patch around the good-length area. Seems like a team plan to attack round the wicket. Ball has been changed after been checked through the hoops.  


Over 4 | Score 17/1 | Smith 1* ; Warner 15*


Umesh back in attack. Length ball, off the hip to fine short leg and Warner gets a single. Warner drives another down cover to get a four. Beautifully timed. 



Over 3| Score 11/1 | Smith 0* ; Warner 10*


Renshaw at strike as Umesh Yadav comes up with the ball. WICKET! A Perfect pitched-up outswinger and Yadav pegs Renshaw off. Beauty by the bowler. Walks in, the skipper Smith. Kumar with the ball now, Smith on strike. Testing with out-swingers


WICKET! Umesh Yadav strikes to dismiss young Renshaw. Early blow for the Aussies.


MT Renshaw b Yadav 1 (6b)


Over 1| Score 10/0 | Renshaw 1* ; Warner 9*


Bhuvneshwar Kumar opens up for the Indians and David Warner is at strike. First ball, edged, Karun Nair misses a great opportunity to dismiss the opener and it travels to the boundary. Last ball, outside off, beautifully timed cover drive for a four


BIG NEWS! Coming straight from Dharamsala- Skipper Virat Kohli ruled out of fourth Test against Australia




Indian captain Virat Kohli was rendered a highly doubtful starter for the series finale, a scenario that has put the hosts under immense pressure on the eve of the decider of the bitterly fought series.


With the high-voltage rubber locked at 1-1, things couldn't have got worse for India as their captain admitted that he is not hundred percent fit going into the match, starting here tomorrow, with a threat of "aggravating the injury in the field" looming.


The pre-match statement was kind of a giveaway that Kohli's chances of playing are dim in a match where his presence as a leader is required the most. While Kohli the batsman had a nightmare of a series, the absence of a quality batsman like him can prove to be a game-changer unless his replacement Shreyas Iyer fires big time.


READ FULL PREVIEW HERE


If Kohli fails to turn up, then his stand-in Ajinkya Rahane will have a tough time against the 'marauding' visitors. In such a scenario, he will need strong backing from the likes of Cheteswhar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Ravichandran Ashwin, etc.


India will take heart from the fact that Mohammed Shami is all but ready to have a go at the Aussies. He is likely to replace Ishant Sharma in the XI.


ALSO READ: Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Shami added to India squad


For the Aussies, speculations are rife that they will enter the same XI which held India to a draw in Ranchi. But there are talks of Jackson Bird playing the match, in place of Steve O'Keefe. The theory is, Aussies are going with three quicks.


Yes, the importance of skipper Smith cannot be dismissed.


Here's everything you need to know about the match:


TV listing: Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD 1 — ENGLISH; Star Sports 3, Star Sports HD 3 — HINDI


Live streaming: Hotstar


Date: March 25-29, 2017


Time: 9:30 IST (Everyday)


Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharmasala


Squads:


India: Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Karun Nair, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Shami.


Australia: Steve Smith (C), Matt Renshaw, David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscombe, Matthew Wade (wk), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Steve O'Keefe, Jackson Bird, Mitchell Swepson, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Usman Khwaja, Pat Cummins.


New Delhi: Welcome to our Day 1 live coverage of the fourth and final Test match between India and Australia, being played at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharmasala.