‘Looks like Jaiswal…’: Smith reacts to Kohli’s big mix-up on day two, remarking: ‘Virat was in for a masterclass…’

In response to Australia’s first innings total of 474, India appeared to be in a position to mount a counter-attack following the early dismissals of captain Rohit Sharma (3) and KL Rahul (24). Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal held his own and had just scored a century stand with Virat Kohli to take the visitors to 153/2. But then a terrible mix-up turned the tide back in the Aussies’ favor and could be the defining moment in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Jaiswal set out for a risky single after directing Pat Cummins at mid-on. Kohli decided to stay at the non-striker’s end and didn’t move, leaving Jaiswal in the lurch as Cummins then threw the ball to the wicketkeeper, who cleared the posts. Jaiswal went for 82 and then the downfall began. Kohli went for 36 and then Akash Deep was dismissed for a 13-ball duck and both fell to pacer Scott Boland as India sputtered to 164/5, trailing by 310 runs.

Steve Smith reacts to Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal mix-up

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Smith reacted to the major mix-up between Kohli and Jaiswal and called it a “big” moment. “It looks like Jaiswal shouted yes and ran and Virat sent him back. It’s that simple,” he said.

“It was obviously a really good partnership to break that one and then obviously get two more wickets. It was a big final hour for us, so yeah, that was a big achievement in the context of the day, I suppose,” he added.

Smith was also asked whether Australia preferred bowling to Kohli or Jaiswal. He said: “They both looked really good.”

“Jaiswal played a good innings today. (He was) aggressive and basically hit every loose ball that was thrown. And like I said, Virat looked like he was in for a masterclass of sorts with the way he started and the patience he showed.

“At this point we would probably take (one of) them. (It was) just a stroke of luck, I suppose. And sometimes when something like that happens and you break a partnership, you can get the other one out quickly and that’s what happened today, which was good for us,” he added.

Rishabh Pant (6*) and Ravindra Jadeja (4*) remained unbeaten for India and will resume batting on the second day.