Rishabh Pant's wicket was a turnaround moment: Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara feels that Rishabh Pant's wicket was the turning point of Team India's first innings. The visitors had resumed Day 3 on 96-2. The charge was on Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Ajinkya Rahane to take the game forward on day three. But the Men in Blue lost the wicket of Rahane and then Hanuma Vihari through a careless run-out. Pujara believes that team India was in control with this concern till he and Rishabh Pant were at the crease.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant further added 53 runs for the fourth wicket. Both the players looked relatively comfortable against the Australian pacers. However, Pant played a lazy shot and edged one to the slips. That opened the door for the hosts, and team India began to crumble. From 195-4, the visitors were all out for just 244. This handed the hosts a significant lead of 94 runs. 

Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja are crucial players of the team: Cheteshwar Pujara

Things are turning to worse for the visitors as both Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were taken to the hospital for scans. Pant got a blow on his elbow off Pat Cummins' bowling whereas Jadeja was struck on his elbow by Mitchell Starc.

In the second innings, neither Rishabh Pant nor Jadeja took the field for the visitors. At the same time, the Indian side had Wriddhiman Saha available to do wicket-keeping. On the other end, there was no alternative to Jadeja's bowling.

After dominating the batting line-up in their first innings with figures of 4-62 and a brilliant run-out, the southpaw proved his value for the side. Jadeja's ability to make optimum use of the rough would have been very easy for team India. Cheteshwar Pujara is not aware of the extent of the injury to both players. However, the batsman opines that the side needs to stand up and put on a spirited display on Day 4. 

At the end of Day 3, Australia is sitting comfortably in the driver's seat with a lead of 197 runs. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne look strong at the crease and have already added 68 runs for the third wicket. With these, things are looking gloomy for the visitors. If Jadeja is unlikely to bowl on Day 4 then team India will require a stirring bowling performance to be in the competition. The Men in Blue will also have to put forward a better show with the bat in the second innings.

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