India’s Seamers Shine with Three Early Strikes Before Lunch

India’s bowlers delivered a gripping performance on the second morning of the Brisbane Test, claiming three crucial wickets before lunch. Jasprit Bumrah led the charge with a stellar display of seam bowling, reducing Australia to 104/3 after a tense and absorbing session. Veteran Steve Smith dug deep to hold the innings together, adopting a trusted old technique as he battled through the session.

After the rain-hit first day, Day 2 began under clear blue skies at The Gabba, setting the stage for Bumrah’s masterclass. Correcting his slightly wayward line from the previous day, Bumrah hit a fuller length, forcing Usman Khawaja to play forward but denying him the opportunity to drive. His persistence paid off when Khawaja edged a perfect fourth-stump delivery to Rishabh Pant, who claimed his 150th dismissal behind the stumps.

Nathan McSweeney, Australia’s other opener, lasted just two deliveries before he nicked a delivery that straightened off the pitch. With this dismissal, Bumrah’s series average against Australia’s openers fell to a remarkable 4.28, having dismissed them seven times in just three Tests.

At 38 for 2, Steve Smith walked out with Marnus Labuschagne, employing his trademark back-and-across trigger movement to counter India’s probing attack. India’s seamers, led by Akash Deep, used a leg-slip and bowled around the wicket to cramp Smith’s scoring opportunities. Labuschagne, meanwhile, showed patience, leaving deliveries on length and trusting the surface’s bounce.

The pair cautiously added 37 runs in 15 hard-fought overs before India struck again. Labuschagne fell to a tempting wide delivery from Nitish Reddy, edging it to Virat Kohli at second slip, who moved sharply to his right to complete the catch.

India came close to dismissing Smith as well. Mohammed Siraj beat him with a nip-backer that was saved by the Umpire’s Call, while Akash Deep forced an inside edge onto his pads with a full delivery. An injury scare emerged when Siraj limped off mid-over clutching his left hamstring, but he returned to the field before the session ended.