IND vs AUS 2023 Live Cricket Score, 4th Test, Day 4 Updates: India 362/4 at Lunch; Trail Australia by 118 Runs

LUNCH ON DAY 4! So the first session of the penultimate day’s play ends with Virat Kohli now just 12 runs away from a Test century. India started the session by losing Ravindra Jadeja on 28 but after that, Kohli and Srikar Bharat dropped anchor and took the innings forward and have so far added 53 runs for the fifth wicket. Kohli is on 88 while Bharat on 25. A shared session. 32 overs were bowled and India made 73/1 in them. They still trail by 118 runs.

So yet another fifty-run stand. This time it’s between Virat Kohli and Srikar Bharat for the fifth wicket. Virat Kohli with a couple off Cameron Green moves to 87 and is now 13 runs away from a century. India 359/4 in 130 overs, trail by 121 runs.

A low full toss from Matthew Kuhnemann and Virat Kohli clips it away for a couple to bring up India’s 350 in 128.2 overs.

Cameron Green is back into the attack this morning. He had bowled the first over of the day before being taken off. Still no sign of Mitchell Starc although he was seen warming up. Matthew Kuhnemann continues to operate from one end. India 348/4 in 128 overs, trail by 132 runs.

Well, Virat Kohli is now batting on 80 not out – his highest score in Test cricket since Cape Town in January 2022. 20 runs more to get the monkey off his back. Can he do it?

The session suddenly sprung back to life but not because of some magical delivery or a mind-bending shot but because of an overthrow. Virat Kohli clipped one away from Nathan Lyon for a quick single but the throw is wide and allowed him to take a couple more. Had it not been for Mitchell Starc who covered good ground and pulled the ball back just in time, it could have been four overthrows. And that turned out to be the only scoring shot in the over. India 338/4 in 124 overs, trail by 142 runs.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann introduced. And he’s getting the ball to turn, creating some doubts in the mind of a well-set Virat Kohli. There was a loud shout for LBW too but the Australians didn’t review it after the umpire turned it down. A maiden over. Kohli on 71 off 192, Srikar Bharat on 17 off 38. India 332/4 in 121 overs, trail by 148 runs.

So the first hour of play has gone Australia’s way. Why? Because on a docile pitch in Ahmedabad, they got rid of Ravindra Jadeja who inexplicably went for an aerial shot twice in an over of Todd Murphy but and the third time, he ended up being caught at mid-on. However, Virat Kohli continues to be solid as ever having reached 70 off 179. A concerning news for India is that Shreyas Iyer is still out for scans after complaining of pain in his lower back which meant Srikar Bharat has come out to bat ahead of him. India 323/4 in 116 overs, trail by 157 runs.

A tossed up delivery and Srikar Bharat brings out the slog sweep to clear the boundary for a six. India 318/4, trail by 162 runs.

Shreyas Iyer has complained of pain in his lower back and been taken for scans. Srikar Bharat has walked in after the dismissal of Ravindra Jadeja.

WICKET! Where did that come from? A strange shot from Ravindra Jadeja to throw away his wicket. He’s been batting uncharacteristically in this over of Todd Murphy – looking for aerial shots, one of those attempts getting him a boundary. But the the third attempt proves to be his last as he holes out to Usman Khawaja at mid-on. A disappointing end to an innings that promised so much. Jadeja scored 28. India 309/4 in 106.6 overs, trail by 171 runs.

Cameron Green was asked to bowl just one over – the first of the day – and then was taken off. It’s been two offspinners – Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy – who are currently manning the attack for Australia. No rush to score runs from either of the two India batters. IND 303/3 in 105 overs, trail by 177 runs.

With a single, Virat Kohli brings up India’s 300 in 101.4 overs. The hosts trail by 180 now.

Todd Murphy from the other end. His third delivery is short and wide which Ravindra Jadeja plays it past the slip fielder for his and India’s first four of the day. And with that, the partnership between Jadeja and Virat Kohli is now worth 52 runs for the fourth wicket. India 297/3, trail by 183 runs.

Cameron Green started with one sliding down the leg-side before Virat Kohli took a single with a gentle push off the next. Ravindra Jadeja opened the face of the bat for a single of his own before Kohli brought hi wrist into play to send the ball to midwicket but for Mitchell Starc who prevented what appeared like a certain four. 4 runs from it. India 294/3 in 100 overs, trail by 186 runs.

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja are out in the middle. Cameron Green will start the proceedings for Australia. Here we go.

So the clouds have drifted away. Sunshine. Another big day ahead of us. Can India move themselves into a position of strength today? Or can Australia land some quick blows?