Australia vs India 2018: 3 reasons why Kohli didn’t enforce the follow-on 

This Australia-India Test series has been a riveting one. Both Australia and India have exchanged blows and have tried to gain the upper hand at different junctures of the series. After India won a close Test match in Adelaide, Australia came back strongly with a resounding win in Perth to level the series.

However, Virat Kohli’s men have once again come back strongly and have dominated the Boxing Day Test. After opting to bat first, Cheteshwar Pujara’s fighting ton (106) along with the fifties from Mayank Agarwal (76), Virat Kohli (82) and Rohit Sharma (63*) have helped India post 443. Pat Cummins starred for the hosts as he finished with 3/72.

In reply, the Indian bowlers came out all guns firing as they skittled the hosts out for 151. Jasprit Bumrah took 6/33 and the other bowlers chipped in well to help India gain a massive lead.

However, despite having a 292-run lead, Virat Kohli and India did not enforce the follow-on. That decision did take quite a few people by surprise. Given the weather forecast for the next two days (rain on the radar), it was a bold move to bat again. However, the game has moved quickly with India losing five wickets in just one session.

However, there might have been more to the decision making. Here are the reasons which might have prompted India not to enforce the follow-on.

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#3 Giving the bowlers a break

Indian seamers

The Australian innings might have lasted only 66.5 overs but the Indian pace attack has already bowled close to 300 overs in this series. With the Sydney Test starting only in three days after the conclusion of this Test match, their workload needs to be managed.

India will not want any of their premier pacers to head to Sydney for the New Year’s Test with a niggle or an injury.

Moreover, it will help them reassess and regain energy before the final innings. They can go full throttle at the Aussie batsmen once again in a bid to give India a 2-1 series lead.

#2 Allows the pitch to deteriorate further; bringing Jadeja into the game

A great chance for India to make it 2-1

Despite a decent covering of grass, the pitch has been on the slower side. There was a very little lateral movement for the first couple of days. There was just an odd delivery keeping low or rising off a length.

But as the game has progressed, the pitch has shown signs of wear and tear. There were a couple of dismissals in the Indian innings where the ball kept very low and there was very little the batsmen could do about such deliveries. Even when India bowled in their first innings, there was a lot more up and down and it did create doubt in the minds of the batsmen.

Also, there is a rough outside the left-hander’s off-stump that is developing. Ravindra Jadeja tried to aim at those rough areas consistently in the first innings and those footmarks did play a role in Usman Khawaja’s dismissal. Hence, Jadeja becomes a threatening bowler as the game goes on.

#1 The risk of batting last

The fourth innings will be tough for the batsmen

India has had a terrible time chasing down targets in fourth innings in the last few years, especially away from home. They’ve not been able to chase down even small targets as well this year. India have lost Test matches in Cape Town, Centurion, Edgbaston, Southampton, and Perth chasing down middling fourth-innings targets.

They’ve succumbed under pressure every time and have lost those Test matches comfortably. What batting in the third innings does is, it helps the batsmen play with a freer mind without any scoreboard pressure. India might have lost five wickets already but they are still way ahead in the game and are calling the shots at the moment.

Hence, there would’ve been a risk of batting last on a deteriorating pitch. Even a target of 100 would have put pressure on the Indian batting line-up and we have seen things turn around quickly.