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Forgotten man Bhuvneshwar swings it India's way
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was literally a forgotten man a couple of days ago. He got to bowl just nine out of the 141.5 overs that were bowled in Australia's first innings.
But his three-wicket burst in the second innings has left Australia in a mess and put India firmly in the driver's seat to push for a victory.
- Kumar's triple strike puts India on top
In the first innings, Ishant Sharma was the preferred choice for his ability to get reverse swing, while the spin trio of R Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and Ravindra Jadeja shared majority of the bowling.
That left Kumar being unused for most part of India's innings despite being more consistent and effective than his senior partner Ishant right through the series.
In the second innings he made sure that the captain would not forget him in a hurry.
Kumar started with a wicket in the very first over of the Australian innings, getting rid of dangerman David Warner, who was caught behind for two.
Forgotten man Bhuvneshwar swings it India's way
Ed Cowan became his second victim when he was trapped leg before wicket for eight and both the openers perished cheaply.
Dhoni persisted with his young pacer and kept him on for the seventh over. Kumar repaid his captain's faith by getting the wicket of Steven Smith for five. Smith, who made 92 in the first innings, was done in by a cracker of a delivery from Kumar, as it shaped in initially before pitching and going the other way, to beat the batsman all ends up.
Australia were in complete disarray at 55 for three before a shaky half-century from Phil Hughes gave them a little bit of relief.
At stumps on Day 4, Australia were 75 for three needing another 16 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
If not for Kumar's heroics with the ball, Australia could have raced to bigger lead and played for a draw. However, the visitors now face defeat squarely in the face.