Chapter 90

As the fourth day of the Test match dawned, India's batsmen were determined to build on their already imposing lead and put the game out of Australia's reach. Cheteshwar Pujara, who had displayed his resolute defensive style on the previous day, was at the crease, ready to take on the Australian bowlers.

However, the first ball of the day brought a sudden twist. Josh Hazlewood, the tall and skillful Australian fast bowler, surprised Pujara with a sharp bouncer. Pujara was taken aback by the unexpected delivery and could only fend it off awkwardly. The ball took the edge and flew straight to the wicketkeeper, and Pujara was dismissed for a golden duck.

The Australian fielders celebrated wildly, sensing an opportunity to make further inroads into the Indian batting line-up. But they were now faced with the challenge of dealing with the in-form Virat Kohli.

Kohli, who had played a magnificent innings the previous day, was in a determined mood to extend India's lead. He continued to play with confidence and authority, finding the gaps in the field and punishing the loose deliveries.

At the other end, Ajinkya Rahane's stay at the crease was short-lived. Hazlewood produced a brilliant outswinger that enticed Rahane into playing a square cut. However, the ball moved away late and took the outside edge of the bat. Brad Haddin, behind the stumps, took a sharp catch, and Rahane was dismissed for a duck.

The wicket of Rahane brought Nitish Reddy to the crease. Nitish, who had starred with both bat and ball in the match, was looking to make an impact once again. However, Mitchell Johnson, the notorious sledger, couldn't resist trying to rattle the young batsman.

"Let's see if you can handle this, U19 boy," Johnson taunted as he bowled a fiery bouncer.

Nitish, undeterred by the sledging, calmly swayed away from the bouncer. He had learned to deal with such tactics and was not going to let it affect his game. He responded to Johnson's taunts with a smile, which further infuriated the Australian fast bowler.

Johnson tried to intimidate Nitish with another bouncer, but this time, Nitish was prepared. He showed quick reflexes and executed a brilliant uppercut, sending the ball soaring over the third-man boundary for a six. The Indian dressing room erupted in applause as Nitish had the last laugh.

As the session progressed, Nitish continued to showcase his aggressive intent. He started walking down the pitch to the fast bowlers, taking on the short-pitched deliveries with confidence. Nitish's attacking approach surprised the Australian bowlers, and he quickly reached his half-century in just 27 balls, the fastest by any Indian batsman in overseas conditions.

Kohli, meanwhile, had completed his 150 and was leading the charge at the other end. He played with authority and controlled aggression, punishing the bowlers whenever they erred in line and length.

However, after reaching his half-century, Nitish decided to take a more measured approach. He reduced his pace and focused on building a steady partnership with Kohli. The duo continued to torment the Australian bowlers, taking the lead beyond Australia's reach.

As the second session began, the Australian bowlers decided to resort to sledging once again to try and break the partnership. Johnson and Shane Watson were the ones leading the charge, hurling insults and trying to unsettle the Indian batsmen.

But Nitish, who had faced sledging before, remained composed. He didn't let the taunts affect his concentration and continued to play his natural game. Kohli, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the sledging, taking it as an opportunity to assert his dominance on the field.

The sledging tactics, however, reached a boiling point when Johnson and Watson peppered Nitish with a series of bouncers. One such bouncer struck Nitish on the helmet, resulting in a bleeding chin. But Nitish had had enough of the sledging. He decided it was time to let his bat do the talking.

In a display of sheer determination and skill, Nitish unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes, sending the Australian fielders on a wild goose chase. The crowd erupted in applause as Nitish took control of the situation, answering the sledging in the best possible way - with his bat.

Nitish's attacking display took him to 99, just one run shy of a well-deserved century. But in his eagerness to reach the milestone, he mistimed a shot off Nathan Lyon's bowling, and the ball soared high in the air. Steven Smith, stationed near the boundary rope, ran in and took a brilliant catch to dismiss Nitish for 99.

The entire Indian dressing room gave Nitish a standing ovation as he walked back to the pavilion. His aggressive knock had put India in a commanding position. Kohli, too, acknowledged Nitish's brilliant innings with a warm embrace.

With Nitish's departure, Kohli took the lead in steering India towards a formidable total. He continued his onslaught, finding the boundaries with ease. India declared their innings at 619, setting Australia a daunting target of 599 runs to win.

As Australia came out to bat in the final session of the day, their openers, Chris Rogers and David Warner, displayed a solid defensive approach. They were resolute in their defense and focused on batting out the day without losing any wickets.

The Indian bowlers, led by Ishant Sharma and Nitish Reddy, tried their best to break through the Australian defenses, but the openers held firm. Rogers completed his half-century, and Australia ended the day at 99/0, still needing another 500 runs to win.