Captain Rahane's fine century puts India in driver's seat

Ajinkya Rahane played a captain's kck with a workmanlike century that steered India into a dominant position and took sting out of Australia's potent bowling attack in second Test here on Sunday.

Trailing 0-1 in four-match series, India ended second day at 277 for five for a handy 82-run le after bowling out Australia for 195 at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

At stumps, which was brought early owing to rain, Rahane was going strong on 104 and giving him company was Ravindra Jeja on 40, two having ded what might prove to be a game-changing 104-run partnership for sixth wicket.

This was Rahane's 12th Test hundred and his second at iconic venue, after a fine 147 during 2014 tour.

A day after earning rich praise for his tactical acumen while marshalling bowlers, Rahane shone bright with bat and was spot on with his reing of match situations during his stay in middle.

Rahane got a life when Steve Smith dropped him on 73 at second slip in Australia's first over with second new ball, unlucky bowler being Mitchell Starc, who was taken off attack after just two overs with shining red cherry.

That particular phase was crucial from both team's point of view and by t losing a wicket to second new ball, India ensured y finished day ahe of Australia, in terms of runs as well as psychologically.

Rahane got ar reprieve when substitute fielder Travis He put one down after diving forward from gully, but that was after he h got to three-figure mark.

To start with, Rahane was more watchful that he h ever been but as day progressed, he went on to play some sumptuous shots and one of his day's best was classic off-drive against Pat Cummins.

Earlier, Rishabh Pant (29) and Hanuma Vihari (21) frittered away promising starts after doing all hard work, but Jeja was determined t to do anything of that sort.

Vihari fell to off-spinner Nathan Lyon while trying to sweep him from outside off-stump after he h ded 52 runs for fourth wicket with his captain.

In came Pant and despite constant scrutiny around him, wicketkeeper-batsman showed nerves and confidently went about playing his strokes.

If Rahane mand to blunt opposition bowlers with his defensive approach before opening up, Pant's aggression forced Australia to change ir attacking tactic.

Rahane's first real authoritative shot was a cracking pull off Josh Hazlewood and re was also a sumptuous off-drive for a four. Balls directed on Rahane's ps were comfortably whipped through mid-wicket or square-leg region and he was equally good while playing drives and cuts.

At or end, just when Pant was beginning to pose a treat to hosts, Starc forced an edge to bring match back on even keel. It was Paine's 150th dismissal and wicket number 250 for Starc.

second session saw India score 99 runs after y mand just 54 in first, during which y also lost two wickets in as many overs to relentless Cummins.

Resuming on 36 for one, India started cautiously before losing both ir overnight batsmen -- debutant Shubman Gill and seasoned Cheteshwar Pujara -- in of 11 balls to reach 90 for three at lunch.

At lunch, Rahane was batting on 10 and giving him company was Vihari on 13 with India trailing by 105 runs.

21-year-old Gill impressed on his debut with a fluent 45 and played some fine shots during his 65-ball kck at Melbourne Cricket Ground. While Pujara me 17, having faced 70 deliveries.

first to go was Gill, who perished when he edged Cummins for Paine to take a regulation catch behind stumps.

Australia were soon celebrating again as Cummins picked up big wicket of Pujara after straightening him up with a brilliant delivery that angled in and moved just eugh to induce an edge.

Paine, who lost a review after assuming that Gill h nicked day's very first delivery, complemented his top fast bowler by completing a fine diving catch. 

(Im Courtesy: ICC Twitter)