India skipper Ajinkya Rahane put down an easy chance at gully to give Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne a life on Day 1 of the ongoing Brisbane Test.

India copped two blows in one over as Rahane’s dropped catch was followed by Navdeep Saini walking off the field with an injury. Having sent back David Warner and Marcus Harris early in Australia’s innings, India made further inroads with the big wicket of Steven Smith as Washington Sundar picked up his maiden Test wicket.

Things could have gone better for the Indian side had they taken their chance in the field. Off the fifth ball of Navdeep Saini’s eighth over, Marnus Labuschagne, when on 37, was squared up by a peach of a delivery that angled in and straightened just outside his off-stump.

An edge flew straight to gully where Rahane got hands to the ball but couldn’t hold on. A rare drop by one of India’s safest catchers could go down as a big moment in the game.

Watch Rahane’s dropped catch here:

Labuschagne gets a life! 😰

Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/IzttOVtrUu pic.twitter.com/8FoaapsPGe

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021

The disappointment of the dropped catch was compounded by Saini injuring himself and walking off the field without even completing his over. Rohit Sharma took over to complete the over with his first delivery in an away Test since 2014.

Saini has to leave the field mid-over.

Let’s hope he’ll be able to return #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/XjaGaWDJQN

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021