Story of 'two Indias': Team India soars in Australia; INDIA bloc stumbles at home

NEW DELHI: The situation was tricky for two Indias on Saturday and the prestige was at stake. No, we are not talking about the two Indias comedian Vir Das spoke about. Today's headlines were dominated by two sides - the opposition INDIA bloc which was fighting a battle of existence in Maharashtra and Team India facing the mighty Australian cricket team in the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

One India, made a splendid comeback, thanks to a Rahul who gave a solid performance.

Another INDIA and another Rahul, failed to make any impact and lost the plot once again in another election.

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India experienced a complete turnaround in their performance during day two of the opening Test match in Perth. Following a disastrous first innings where they lost all wickets across two sessions, the team displayed exceptional resilience. The opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul orchestrated a brilliant response in the second innings, constructing an impressive century partnership against the Australian side without losing any wickets.

Jaiswal remained not out at 90, achieving his maiden hundred in Australia. KL Rahul also performed impressively, reaching an unbeaten 62. Together, they helped India establish a commanding 218-run advantage by the close of Day 2, without losing any wickets.

As Team India led by 218 runs, the INDIA bloc failed miserably in Maharashtra assembly elections as the ruling Mahayuti scored more than double ton (220 seats). The BJP itself made an impressive march by crossing the century mark. After Haryana, Rahul Gandhi and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi once again failed to forge a solid partnership to defeat BJP in another election.

This comes even as Mahayuti faced a setback just six months ago in Lok Sabha elections in which it won just 17 of the 48 parliamentary seats.

Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar's strong performance has also reinforced their parties as real Sena and NCP.

With the resounding victory, the focus now shifts to who will become the man of the match in Maharashtra as the Mahayuti decides the chief minister face.

The BJP's exceptional electoral success in the state positions Devendra Fadnavis as the leading candidate for the chief minister's role. Despite the BJP's earlier agreement to support Eknath Shinde as chief minister in 2022, following his breakaway from the Shiv Sena that led to the MVA government's collapse, the party might now assert its dominance and seek the leadership position.

Fadnavis has however said that leaders of three parties would sit together and decide on the chief minister.

"There will be no dispute on the CM's face. It was decided from day one that after the elections, the leaders of the three parties would sit together and decide on this. The decision will be acceptable to everyone, there is no dispute on this," he said.