Day 2 of the IND vs AUS, Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ended with India in a precarious position. Despite a promising start, the loss of two key wickets in the final session left India vulnerable, and the team now faces a challenging task in response to Australia’s formidable first-innings score of 474 runs. By the close of play on Day 2, India had reached 164/5 after 46 overs, still trailing Australia by 310 runs.
India’s Fragile Response to Australia’s 474
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On Day 2, India knew what they had to do: build partnerships to fight their way back into the match against Australia’s gargantuan total. Indian top order was a little patchy, but by this time, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli looked assured and gave India the feel of recovery. At one moment, India was placed on 153/2, with both batsmen, at 40.5 overs. It so happened that in the later session, India lost three wickets in rapid succession.
The dismissals of Jaiswal and Kohli put India in a difficult situation. By the end of the day, India had lost 5 wickets, with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja at the crease, the team’s remaining hopes for a fightback.
Jaiswal’s Unfortunate Run Out and Kohli’s Disappointing Departure
The first major casualty was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had batted a calm and composed knock of 82 runs from 118 balls. Jaiswal was run out in unfortunate circumstances when he was trying to take a quick single. Looking like he was going to go on to a century, Jaiswal’s dismissal was a setback for India. His innings had contained 11 fours and 1 six, as he gradually laid the platform for India’s reply.
Just eight balls after Jaiswal’s run out, Virat Kohli, who had been batting well for his 36 runs, also departed. Kohli had seemed in good rhythm, but he was dismissed by Scott Boland, reducing India’s score to 164/5. With the loss of two set batsmen, India’s position became much more challenging.
The Debate Over Jaiswal’s RunOut
The manner of Jaiswal’s dismissal sparked a debate among cricket commentators. Sanjay Manjrekar and Deep Dasgupta, both former cricketers and now prominent commentators, offered differing views on the run-out. Some defended Jaiswal, arguing that it was a harsh way for him to be dismissed, while others felt it was a lapse in concentration. The incident added to the drama of the day, further intensifying the pressure on India’s lower order to deliver.
Pant and Jadeja to Take India’s Rescue Effort
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The two key wickets lost, the task of reviving India’s innings now lies on the shoulders of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. Both of them are experienced players and can play impactful innings in the crunch time. How well they can stabilize the innings and build a partnership would be crucial for India not to suffer the follow-on and to get closer to Australia’s total.
At the end of the play, India still required 111 more runs to escape being asked to follow on, with 5 wickets left. Today is going to be India’s survival day in this Test match. If Pant and Jadeja can absorb the session and reduce this deficit, India will remain in the game.
India’s Position in the Series and WTC Implications
This Test match is important not only for the series scoreline but also for India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. There are only a few matches left before the WTC final, and India cannot afford to slip up in this match. Hence, it is very crucial for the Indian batsmen to show resilience and bat out the session to stay in the hunt and avoid a defeat in the Boxing Day Test.
Day 1 Record Attendance at Melbourne Cricket Ground
History was made on the very first day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A record attendance of 87,242 spectators** crammed the stadium as India and Australia went at each other in a real test of cricket between two great nations. The tickets for the first day of the fourth Test had sold out two weeks ahead of the match, demonstrating the immense popularity and build-up to the contest. The day was an absolute thriller for the fans with both teams locked in battle on the field.
Looking Ahead: Day 3 – Can India Avoid the Follow-On?
As the third day of the Boxing Day Test approaches, India’s focus will be to survive the early session without any further damage. With Pant and Jadeja at the crease, India would hope for a good partnership that can provide stability to the team. It would be a test of their temperament and ability to handle pressure in a critical Test match.
With five wickets remaining and a further 111 runs needed to avoid the follow-on, India has a lot to do. If the middle order can resist the Australian bowlers, then the visitors will still have a chance to get back into the match. But if Australia’s bowlers strike early, then the chances of India avoiding defeat in this Test will be reduced to a great extent.
A Crucial Day Ahead for India In IND vs AUS 4th Test
The second day of the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test came to a close with India in a tough spot at 164/5. With two set batsmen gone—Jaiswal and Kohli—the onus is now on the lower order, and Pant and Jadeja have the task of taking the team forward. The third day of the match will be very crucial in deciding whether India will avoid the follow-on and stay in the game. The battle is not over yet, and the response from India in the coming hours will be very crucial for their hopes of staying competitive in this Test series.
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