Australia defeated India by 184 runs in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing a daunting target of 340 runs on the final day, India was bowled out for 155 runs, with Pat Cummins and Scott Boland leading the charge for Australia. Both bowlers claimed three wickets each to help Australia seal the win.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was the standout for India, top-scoring with 84 runs. For a time, it appeared that India might stave off defeat with a determined rearguard action. However, the fall of Jaiswal to a Pat Cummins bouncer, which sparked controversy, seemed to mark the turning point. The Indian batsman was unfortunate to fall just as he looked set to take India to safety.
Rishabh Pant added 30 runs in a calm innings that contrasted his usual aggressive approach. However, apart from them, the rest of the Indian batting line-up failed to make a significant contribution, with none of the remaining players reaching double digits.
India's resistance in the morning session, where they added 79 runs without losing a wicket, had offered brief hope. Jaiswal and Pant, who had been cautious after earlier Australian breakthroughs, weathered the storm and looked to push for a draw, a strategy that was seen as India’s best option.
Australia had earlier taken three quick wickets before lunch, putting India on the back foot. Despite the setback, the Indian pair showed resilience, particularly Pant, who had come under scrutiny for his aggressive first-innings dismissal. Jaiswal, though fortunate in the early stages, regained his composure and played solidly to reach a half-century.
After lunch, India needed 228 runs from 38 overs, with a required rate of 6 runs per over. While a victory appeared out of reach, a draw remained a realistic target. The final session saw Australia regain their grip on the match, with Cummins and Boland’s disciplined bowling preventing any further resistance from India.
The series now stands at 2-1 in Australia’s favour, with the final Test scheduled to begin in Sydney on Friday.
Attendance record rboken at MCG
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) also witnessed a new attendance record for a Test match. Over the five days of the match, attendance figures soared, with 87,242 fans on the first day, 85,147 on the second, 83,073 on the third, 43,867 on the penultimate day, and 74,362 on the final day. This remarkable turnout reflects the growing enthusiasm for Test cricket in Australia, despite the competitive nature of the series.
