BGT: KL Rahul On Verge Of Unique Hat-Trick During 4th Test Against Australia At MCG

December 21, 2024: As India prepares for the crucial third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), all eyes will be on KL Rahul, who has been in exceptional form despite a challenging series for many Indian batters. The series is currently tied 1-1, and this Boxing Day Test, scheduled to begin on December 26, provides a great opportunity for India to take a crucial lead in the series.

KL Rahul, who was promoted to the opening slot this series after Rohit Sharma decided to bat in the middle order following the birth of his second child, has been a standout performer. He is India’s leading run-scorer in the series so far, with 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.00. His contributions include two half-centuries, with a best score of 84, showcasing his resilience and composure, especially against the challenging moving ball in Australian conditions.

One of the most exciting prospects for Rahul in this Test is the chance to achieve a rare hat-trick of centuries in Boxing Day Tests. Rahul has already scored centuries in his last two Boxing Day appearances. In 2021, at Centurion, he made 123 runs in a victorious outing against South Africa, and in 2023, he followed up with 101 runs in a losing effort at the same venue. If he scores another century in this Test, it would mark a remarkable achievement, becoming only the second player in history to score three consecutive centuries in Boxing Day Tests.

Rahul has played only one Boxing Day Test in Australia, during his debut series in 2014, where he scored just 3 and 1. While his earlier Boxing Day Test appearances were inconsistent, his recent form in these fixtures highlights his ability to rise to the occasion in one of cricket’s most prestigious and high-profile matches, which is always played in front of large, passionate crowds.

In 2023, Rahul has scored 469 runs in eight Tests at an average of 39.08, with four half-centuries and a best score of 86. Additionally, in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, he has accumulated 574 runs in nine matches at an average of 41.00, with one century, four fifties, and a top score of 101. His consistency and ability to play crucial innings in tough conditions make him one of India’s key players going into this Test.

The challenge will be significant, as Rahul will face a formidable Australian attack featuring the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and the emerging talent of Jhye Richardson. However, with his recent form and the opportunity to make history, Rahul will be looking to put in another match-winning performance and help India take control of the series.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.

Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal.

Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

As the third Test gets underway, the cricketing world will be eagerly watching whether KL Rahul can continue his remarkable form and add another record to his name.