India vs Australia, 4th Test Day 2: India Struggle at 164/5, Trail by 310 Runs After Early Setbacks

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli’s resilient partnership brought brief hope, but quick dismissals left India in a precarious position.

December 27, 2024: Day 2 of the 4th Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) saw India facing an uphill battle after Australia posted a formidable total of 474 runs. India closed the day at 164/5, still trailing by 310 runs, with Rishabh Pant (6)* and Ravindra Jadeja (4)* unbeaten at the crease.

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Early Setbacks for India

India’s innings started on a shaky note as skipper Rohit Sharma departed early, falling victim to a sharp delivery by Pat Cummins. KL Rahul, showing initial confidence, couldn’t capitalize and was dismissed just before the Tea break, once again by Cummins.

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Jaiswal-Kohli Partnership Brings Resilience

Post the interval, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli displayed grit and determination, stitching together a crucial 100-run partnership for the third wicket. Jaiswal, in particular, played with flair and confidence, while Kohli provided much-needed stability.

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Turning Point: Jaiswal’s Run-Out

Just as India looked set to stabilize their innings, a misjudged run by Jaiswal resulted in his unfortunate run-out, leaving him 18 runs short of a well-deserved century. The dismissal seemed to disrupt Kohli’s focus, as he edged a wide delivery from Scott Boland in the very next over, handing a simple catch to the slips.

Late Blow by Boland

With the day drawing to a close, Scott Boland struck again, dismissing Akash Deep in the penultimate over. This left India reeling at 164/5, putting them in a vulnerable position ahead of Day 3.

Scorecard Summary at Stumps:

• India: 164/5 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 82, Virat Kohli 45, Pat Cummins 2/32, Scott Boland 2/28)
• Australia: 474 all out

Key Takeaways:

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli’s 100-run partnership was a crucial stabilizing phase for India.
2. Jaiswal’s untimely run-out turned the momentum in Australia’s favor.
3. Scott Boland and Pat Cummins continued to dominate with the ball, capitalizing on India’s lapses in concentration.

With Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja still at the crease, Day 3 will be crucial for India to avoid further damage and stay in contention. The Australian bowlers, on the other hand, will look to wrap up the innings early and enforce their dominance.

Tags: India vs Australia, INDvsAUS, Test Cricket, Cricket Highlights, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Scott Boland, Pat Cummins

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