On the third day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia tightened their grip on the match by dismissing key Indian batsmen Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja during the morning session. India’s position became increasingly precarious, placing the onus on Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar to navigate the innings forward.
Resuming at 164/5, India faced immediate setbacks. Rishabh Pant, known for his aggressive batting, attempted an audacious shot early in the session but was caught out, contributing 28 runs. His dismissal drew criticism from cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, who labeled the shot selection as “stupid, stupid, stupid,” emphasizing the need for more responsibility in such critical situations.
Following Pant’s departure, Ravindra Jadeja sought to stabilize the innings. However, he too fell after a cautious 17, leaving India at 221/7. The onus then shifted to the lower order to bridge the substantial deficit.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, exhibiting commendable resilience, led a counter-attack. By lunch, he remained unbeaten on 40, showcasing a blend of patience and aggression. His partnership with Washington Sundar, who was on 5*, added crucial runs, steering India to 244/7.
Despite Reddy’s efforts, India remains 230 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total. The Australia bowling attack, spearheaded by Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon, maintained consistent pressure throughout the session, capitalizing on any lapses in concentration from the Indian batsmen.
The post-lunch session is poised to be decisive. India’s immediate objective will be to surpass the follow-on threshold, with Reddy and Sundar aiming to extend their partnership and reduce the deficit further. Conversely, Australia will seek to dismantle the remaining batting lineup swiftly, enforcing their dominance in the match.
The MCG pitch has offered assistance to both batsmen and bowlers, with variable bounce and movement challenging the players. As the ball ages, spinners like Lyon are expected to play an increasingly pivotal role, exploiting any turn on offer.