India faces significant challenges as they enter their first innings of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Australia. Having posted a colossal total of 474 runs, Australia set the stage for a demanding outing for the Indian team, who must now strive to avoid the follow-on rule, needing at least 275 runs.
During the opening day, the crowd of more than 87,000 witnessed the debut of Australian opener Sam Konstas, whose rapid half-century contributed significantly to the Australians’ dominant position. Following him, renowned batsmen Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, and the masterful Steve Smith, who anchored the innings with his impressive knock of 140 runs, formed the backbone of Australia’s batting lineup.
On Day 2, as India began the uphill task of responding to the hefty total, they immediately fell under pressure. The Indian top order struggled once again, with captain Rohit Sharma dismissed for just three runs, leaving India's innings precariously balanced. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul initiated some recovery with a 43-run stand, their efforts were cut short after Rahul’s departure before Tea.
Jaiswal then formed what seemed to be a promising partnership with Virat Kohli, scoring 102 runs for the third wicket. Unfortunately, disaster struck when the duo became embroiled in what has been termed as a “horrible mix-up” (Live Mint), resulting in Jaiswal being dismissed just 18 runs shy of his second Test hundred on Australian soil. Just moments later, Kohli himself fell to the bowling of Scott Boland, leaving India reeling at 164 for 5.
Now, with the scoreboard reflecting 164/5 and trailing by 310 runs, India must gather their strength and focus. The requirement to score at least 275 runs to avoid the follow-on has become not just formality, but urgency. Failing to do so means they could be forced to bat again almost immediately, facing Australian bowlers who look increasingly confident.
According to cricketing rules, the follow-on condition mandates teams which trail by more than 200 runs to bat again if the leading side chooses to enforce it. This regulation places immense pressure on the second team, compelling them to perform under duress—a situation India surely wishes to avoid.
Despite the difficult scenario, not all the news is grim for India. On Day 2, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja showcased their skills with the ball, taking 4 for 99 and 3 for 78 respectively, successfully claiming wickets during key moments of Australia’s innings. They demonstrated their ability to mount resistance, forcing the Australian side to struggle for runs during their last four wickets, which took 163 runs to achieve.
Looking ahead to Day 3, Indian batsmen must take heed of their preceding setbacks and devise strategies to build partnerships and stabilize their innings. Focus will be directed toward the lower-order batsmen, who must now step up to help bolster the total, aiming to surpass the follow-on threshold as soon as possible. The upcoming session will undoubtedly be pivotal, possibly determining the direction of the match.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series stands at one-all, amplifying the stakes of this Test match. With India's batting needing to rally against exhaustive pressure, the question becomes—can they manage to withstand this formidable Australian bowling attack and steer their innings to safety?
Fans and spectators are on the edge of their seats, hoping for resilience from the Indian lineup as they take to the crease once again, eyes firmly set on avoiding the follow-on and turning the tide of this fourth Test match.
