Ahmedabad, India – The spotlight has shone brightly on the fourth Test between India and Australia, particularly due to Mohammed Siraj’s performance drawing both criticism and concern from teammates and analysts alike. Captain Virat Kohli expressed his astonishment at Siraj's apparent lack of game awareness during the match, especially evident during the 39th over of Australia’s innings.
India initially held the advantage with Australia struggling at six down when Siraj bowled to Pat Cummins. Cummins played a shot wide of gully, prompting Kohli to call for immediate action to run out Marnus Labuschagne, who was close to being caught out. Kohli’s plans went awry as Siraj failed to back up near the stumps, instead wandering back to his mark. Despite the ball being still live, he did not seem to notice the situation play out. Kohli’s irritation was palpable, as he shouted at Siraj, highlighting the team’s frustrations over teamwork and awareness.
“I just can’t believe how he wasn’t aware of what to do next,” Kohli voiced his concerns, realizing the enormous responsibility on Siraj to shoulder the burden left by the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Despite some strong patches, overall, Siraj’s bowling has not met expectations during the series. Former cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar and Sanjay Manjrekar, suggested the possibility of his removal from the fifth Test following this performance. So far, Siraj has claimed 15 wickets at an average of 31.53 throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, but his latest showing coupled with strategic missteps have put him under the microscope.
On the other hand, the spotlight shifted toward the younger talent on the Indian side. Just hours after Siraj’s shortcomings were debated, 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy emerged as the new batting hero, showcasing remarkable poise against the Australian bowlers. His maiden Test century, scored under tremendous pressure and with India reeling at 221-7, spearheaded the team's fightback on day three of the Melbourne Test.
Reddy tackled the Australians with the expertise of someone far beyond his years, notching 105 runs off 171 deliveries, with ten boundaries and one six. Alongside Washington Sundar, Reddy forged a partnership of 127 from the eighth-wicket – just shy of breaking Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for India against Australia.
“For our family, it’s a special day and we cannot forget this day... he has been performing well since the age group of 14-15, and now in international cricket, it’s a very special feeling,” Reddy’s father, Mutyala, said emotionally as he witnessed his son’s monumental feat.
The match, held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, saw Reddy take center stage as he and Sundar fought hard to keep India afloat, all the way, at the end of the day’s play with India standing at 358-9 and still trailing Australia’s first innings total of 474 by 116 runs.
Adding drama to the situation, Reddy nearly fell victim to the Australian bowling attack before he reached his century. Sundar’s resistant innings of 50 ended when he was caught off Nathan Lyon, but Reddy showcased his own resilience by surviving multiple tight deliveries from Cummins. When Reddy finally cleared the boundary for his 100, the crowd erupted. It was not merely personal triumph; it was emblematic of India’s dogged determination to push back against what could have been another surrender against their Australian rivals.
“I felt we were really fighting, and with this fight-settled, we have put ourselves back within the contest,” said Sundar, reflecting on their resolve to battle through the remaining innings regardless of the circumstances.
With the fourth Test one for celebration and frustration for different reasons, India now must weigh the future of its pace attacks. Siraj finds himself at a crossroads as the team contemplates its next moves, following the high of Reddy’s display of grit and composure. The series is far from over, and all eyes will now watch closely as India navigates its way through the decisive moments of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While Reddy’s century will be remembered as the stuff of legends among fans and peers, the pressure is surely mounting on Siraj as expectations weigh heavily on his shoulders. Can he redeem himself come the next Test? Only time will tell, as the saga of this gripping series plays on.