The Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has turned out to be quite the contest, especially for India, who found themselves grappling with pressure after losing several early wickets. Yet, the Indian side found hope through the resilient partnership between Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar. On the third day of the Test, India's batting lineup was under immense pressure at 191 for 6, trailing Australia significantly.
Nitish Reddy, showing calm and grit, teamed up with Sundar to create what will be remembered as the record eighth-wicket stand for India at the MCG, adding 105 runs and pulling the team out of what seemed like certain doom. By the time Tea was called due to deteriorated light conditions, India managed to reduce their deficit to 148 runs. Reddy’s innings flourished, capturing his maiden Test fifty and pushing ever closer to his first century as he stood unbeaten at 85.
Washington Sundar played the perfect supporting role, executing his innings with careful precision, scoring 40 runs off 115 balls. The duo showcased not only technical skill but also mental fortitude, managing to fend off Australian bowlers like Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon effectively.
Before this encouraging partnership blossomed, things had looked bleak for India. Key players Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were dismissed by Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon respectively. Pant fell victim to Boland's delivery, trying to shuffle across the crease and lap the ball over the leg side, leading to a top edge caught by Lyon. Jadeja's dismissal came through Lyon's clever bowling—a leg-before-wicket trap after he was pinned on his back foot.
From the precarious position of 221 for 7, the resilient duo turned the tide, forcing Australia to take the second new ball, something they hadn't needed to do for the last eight Tests. With this turnaround, it seemed like India was beginning to regain control over the match.
Brief scores showed the match telling its tale distinctly: Australia stood firm at 474 runs with Steve Smith leading the charge with 140 runs, supported by Marnus Labuschagne’s solid 72. Jasprit Bumrah fought back for India with figures of 4-99, attempting to curb the Australian onslaught.
The partnership between Reddy and Sundar is not just significant numerically but speaks volumes about the character displayed by the Indian batting unit under pressure. While they faced challenging conditions, their strategic aggression and poise could very well determine the course of this Test match.
It’s this foundation built by Reddy and Sundar which now offers India real hope of closing the gap on Australia. There’s no telling yet how the remainder of the match will play out, but the resilience shown might just produce the result India needs to turn this Test around.
At Tea, India’s situation looked promising, with Reddy's 85 and Sundar's 40 still intact, signaling India is content to fight back. They trail Australia by 148 runs but with their recent performance, fans and spectators alike are eager to see how the final innings of this Test will shape up.
