The weather forecast for Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test match between India and Australia presents mixed conditions, raising concerns about possible interruptions. Fans are left wondering: will rain play spoilsport on what promises to be an exciting contest at Melbourne's iconic cricket ground?
At lunch on the third day, Australia had built a solid 230-run lead, having claimed the key wickets of Indian batsmen Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. The match began with India resuming their innings at 164/5, but by the time lunch arrived, they were precariously positioned at 244/7, needing another 30 runs to avoid the follow-on.
The morning session passed without any rain, with India scoring 80 runs off 27 overs but losing two important wickets. Scoring has been tricky against the Australian bowlers, especially with Scott Boland trapping Jadeja lbw for 17 runs and Pant scoring 28 before his dismissal.
The forecast indicates worsening weather throughout the day. Mixed cloud cover is expected to increase, with breezy conditions likely to develop by the afternoon. Most concerning for players and fans alike, there is a 79% chance of rain, along with a 16% likelihood of thunderstorms. Experts predict two hours of substantial rain, which could lead to the potential washout of the entire second session.
Even though the temperature is tentatively set at 23 degrees Celsius, the chance of rain diminishes somewhat as evening approaches, falling to 25%. This might provide spectators with the opportunity to watch some action during the third session if the rain stays away.
For cricket lovers, the looming question is whether India can be saved by the weather yet again, much like the previous encounter at Gabba. With the current match setup and Australia's aggressive bowling, India might be wishing for the skies to open up, giving them another shot at redemption.
With players like Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar still at the crease, there’s still hope for India, but the ticking clock of the rain clouds adds pressure on the remaining batsmen to deliver for their team. Fans remain on the edge of their seats as they wait to see if cricket’s unpredictable companion, the weather, will let play resume uninterrupted.
