India after losing Rohit Sharma early on Day 2 of the first innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday in the Boxing Day Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After that, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked brilliant in the crease. Until the gem of a delivery from Australian skipper Pat Cummins dismissed the well-set Rahul right before the tea.
Coming out to bat after tea Virat Kohli and young Jaiswal looked excellent and they were rock solid at the crease. After stitching a hundred-run partnership, Jaiswal’s terrible run-out handed Australia his wicket, ending a magnificent stand with Virat Kohli, the Southpaw was run out, against the run of play. The wicket followed the traditional adage of ‘one brings two’. Seven deliveries after Jaiswal’s run-out, Kohli lost concentration and edged one to Carey of Boland’s following over.
Despite playing with excellent discipline throughout the day. India lost both set batters and found themselves at 154/4 with nightwatchman Akash Deep and wicketkeeper Rishab Pant at the crease. Australian bowlers, who appeared to be exhausted after bowling on a flattening pitch, regained their energy. Jaiswal had a heart-stopping moment when Scott Boland bowled the final ball of the 41st over. It was a full-length on-off, and Jaiswal drove it crisply to Pat Cummins at mid-on. Before setting off on the run.
Jaiswal and Kohli Let India Down in Pressure Moments
Kohli, the non-striker, glanced at the fielder, shouting against the run, and stood firm, but it was too late. It was the worst possible outcome for India just about 20 minutes before the Stumps. Kohli and Jaiswal have taken the score from 51/2 to 153/2. The young left-hander was having one of his greatest innings of the series, scoring 82 (118), with 11 boundaries and a six.
The Men in Blue are now in deep trouble with 164/5 with Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant in the crease. They have a massive task ahead of them to first stitch and partnership that will save the follow-on as India is still behind 310 runs, with three days of play left and the wicket is very good for batting coming on Day 3. Both batters need to capitalise and showcase their ability to score runs.
