A roaring crowd of over 66,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a masterclass in Test cricket as Australia stormed to a remarkable victory over India. Pat Cummins’s side, resilient as ever, turned a seemingly balanced game into a dominant triumph, dismantling India’s batting order in the final session to go 2-1 up in the series.
India, chasing survival on a tense fifth day, succumbed to an extraordinary collapse—losing seven wickets for just 34 runs. The turning point? A moment of recklessness from Rishabh Pant.
Pant’s Misstep Sparks Indian Downfall
Rishabh Pant, often celebrated for his audacious strokeplay, played right into Australia’s hands after Tea. His mistimed attempt to send a half-tracker from part-timer Travis Head soaring into the stands only found Mitchell Marsh at long-on. It was a soft dismissal at a critical juncture, with India seemingly on the path to salvaging a draw.
Pant’s dismissal opened the floodgates. In just 27 deliveries, India lost two more wickets. Scott Boland’s lethal delivery rose sharply off a length, forcing Ravindra Jadeja into a tentative poke that carried to the keeper. Soon after, Nathan Lyon snared first-innings centurion Nitish Reddy for a single, Steve Smith completing a sharp catch at slip.
From 121/3, India spiralled to 130/6, their confidence shattered, their hopes slipping away.
Cummins and Co. Deliver the Final Blows
The Australians energised and relentless, closed in for the kill. Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal were greeted by a chirping Australian field, with close-in fielders, particularly Sam Konstas, adding verbal pressure.
Cummins returned with renewed vigour. He sent Jaiswal packing in controversial fashion—an attempted pull edged to the keeper. While the Snicko failed to produce a convincing spike, the ball’s visible deflection sealed Jaiswal’s fate on review.
The tail offered little resistance. Boland struck again, dismissing Akash Deep with a sharp catch at short leg.
Watch: “Did the Umpire Get It Wrong?” Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Shocking Dismissal at MCG Sparks Chaos
A Day That Began With Pressure, Ended With Defeat
India’s troubles started right at the top. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli faltered early, unable to weather Australia’s new-ball assault. Rohit edged a full delivery to gully; Rahul got undone by Cummins’s movement; and Kohli, chasing a wide one, edged behind moments before Lunch.
The middle session offered a glimmer of hope. Jaiswal and Pant stitched together a partnership that briefly steadied the ship, raising India’s aspirations of a hard-fought draw.
But by the final session, that hope was in tatters. Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, and Pat Cummins combined in a clinical display to wrap up the innings.
Boland claimed Bumrah, whose edge flew to Smith, and Lyon sealed the deal by trapping Mohammed Siraj LBW, sparking wild celebrations.
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