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An enthusiastic crowd of more than 66,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a masterclass in Test cricket as Australia recorded a remarkable victory over India. Pat Cummins’ team, resilient as ever, turned a seemingly balanced game into a dominant win, dismantling India’s batting order in the final session to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Chasing survival on a tense fifth day, India succumbed to an extraordinary collapse: losing seven wickets in just 34 runs. The turning point? A moment of recklessness from Rishabh Pant.
Pant’s misstep leads to India’s downfall
Rishabh Pant, often celebrated for his audacious strokeplay, played into Australia’s hands after tea. His ill-timed attempt to send a half-track from part-timer Travis Head into the stands only found Mitchell Marsh in long position. It was a soft dismissal at a critical moment, with India seemingly on course to salvage a draw.
Pant’s dismissal opened the floodgates. In just 27 deliveries, India lost two more wickets. Scott Boland’s lethal shot rose sharply from long range, forcing Ravindra Jadeja to take a tentative shot that found its way to the goalkeeper. Soon after, Nathan Lyon trapped first innings centurion Nitish Reddy with a single, and Steve Smith completed a precise catch at slip.
From 121/3, India jumped to 130/6, their confidence shattered and their hopes dashed.
Cummins and Co. deliver the final blows
The Australians, energized and relentless, moved in for the kill. Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal were greeted by a rowdy Australian field, with the close fielders, particularly Sam Konstas, adding verbal pressure.
Cummins returned with renewed vigor. He sent Jaiswal packing in controversial fashion – an attempted pull reached the keeper. While Snicko failed to produce a convincing shot, the visible deflection of the ball 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 referee make a mistake?” Yashasvi Jaiswal’s shocking dismissal at MCG sparks chaos
A day that started with pressure and ended with defeat
India’s problems started from the top. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli failed early, unable to weather Australia’s new-ball attack. Rohit got a full delivery into the gully; Rahul was shattered by Cummins’ move; and Kohli, chasing a wide one, fell behind moments before lunch.
The middle session offered a glimmer of hope. Jaiswal and Pant forged a partnership that briefly steadied the ship, raising India’s aspirations for a hard-fought draw.
But by the last session, that hope was in tatters. Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins combined in a clinical display to conclude the innings.
Boland claimed Bumrah, whose lead flew to Smith, and Lyon sealed the deal by trapping Mohammed Siraj LBW, sparking wild celebrations.
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