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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals bring a sense of déjà vu, with India vs. Australia and New Zealand vs. South Africa set to battle. Can India avenge their 2023 heartbreak? Will South Africa break their knockout curse?

Champions Trophy 2025: India Faces Australia, South Africa Takes on New Zealand in Semifinal Showdown

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals bring a sense of d&eacute;j&agrave; vu, with India vs. Australia and New Zealand vs. South Africa set to battle. Can India avenge their 2023 heartbreak? Will South Africa break their knockout curse?

Jasprit Bumrah continues his dominance at the top of the ICC Test bowlers' chart, reaching a career-best 908 rating, while Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant also make notable gains in the latest rankings.

Jasprit Bumrah tops ICC Test rankings with career-best 908 rating

Jasprit Bumrah continues his dominance at the top of the ICC Test bowlers' chart, reaching a career-best 908 rating, while Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant also make notable gains in the latest rankings.

India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah continued to reign supreme at the top of the bowlers' chart with a career-best rating of 908 in the latest ICC Test Rankings, released on Wednesday.
Bumrah, who made history ahead of the fifth and final Test against Australia by recording the highest-ever ICC Rankings rating for an Indian bowler at 907 points, improved that tally by one point after taking two wickets in the first innings at the SCG.
However, a back spasm ruled him out of bowling in the second innings, restricting his role to just batting.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who climbed a spot to be joint-ninth, is the other Indian giving Bumrah company in the top-10.
He shares the ninth spot with Australian pacer Scott Boland, who has made a remarkable leap of 29 places to break into the top 10.
Boland's stellar performance in the Sydney Test, where he claimed a 10-wicket haul (4/31 and 6/45), proved too much for the Indian batters on a lively pitch.
His efforts were instrumental in Australia's triumph, ending a decade-long wait to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins also made gains in the rankings, climbing to number two after picking up five wickets in the final match. South Africa's Kagiso Rabada rose a spot to occupy the third place while injured Josh Hazlewood moved down two places to be fourth.
Rishabh Pant's blistering 33-ball 61 in the second innings earned him a three-spot rise in the batting rankings, moving him to number nine while India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal retained his fourth spot.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma extended his rich vein of form, scoring a vital century in the first innings to climb three spots to number six, also achieving a career-best rating of 769.
Meanwhile, Kyle Verreynne's impressive century saw him rise four places to secure the 25th spot.

Virat Kohli's poor form continues in the Sydney Test as he is dismissed for 17 runs, while India are bowled out for 185. 

Kohli's Form Dips Further, First Innings Average Lower Than Bumrah's

This poor run has seen him outscored by his teammate, pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is now averaging more runs than Kohli in the series after contributing with a valuable 22 in a late innings partnership.

Virat Kohli's struggles in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy continue as he faces challenges Down Under, a place that has typically been a fruitful venue for him. The Sydney Cricket Ground saw another disappointing outing for the Indian batter, where he only managed to score 17 runs before falling to an outside-off delivery from Scott Boland. This marks yet another lackluster performance in what has been a tough year for Kohli in Test cricket.
Since missing the England series earlier in the year, Kohli has had a rough run, especially in the first innings of Test matches. Across five such innings against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia towards the end of 2024, Kohli has managed only 35 runs. In fact, his batting average in first innings stands at a worrying 7.00, placing him among the lowest for players with five or more innings since the start of 2024. Keshav Maharaj sits at the bottom with an average of 5.33, but Kohli&rsquo;s average is still dangerously low in comparison to others, including specialist batters like Aiden Markram.
Kohli&rsquo;s inability to cope with deliveries outside the off stump has continued to haunt him, and his frustration was evident after a decent start that eventually led to another failure. This poor run has seen him outscored by his teammate, pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is now averaging more runs than Kohli in the series after contributing with a valuable 22 in a late innings partnership.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/sydney-test-india-vs-australia-bgt-day-1-1735881246090" target="_blank">Sydney Test: Australia 9/1 at Stumps as India bowled out for 185 on day one</a> 
India&rsquo;s total of 185 saw Rishabh Pant as the top scorer with 40 runs, but despite Kohli's slump, there is optimism within the camp. The pitch in Sydney, with plenty of assistance for the bowlers, promises a potential turnaround, as Bumrah and the other pacers will hope to replicate their success from Perth earlier in the series.

India faced a tough opening day in the fifth Test against Australia. Rishabh Pant showed grit with a battling 32 despite enduring blows, while Virat Kohli's persistent issues outside the off-stump added to India's woes.

India struggles as Australia dominates Day 1 of fifth Test

India captain Rohit Sharma rested himself from the series finale with Jasprit Bumrah walking out for the toss in his place.

Rohit Sharma "opted to rest" in the team's interest but the same old script unfolded on a new day for Indian batters as they surrendered meekly for a paltry 185 in the face of some hostile seam bowling from Australia on the opening day of the fifth and final Test in Sydney.
Virat Kohli (17 off 69 balls), whose form and technical weaknesses are also under the scanner, was for the seventh time dismissed in the corridor of uncertainty in the tour, a problem that seems incurable at the moment. WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/watch-virat-kohli-and-steve-smith-s-heated-exchange-after-controversial-catch-at-scg-1735892419675" target="_blank">Virat Kohli and Steve Smith's heated exchange after controversial catch at SCG</a>
At stumps, Australia were 9 for 1 with stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah sending the woefully out-of-form Usman Khawaja (2) back in the hut.
Teenage sensation Sam Konstas was unbeaten at 7 after hitting Bumrah for a first-ball four. The 19-year-old also had an animated exchange with the Indian star.
Bumrah opted to bat under overcast conditions and the ultra-defensive approach by Indian batters only compounded their problems with Scott Boland's (20-8-31-4) immaculate length and tremendous discipline leaving them in a disarray.
Mitchell Starc (18-5-49-3) and Pat Cummins (15.2-4-37-2) were equally relentless giving the Indians no room for release shots.
Rishabh Pant top-scored for the visitors with a 98-ball 40, going against his grain to battle it out, taking painful blows to his body in the process.
If Rohit's decision to "rest" was a forward thinking move, the persistence with Kohli is proving to be detrimental and the celebrated batter might just have one more Test innings left to save his place in the traditional format.
"I wouldn't say it's a par score but still a competitive score," said Pant, admitting that the pitch is not easy to bat on.
If one takes away the second innings hundred at Perth out of his last 20 Test innings, Kohli has managed an average of 17.57.
He could have been out off Boland's first delivery but tried to battle hard. However, it has always been that one moment in which his hands and the willow magnetically follow a delivery in the corridor of uncertainty.
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Pant curbs natural instincts for a session
Having copped criticism from all quarters for his bizarre shot selection in Melbourne, Pant, for a change, copped body blows, trying to curb his natural game.
The big-hitter in him came out only on a couple of occasions with one of them fetching him a straight six off Beau Webster.
Pant put his head down and endured nasty blows on his bicep, helmet and twice in the sensitive abdominal area. He and the dogged Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 95 balls) defended dourly as they added 48 off 151 deliveries for the fifth wicket.
Only 50 runs were scored in the second session and trying not to be adventurous proved counter-productive with most batters retreating in a shell letting Boland and company dictate the terms of play.
Finally, Pant's patience ran out and one pull shot too many became his undoing.
India realised they haven't scored enough runs and lost a lot of wickets. The defensive tactic in the second session when the ball got old ended up costing them dearly.
There wasn't much swing on offer despite cloudy conditions but a decent grass cover ensured that Boland's back-of-length deliveries proved enough.
As far as Pant was concerned, the "honest conversations" with head coach Gautam Gambhir seemed to have worked with the southpaw respecting the game situation for most part.
If Pant was disciplined, Shubman Gill's judgement on the last delivery before lunch did cause trouble for India.
Gill (20 off 64 balls) did all the hard work for close to couple of hours before stepping out to Nathan Lyon on the last ball of the session only to be caught at first slip.
In the morning KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal came in to open the innings but didn't last long and the saga of first innings failures continued.

Virat Kohli survived a controversial third umpire decision on the opening day of the Sydney Test against Australia. Steve Smith's stunning catch was ruled not out after the third umpire determined the ball had touched the ground.

Watch: Virat Kohli and Steve Smith's heated exchange after controversial catch at SCG

Smith&rsquo;s swift reaction had the Australian players celebrating, but the on-field umpire referred the decision to the third umpire for further review.

On the opening day of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Virat Kohli narrowly escaped a dismissal, providing fans with a dramatic moment in the match.
The day began with a surprising move, as regular captain Rohit Sharma was rested and star pacer Jasprit Bumrah took over as the stand-in captain for this critical Test.
India's batting woes started early, as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were both dismissed quickly, leaving the team in a tough position. Kohli then joined Shubman Gill at the crease and faced a challenging moment right away.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Just missed a beat there! 🥶 ICYMI, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> was dropped by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SteveSmith?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SteveSmith</a> on the very first ball he faced!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvINDOnStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvINDOnStar</a> 👉 5th Test, Day 1 LIVE NOW! | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ToughestRivalry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ToughestRivalry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BorderGavaskarTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BorderGavaskarTrophy</a> <a href="https://t.co/iLhCzXCYST">pic.twitter.com/iLhCzXCYST</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1874992007812432286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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On the very first ball he faced, Scott Boland, the Australian pacer, nearly had Kohli caught. The ball edged off Kohli's bat and flew to Steve Smith at second slip, who made a spectacular diving catch to dismiss the Indian batter.
Smith&rsquo;s swift reaction had the Australian players celebrating, but the on-field umpire referred the decision to the third umpire for further review.
The third umpire&rsquo;s analysis showed that the ball had initially touched the ground before Smith managed to get his hands on it, leading to Kohli being given a crucial lifeline. This reprieve allowed Kohli to continue batting, avoiding an early exit.
After the over, Kohli and Smith exchanged words, with tensions running high over the controversial incident. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
"100%. No denying it whatsoever." Steve Smith weighs in on whether he got his hand underneath the ball in the biggest moment of the morning. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/bqIy8iGIRm">pic.twitter.com/bqIy8iGIRm</a>
&mdash; cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1874994592967176496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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During the lunch break, Smith spoke up about the incident, defending his actions. He remained firm in his belief that he had successfully caught the ball, claiming that his hands were beneath it and that it was a legitimate catch.
However, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting disagreed with the third umpire&rsquo;s decision, expressing his opinion during the live commentary. "As far as I was concerned, if (the ball) had've come out of (Smith's) hand, he wouldn't have been able to scoop it up. That's what I'm saying, I think his fingers are clearly underneath the ball... look where his pointer figure is there, it's still underneath the ball," Ponting remarked on-air during the commentary with 7Cricket.
The dramatic incident became a hot topic of conversation, sparking debate over the umpire's decision and fueling discussions about the fairness of the catch. Despite the controversy, Kohli&rsquo;s escape added intrigue to what promised to be an action-packed day of cricket.

As India prepares for the final Test against Australia, speculation surrounds Rohit Sharma's place in the team due to poor form, while Rishabh Pant’s shot selection could see him dropped.

Pressure mounts on Rohit Sharma as India braces for must-win Sydney Test

There are reports that Rishabh Pant's shot selection has invited the wrath of Gambhir, who is now planning a rap on the knuckles by dropping him in favour of Dhruv Jurel.

Battered by extra bounce and seam movement along with scathing criticism of his leadership, India skipper Rohit Sharma's career as a Test cricketer seems headed for a dispiriting climax amid swirling speculation that he is set to be dropped from the fifth and final Test against Australia starting here on Friday.
Rohit, just like Melbourne, was last among recognised batters to enter the nets but this was after head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm whether the out-of-form skipper will be at the toss on Friday morning.
"We will take a call on the playing XI after looking at the pitch," Gambhir gave a cryptic reply to a straight query on whether Rohit will play.
If it happens, Rohit will become the first Indian captain to be dropped on account of poor form and he would have none to blame except for the abysmal return of 31 runs from five innings.
Should this happen, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the team's top performer with an astonishing 30 wickets in four outings at a sub-20 average, will take over the leadership role. It was under Bumrah's captaincy that India won its only Test on the tour so far -- the lung-opener in Perth.
&nbsp;
Where would that leave Rohit?
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Anil Kumble walked into Test retirements mid-series as their bodies could no longer take the rigours of the longest format.
However, in Rohit's case, he will be dropped on the basis of form after Gambhir made it clear that performance is the only thing that would keep a player in the dressing room helmed by him.
If he doesn't come out for toss on Friday, it would be safe to conclude that Rohit, the Test batter, played his last knock at the MCG earlier this week where he looked completely out of place on a good track.
While Gambhir didn't spell out the playing eleven, there were enough indications that India might bring back Shubman Gill at number three.
"Indian cricket's transition is in safe hands as long as there are honest people in the dressing room. Only criteria to be in that dressing room is performance," Gambhir said at the pre-match press conference.
Trailing 1-2, a win for Australia will seal their place in the final at the Lord's against South Africa.
India, on other hand, not only require a win but also need Sri Lanka to not lose any of their two Tests at home against Pat Cummins' men.
The visitors aren't looking like a team at ease right now especially Rohit, who is caught between a rock and a hard place both as skipper and batter.
He may or may not announce retirement but playing the traditional format after Sydney looks a long shot.
Add to this, the murmurs of dissension in the team that could have a bearing on how the players perform.
The implosion started with Ravichandran Ashwin retiring and going back home midway through the series and Rohit's poor form has certainly made him lose a bit of command.
&nbsp;
Rishabh Pant in line of fire
There are reports that Rishabh Pant's shot selection has invited the wrath of Gambhir, who is now planning a rap on the knuckles by dropping him in favour of Dhruv Jurel.
If Pant is indeed axed from the game, it would be a redux of the time when legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev was taught a lesson for his poor shot selection during a 1984 tour of England with a similar omission.
During practice on Thursday, Jurel got the same net time as his senior.
When an Australian reporter asked if had some stern words for the boys post the 184-run drubbing in Melbourne, Gambhir didn't deny having an "honest conversation" and also stressed on the need to play for the team's cause.
Pant was also seen engaged in a long conversation with vice captain Jasprit Bumrah.
India will also have to make one change owing to Akash Deep's stiff back that has forced him out.
The coach's favourite Harshit Rana could be in but with his questionable consistency and drop in speed in the second and third spells, Prasidh Krishna can't be ruled out either.
In this backdrop, facing an Australian team with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne back in form isn't an easy proposition.
"I haven't actually noticed as I am in my own bubble," Pat Cummins said when asked about whether he noticed that in the rival camp, another out-of-form batter Virat Kohli has been looking more proactive in the leadership role than the regular skipper.
The Australian team will be handing a debut to all-rounder Beau Webster, who would replace an off-colour Mitchell Marsh who hasn't scored much runs throughout the series.
"There is one change with Beau Webster coming in place of Mitch Marsh. Mitch knows that he hasn't scored enough runs," the home skipper informed.
Cummins will also have Mitchell Starc for company as he has been cleared after back scans.
The pitch, according to Cummims, is seamer-friendly. He said the fast bowlers are "happy with the surface".
Despite the challenging build-up, Gambhir said he is "extremely confident" of retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The players will hope to be as confident as they prepare for the fight to keep their World Test Final chances alive.
Teams (from):
Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, Sarfaraz Khan.
Match starts at 5 am IST.

India pacer Akash Deep ruled out of the fifth Test against Australia due to a stiff back. India trails 1-2 in the series and needs a win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Replacement options include Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna.

Akash Deep Ruled Out of Fifth Test Against Australia

India trail 1-2 in the five-match series and need to win the fifth and final game to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India pacer Akash Deep was on Thursday ruled out of the the fifth and final Test against Australia starting here on Friday owing to a stiff back.
Akash had taken five wickets from two Tests in Brisbane and Melbourne so far. He was a bit unlucky to not get more as multiple catches were dropped off his bowling during the two games.
" Akash Deep is out with back issue," India coach Gautam Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference here.
Gambhir said the playing XI would be decided after taking a look at the pitch.
The 28-year-old right-arm pacer bowled a total of 87.5 overs across two Test matches and his niggle could be a result of the heavier than usual workload he has endured.
The hard Australian grounds can cause knee, ankle and back issues for pacers.
Either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna could make it to the eleven in place of Akash.
India trail 1-2 in the five-match series and need to win the fifth and final game to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasizes the importance of private dressing room debates, honest conversations, and performance as key to staying in the team.

Gautam Gambhir Prioritizes Honesty and Performance in Indian Cricket

Gambhir also confirmed that pacer Akash Deep will miss the New Year Test with a stiff back, though he refrained from naming a replacement for him.

Asserting that "debates" in the dressing room should not come out in public domain, India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Thursday said he has had some "honest" conversations with his players as only performance can help them stay in the set-up.
Gambhir also side-stepped queries on whether out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma will get a place in the final XI for the fifth and final Test against Australia starting on Friday.
Amid speculation of unrest in the dressing room, the feisty head coach sought to douse the fire by declaring that they were "just reports, not truth".
"Debates between coach and player should remain in dressing room. Stern words. They were just reports not truth," Gambhir said in the pre-match press meet here.
"Indian cricket will be in safe hands till honest people stay in the dressing room. Only thing that keeps you in the dressing room is performance," he added.
"There were honest words and honesty is important," he asserted.
Gambhir refused to say whether Rohit will get a place in the team. The question thrown at him was why the captain had not come to address the match-eve press conference as is the norm and if he is there in the final XI.
"Everything is fine with Rohit. The head coach is here and that should be enough. We will decide on the playing XI after looking at the pitch," Gambhir said.
The former opener also said his discussions with senior batter Virat Kohli and Rohit have only been about strategies to win the ongoing Test series.
"Every individual knows what are the areas to work on. We have only had one conversation with them (and that is) how to win Test matches," he said.
Gambhir also confirmed that pacer Akash Deep will miss the New Year Test with a stiff back, though he refrained from naming a replacement for him.
Although he refused to analyse individuals when asked about the questionable shot selection of players like Rishabh Pant in crunch situations, Gambhir did assert that the team's interest is paramount.
"I don't want to talk about individuals. Team first ideology matters. People can play natural game but in team sport, individuals only contribute," he said.

Travis Head’s unique "finger on the ice" celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant in the Boxing Day Test sparks both intrigue and controversy, drawing reactions from players and critics.

Travis Head explains 'finger on ice' celebration after dismissing Pant

Head's celebration quickly gained attention and went viral on social media. After the match, Australian captain Pat Cummins was asked about it and he offered a lighthearted explanation.

Australia batter Travis Head has explained his unusual celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant in the Boxing Day Test, stating it signifies "finger on the ice," a quirky gesture that he first showed during the tour of Sri Lanka.
After batting through an entire session, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant appeared poised to guide India to a draw on the final day of the Boxing Day Test.
However, Head turned the game on its head by dismissing Pant, which triggered a dramatic Indian collapse and paved the way for a 184-run Australian victory, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Pant mis-timed a pull shot and was caught at long-on, after which Head celebrated the moment with his distinctive gesture of folding the fingers of his left hand into a circle and dipping the forefinger of his right hand into it.
"Finger on the ice. I started in Sri Lanka. I put my finger on the ice and be ready to go for the next one," Head told 'Triple M Radio' after the Melbourne Test.
"I didn't expect to be bowling. I thought Galle would be my next bowling. I'll go put it down in a little cup of ice, be ready to go up there next," he added, referring to Australia's upcoming tour of the island nation.
Head's celebration quickly gained attention and went viral on social media. After the match, Australian captain Pat Cummins was asked about it and he offered a lighthearted explanation.
"I can explain it. It's his finger so hot he's got to put in a cup of ice. Yeah that's what it is," Cummins told reporters.
"So, that's normally the running joke. It was in the Gabba or somewhere he got a wicket as well and just straight to the fridge, grabs a bucket of ice, puts his finger in and just walks in front of Lyno (Nathan Lyon)...just like that (he) thinks it's very funny.
"So that's what it would have been, nothing else."
However, Head's celebration didn't sit well with former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who demanded "stringent action" against the Australian player, calling it "obnoxious".
"Travis head's obnoxious behaviour during the course of the Melbourne test doesn't auger well for for the gentleman's game...sets the worst possible example when there are kids, women , young &amp; old watching the game.
"...this caustic conduct did not insult an individual but a nation of 1.5 billion Indians...stringent punishment that would serve a deterrent for the future generations needs to be slapped on him so that no one dares follow suit !!!" Sidhu posted on X.
The two teams will play the pivotal final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting January 3.

Rohit Sharma admits India’s mental struggles after their 184-run loss to Australia in the Melbourne Test, with a series-deciding fifth Test on the horizon.

Rohit Sharma reflects on India’s disappointing loss to Australia in MCG Test

Rohit said the team wanted to have a go at the target despite its daunting nature.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma on Monday said the 184-run drubbing at the hands of Australia in the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground is "mentally disturbing", conceding that his team failed to fight in the match.&nbsp;
India will now head to Sydney for the fifth and final Test trailing 1-2 in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series finale begins on January 3.&nbsp;
"It is mentally disturbing when you can't do what you have come to do," Rohit, whose own poor form has been under the scanner, told reporters after the game.
"It is pretty disappointing. There are ways to win games and we fell short in finding ways to win the game here. We wanted to fight till the end and unfortunately, we couldn't do it," he said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Australia were struggling at 91 for six in their second innings with the overall lead yet to touch 200 on Sunday but managed to make it a 340-run target for the visitors. Rohit admitted his team could not exploit the favourable situation.
"We had Australia 90 for 6. We know things can get tough, but we want to play tough cricket from hard situations. But we were not good enough. I went back to my room and thought about what else we could have done as a team," Rohit said.
"But we threw everything we had, they fought hard, especially that last-wicket partnership, which probably cost us the game there," he added.
Rohit said the team wanted to have a go at the target despite its daunting nature.
"We knew 340 wasn't going to be easy. We tried to set a platform and keep wickets in hand for the last two sessions, but they bowled perfectly as well. We wanted to go for the target, but we didn't set the platform from our side," he noted.
The Mumbaikar lauded Nitish Kumar Reddy for making a fine hundred during the first innings, and hoped the youngster will climb the ladder.
"He's coming here for the first time, these conditions can get really tough, but he showed great character, solid technique as well.
"He's got everything to be successful at this level, I hope he goes from strength to strength, and he's got all the backing from the team as well," he said.
The 37-year-old also patted pacer Jasprit Bumrah for leading the Indian bowling attack almost singlehandedly.
"Absolutely brilliant, We've been watching him for so many years now, coming here and getting the job done. He's not a statistical person.
"He just wants to play for the country and do well for the team, but unfortunately he's not got a lot of support from the other side," he added.
Wanted to take India win out of equation
Australian skipper Pat Cummins justified the move to not declare their second innings, saying he wanted to snuff out any chances for an Indian win.
"We wanted to take an India victory out of the equation (on batting on and not declaring). We had plenty of runs to play with, and as many helmets around the bat as we could.
"We put a lot of work into our lower-order batting, we work a lot on how best to bowl to the opposition batters firstly, but also how we can contribute with the bat." Cummins said the MCG Test was one of the best he has been a part of in his career with record crowds turning up on all five days.
"What an amazing Test match, I reckon one of the best I've been part of. All week the crowd has been ridiculous, and it's been amazing to be part of.
"Marnus helped me out in that second innings big time, happy to contribute with the bat as well. Amazing innings from Steve too," he added.

Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant (30 off 104) batted out the entire second session to take India to 112/3 but the latter’s fall opened the doors for the home team.

Australia beat India by 184 runs in fourth Test

Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant (30 off 104) batted out the entire second session to take India to 112/3 but the latter&rsquo;s fall opened the doors for the home team.

India slumped to a demoralising 184-run loss to Australia in the fourth Test here on Monday with contemporary greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failing to come good yet again, signalling that their walk towards the exit door is not too far.
Chasing a near improbable target of 340, both Rohit (9 off 40 balls) and Kohli (5) failed to battle their technical frailties and mental cobwebs as India lost seven wickets for 34 runs in just 20.4 overs in the final session to be all out for 155 in 79.1 overs.
Australian captain Pat Cummins (3/28 in 18 overs) was superb as usual and Scott Boland was also magnificent (3/39 in 16 overs) in his every spell.
Nathan Lyon (2/37 in 20.1 overs) took advantage of variable bounce while Mitchell Starc (1/25 in 16 overs) got the prized scalp of Kohli.
This was after an 88-run fourth-wicket stand between Yashasvi Jasiwal and Rishabh Pant.
"Pretty disappointing. We wanted to fight but we could not do it," a dejected Rohit said in the post-match presentation.
"We tried everything but they fought hard. We did not grab our chances," he conceded.
Australia now lead the series 2-1 and unless India draw level in Sydney, a third successive World Test Championship final could become a distant dream. Even to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India would need to post a win.
Save Jaiswal (84, 208 balls), whose controversial caught-behind in which the third umpire overruled technology to adjudge him out, none of the other batters performed well enough to save the team.
"They batted well in the middle session. We knew that we had to get one breakthrough and anything can happen and that proved to be the case.
"We had plenty of runs to play with, we had plenty of fielders with the helmet around," a beaming Cummins, who was also adjudged player of the match for his haul of six wickets, said in the presentation ceremony.
The art of saving Test matches has slowly become extinct but India would have depended on their two senior-most players, who are also fighting to save their legacy and reputation built over nearly two decades.
In case of Rishabh Pant, it was one bad shot too many after a full session in which he concentrated. He got a rank long hop from Travis Head but after a 103-ball vigil, it all came to a naught.
Even Jaiswal's guts and grit couldn't prevent a once highly-rated, but currently a trifle over-rated, Indian batting line-up from implosion with over-the-hill seniors and young superstars unable to handle the pressure.
The defeat could have severe repercussions as there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for skipper Rohit.
As for Kohli, despite all his white-ball exploits, the problems outside the off-stump will stick out like a sore thumb.
For Rohit, his ultra-defensive approach in the opening slot, is causing India to stare down the barrel with alarming regularity.
Rohit did all the hard work during the first hour before opposition skipper Cummins got his bunny for the 10th time in Test matches.
Kohli could never control his urge of playing the cover drive again and was caught at first slip after Mitchell Starc pushed one across with the angle.
Rahul was out without troubling the scorers after getting a second good ball in the game.
Rohit's decision to bat up the order backfired and it also tinkered with Rahul's mindset despite him being perfectly fine opening the innings.
The captaincy was pedestrian as he let the game drift on occasions and there were lot of phases that led to India's defeat but none more telling than the final wicket partnership between Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon where the target went out of reach on Sunday.
Save Jasprit Bumrah, who once again toiled manfully for 50 overs and took nine wickets, and find-of-the-series Nitish Reddy, who scored a gritty hundred, there are no positives to be taken from this defeat.
The batting, save for the second innings in the opening Perth Test, has been absolutely below par and India won't be doing themselves any favours if they have walking wickets at the top of the order.
The team is going through a tough transition and it is now time that their feisty head coach Gautam Gambhir shows some spark along with chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground set a new all-time attendance record during the India-Australia fourth Test, with 350,700 spectators attending the match.

India vs Australia: MCG sets attendance record with 350,700 spectators

After lunch, as India fought to chase a challenging 340-run target, the attendance surpassed 60,000.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) set a new all-time attendance record on Monday, with the total attendance for the fourth Test between India and Australia reaching an unprecedented 350,700. The crowd of 51,371 spectators at lunch on Day 5 pushed the overall attendance past the previous record of 350,535, set during the 1937 Ashes series when Don Bradman was at his peak.
After lunch, as India fought to chase a challenging 340-run target, the attendance surpassed 60,000. Cricket Australia confirmed that the MCG's total attendance of 350,700 was the largest for any Test match ever played at the venue. This number also surpassed the previous record for a Test in Australia, which was set during the 1937 Ashes match.
The fourth Test has become the second most-attended Test match in history, just behind the India-Pakistan clash at Eden Gardens in 1999, which drew 465,000 spectators. On Day 1, 87,242 fans packed the stadium, while Day 2 saw a new record with 85,147 attendees, and Day 3 welcomed 83,073. Day 4 had 43,867 spectators in the stands.
All tickets for Day 5 were priced at 10 Australian dollars.
Stuart Fox, the Melbourne Cricket Club&rsquo;s boss, expressed his amazement at the event&rsquo;s scale, telling cricket.com.au, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve not seen anything like it at a cricket match.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;The spirit in the stadium was incredible, with all of our staff remarking on how happy the crowd was. I thought Taylor Swift was big, but this has been something else. With Taylor Swift coming in, a fantastic AFL season, and this Boxing Day Test, 2024 is going to be hard to beat, I can assure you.&rdquo;

Ravi Shastri discusses the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with Kohli expected to continue for a few more years, while Rohit’s career decision depends on his form.

Ravi Shastri weighs in on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's future in cricket

Rohit Sharma, instead of playing his natural aggressive style, appeared to adopt a defensive mindset amidst his lean patch, which didn&rsquo;t pay off.

Ravi Shastri, former head coach of the Indian cricket team, believes that Virat Kohli still has several years of cricket left in him. However, when it comes to Rohit Sharma, Shastri feels that the decision regarding his future in the game should be made by the player himself.
Both Kohli and Rohit have been facing poor form in the ongoing Test series against Australia, which has led to significant criticism from fans and cricket experts. During Day 5 of the fourth Test in Melbourne, commentator Mark Nicholas asked Shastri on Star Sports whether he thought the series could mark the end of the road for the two Indian cricketers.
Shastri responded by saying, &ldquo;I think Virat will play for some time. Forget the way he got out, or whatever. I think he'll play for another three or four years. As far as Rohit is concerned, it's a call. At the top of the order, you know, just feel the footwork isn't the same. He's probably at times, late in meeting the ball so it's his call at the end of the series.&rdquo;
On the fifth day, India&rsquo;s chase of a 340-run target was off to a disastrous start. Rohit Sharma (9 off 40 balls) spent considerable time against the Australian attack but was dismissed again by Pat Cummins (2/10), marking his tenth Test match dismissal by the Australian bowler. Kohli (5 off 29), unable to resist the cover drive, was caught at slip after an angled delivery from Mitchell Starc.
By lunchtime, India was struggling at 33 for 3, with hopes of a win fading fast. KL Rahul failed to score, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, though surviving longer, could only muster 14 runs off 83 deliveries.
This cautious approach reflected India&rsquo;s diminishing chances of victory. Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah had completed a remarkable 13th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, helping India dismiss Australia for 234 in their second innings.
Rohit Sharma, instead of playing his natural aggressive style, appeared to adopt a defensive mindset amidst his lean patch, which didn&rsquo;t pay off. Meanwhile, Jaiswal also curbed his natural attacking instincts, even surviving a close call when a late-moving delivery from Cummins narrowly avoided an edge to the gully. Rahul followed soon after, dismissed by a ball that moved away late.

Virat Kohli was booed by fans after his dismissal in the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Following the incident, he had a brief stand-off with the crowd at MCG, adding to the controversy.

Virat Kohli Faces Boos and Stand-Off with Fans After Dismissal in Boxing Day Test

Kohli's conduct has become a hot topic in the ongoing fourth Test where he shoulder-charged 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day. It resulted in a fine and a demerit point.

Star India batter Virat Kohli was booed and jeered while walking back to the dressing room after his dismissal in the Boxing Day Test against Australia here on Friday, prompting him to turn around for a brief stand-off with the fans.
Kohli's conduct has become a hot topic in the ongoing fourth Test where he shoulder-charged 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas on the opening day. It resulted in a fine and a demerit point.
On Friday, Kohli batted well for his 36 before being caught behind off Scott Boland.
He was dismissed shortly after a mix-up with Yashasvi Jaiswal resulted in the opener running himself out at 82. Watch video: 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Virat Kohli booed badly by crowd <a href="https://t.co/Cc0w27pZQP">pic.twitter.com/Cc0w27pZQP</a>
&mdash; imran Alaqband (@ImranAlaqband) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranAlaqband/status/1872567866542932387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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As he entered the tunnel leading up to the dressing room, fans in that section of the MCG began booing him and also made some comments in a short clip that has since gone viral.
Kohli strode back after hearing something that was not clearly audible in the 22-second video.
The 36-year-old didn't seem pleased as he looked at the stands on his left before being escorted back to his original destination by a security personnel.
His face off with Konstas on Thursday was condemned as unnecessary by even former India players. ALSO WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/watch-yashasvi-jaiswal-run-out-following-mix-up-with-virat-kohli-in-boxing-day-test-1735286663343" target="_blank">Yashasvi Jaiswal Run Out Following Mix-Up With Virat Kohli in Boxing Day Test</a> &nbsp;

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli's communication error leads to a run-out mishap on Day 2 of the fourth Test at MCG, leaving India trailing by 310 runs.

Jaiswal and Kohli's Mix-Up Costs India in 4th Test

Jaiswal, after clipping the ball towards mid-on, immediately called for a run, but Kohli, unaware of the fielder&rsquo;s position, was slow to respond.

Indian batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli were involved in a frustrating mix-up on Day 2 of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.
The pair had built a solid 102-run partnership for the third wicket before the misunderstanding led to Jaiswal's unfortunate dismissal. The incident occurred on the final ball of the 41st over, bowled by Scott Boland.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
A massive mix-up between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal sees Jaiswal run out for 82! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvIND</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayOfTheDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayOfTheDay</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/nrmainsurance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nrmainsurance</a> <a href="https://t.co/a9G4uZwYIk">pic.twitter.com/a9G4uZwYIk</a>
&mdash; cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1872533433701806530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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 Jaiswal, after clipping the ball towards mid-on, immediately called for a run, but Kohli, unaware of the fielder&rsquo;s position, was slow to respond.
By the time Kohli realized the situation, Jaiswal was already nearly at the striker's end, resulting in a mix-up. Jaiswal found himself stranded, and Australian captain Pat Cummins threw the ball to the striker&rsquo;s end, where wicketkeeper Alex Carey completed the dismissal. ALSO WATCH: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/virat-kohli-booed-at-mcg-after-dismissal-boxing-day-test-1735290246614?ch=uufdf" target="_blank">Virat Kohli booed at MCG after dismissal; turns around for short standoff with fans</a>
Jaiswal, however, played a composed innings, impressing with his technique and a series of elegant boundaries, finishing with 82. At 22, the talented batsman, who had scored 161 runs in the first Test in Perth, looked set for another century before the unfortunate run-out.
The mix-up, where Jaiswal attempted a quick single but was called back by Kohli, brought an abrupt end to their threatening 102-run stand.
Kohli, who had already been fined 20% of his match fee for a shoulder charge on debutant Sam Konstas on Day 1, was dismissed shortly after for 36 when he was caught behind by Alex Carey off Boland&rsquo;s bowling. Boland also dismissed nightwatchman Akash Deep for a duck.
At the end of Day 2, India were at 164/5, still trailing Australia by 310 runs. Australia had been bowled out for 474 shortly after lunch, with Steve Smith contributing a stylish 140. <a href="4.	https:/www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/boxing-day-test-india-end-day-two-at-164-5-trail-australia-by-310-runs-1735284445323" target="_blank">ALSO READ: </a><a href="4.	https:/www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/boxing-day-test-india-end-day-two-at-164-5-trail-australia-by-310-runs-1735284445323" target="_blank">Boxing Day Test: India end day two at 164/5, trail Australia by 310 runs</a>

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has been awarded honorary membership by the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Club, acknowledging his outstanding contributions to the sport.

Sachin Tendulkar Accepts Honorary Membership at Melbourne Cricket Club

Earlier in 2012, Tendulkar was awarded the Order of Australia, one of the country's highest honours.

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) on Friday said Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar has accepted its invitation to become an honourary member of the prestigious institution.
Founded in 1838, the MCC is one of the oldest sports clubs in Australia and is responsible for the management and development of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the game's premier venues.
"An icon honoured. The MCC is pleased to announce that former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar has accepted an Honorary Cricket Membership, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the game," the MCC posted on 'X'.
The legendary Tendulkar currently holds the record of most runs at MCG with 449 from five Tests at an average of 44.90 and a strike-rate of 58.69 with a hundred and three fifties.
Earlier in 2012, Tendulkar was awarded the Order of Australia, one of the country's highest honours.
The MCG is currently hosting the vital fourth and penultimate Test match between India and Australia with the rubber evenly poised at 1-1.

India reached 164/5 at stumps on Day 2, trailing Australia by 310 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) steadied India’s innings after early setbacks.

India trails Australia by 310 runs on Day 2

Resuming at their overnight score of 311 for six, the hosts added 163 runs on the day to post a commanding total.

A familiar collapse unfolded after Yashasvi Jaiswal's inexplicable run-out as India stared down the barrel at 164/5 against a menacing Australia on day two of the fourth Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Jaiswal, who was quite fluent during his 118-ball stay that yielded 82 runs, was way short of his crease after a mix-up with Virat Kohli (36) while attempting a quick single, handing Australia the breakthrough that could prove decisive.
<a href="6.	https:/www.editorji.com/sports-news/watch-yashasvi-jaiswal-run-out-following-mix-up-with-virat-kohli-in-boxing-day-test-1735286663343" target="_blank">Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal Run Out Following Mix-Up With Virat Kohli in Boxing Day Test</a>
India are still 310 runs behind Australia's first innings score of 474 and would need another 111 runs to avoid a follow-on that should never have been a consideration on a placid batting track.
It was 153 for 2 at one stage and in four overs, another three wickets fell with Gautam Gambhir's plan of sending a night watchman in Akash Deep turning out to be one of the many poor calls that the head coach has taken in this game.
In a space of barely five minutes, cricket showed its fickle nature as Jaiswal pushed towards mid-on and called for a quick single with an assured Kohli (36) at the other end. Kohli took a step and half before retreating.
Pat Cummins swooped the ball and threw at the striker's end with a frustrated Jaiswal seen telling his idol "my call".
This moment will be one for posterity as Kohli looked down and perhaps felt that he could have at least said a loud "No" to allow Jaiswal to sprint back.
The run-out broke his concentration and for the first time after 85 balls, he poked a delivery bowled in the corridor of uncertainty and it was the end.
Scott Boland repeated the dismissal that has been a norm for quite a while now. Akash Deep didn't have the technique to survive and the day ended in Australia's favour just like it started.
The Jaiswal-Kohli pair had added 102 runs and looked comfortable just like they did in the Perth second innings. The ball hardly did anything after Rohit Sharma (3) played a poor shot and KL Rahul got a ripper from Pat Cummins.
Jaiswal was in regal form, as he cut, pulled, drove and lofted the Australian bowlers stamping his authority as the next megastar of Indian batting.
Kohli, at the other end, endured boos for Thursday's run-in with debutant Sam Konstas and battled his demons
This was after Steve Smith's 34th Test hundred ensured a very good total for hosts.
Starting the day at 311 for 6, Smith added 112 and 44 runs with Cummins (49) and Mitchell Starc (15) respectively, leaving the visitors searching for back-up plans.
Jasprit Bumrah (4/99 in 28.4 oves) was once again brilliant despite the first spell thrashing from Konstas but Mohammed Siraj's ordinary showing (0/122 in 23 overs) was the primary reason for batters not being under any pressure.
Smith, who was unbeaten overnight on 68 off 111 balls, took another 56 deliveries in the second morning to complete a Test ton which placed him on even keel with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar (34).
The century came with a push drive through the vacant cover region and celebrations were pretty muted with a just vigorous head nod for his teammates in the dug-out.
Smith, who had a torrid run till the second Test of this series, played both days in contrasting styles. On Thursday, he was ready to be patient and waited for deliveries at the expense of looking ugly.
On Friday, the same batter was walking down the track to force the bowlers to alter their length. He was ready to pull and hook, getting two sixes off Bumrah and Siraj respectively.
Despite a significant drop in temperature and some nip in the air, Indians failed to make use of the semi-new Kookaburra, with lines going all awry and length being short enough to be punished. Cummins was allowed to settle down and hit seven boundaries.
The Indian ploy of playing two spinners backfired with Ravindra Jadeja (3/78 in 22 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/49 in 15 overs) never looking penetrative.
For a change, Siraj didn&rsquo;t try and sledge an in-form batter, something that he did in Adelaide with some disastrous results.
But that didn't soften the Australian supporters, who constantly booed him and Kohli as and when the ball went to them.

Tensions rose as Virat Kohli and debutant Sam Konstas clashed during the fourth Test. Despite the altercation, Konstas shone with a remarkable debut fifty.

Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas Clash During Boxing Day Test

Konstas might have dismissed it as routine but former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting blamed Kohli for instigating the exchange.

Virat Kohli and Australian youngster Sam Konstas were on Thursday involved in a physical altercation because of which the Indian superstar was fined 20 per cent of his match fee and handed a demerit point even though it was played down as an accidental bump by the 19-year-old debutant.
The brief showdown took place after the 10th over of the Australian innings on the opening day of the fourth Test here when the players were crossing over. Kohli and Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch in the face off that was initiated by the travelling star.
Kohli was eventually charged with breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct by on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Michael Gough, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Shawn Craig.
He accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft at the end of day's play.
"Virat Kohli has been fined 20 percent of his match fee and awarded one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct," the ICC said in a statement.
"No formal hearing was needed as Kohli accepted the sanctions propsed by Match Referee Andy Pycroft," it added.
After the physical contact, both players quickly turned around to glance at each other and engage in a heated exchange of words before Konstas' teammate Usman Khawaja stepped in to separate them. The on-field umpires also had a word with the two and things cooled down rather quickly.
Speaking to reporters after stumps, Konstas said Kohli bumped into him but it wasn't deliberate.
"I was just doing my gloves and I think he accidentally bumped me. I think that's just cricket and can happen with tension," said the teenager.
"I think the emotions got to both of us," Konstas had told 'Channel 7' during the second session.
The ICC's Code of Conduct states that "any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire".
Konstas, who was batting on 27 at the time, went on to hit Jasprit Bumrah for two boundaries and a six in the next over.
The teenager scored a stunning fifty on debut before Ravindra Jadeja trapped him leg before wicket.
India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who addressed the media in the end-of-day press conference, also brushed aside the incident as nothing big.
"When you play a game, there will be emotions but it is not as big as it seems. I wasn't aware of what happened and don't know what was said," he said in response to queries.
&nbsp;
Kohli criticised for his actions
Konstas might have dismissed it as routine but former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting blamed Kohli for instigating the exchange. He went to the extent of saying that Kohli could face disciplinary action for it.
"Have a look where Virat walks. Virat's walked one whole pitch over to his right and instigated that confrontation. No doubt in my mind whatsoever," Ponting said on Channel 7 while watching the replay of the incident.
"I have no doubt that the umpires and the referee will have a good look at that. Fielders should be nowhere near the batsman at that stage.
"It looked to me that Konstas looked up really late, wouldn't even know anyone is in front of him. That man on-screen there (Kohli) might have a few questions to answer," Ponting added.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was at the helm during Kohli's captaincy, said the run-in was unnecessary.
"There is a line and you don't want to overstep that line. That's unnecessary, totally unnecessary. You don't want to see that. You know Virat is a senior player, he has been captain of the side," he said on 'Fox Sports'.
"He will have his own explanations for this but it's something you don't want to see. One person who would be watching, his eyes locked into the proceedings is Andy Pycroft," he added.

India reduced Australia to 311/6 at stumps on Day 1, with debutant Sam Konstas impressing with a 60-run knock. Jasprit Bumrah claimed 3 wickets.

India vs Australia Boxing Day Test: Day 1 Summary

Usman Khawaja (57), Marnus Labuschagne (72), and Steve Smith (68 not out) all contributed with fifties on a good batting surface.

Jasprit Bumrah's knack of coming up with magic deliveries in crunch situations kept India alive after Australia's top-order, headlined by teen debutant Sam Konstas' stroke-filled half-century, guided the hosts to 311 for 6 on the opening day of the fourth Test here on Thursday.
If Konstas' audacious 60 off 65 balls enthralled the near sell-out crowd of over 80,000 at the MCG during a humid morning session, Bumrah's (3/75 in 21 overs) deception of length to dismiss Travis Head (0) also had its takers as chants of 'Boom, Boom, Booooomraaaaaaah' reverberated through the stands.
Coming into the Test with back-to-back hundreds, Head couldn't judge the length of a Bumrah delivery that was pitched slightly fuller than what the batter expected. He shouldered his arms trusting the bounce but the 66.2 overs old Kookaburra nipped back to clip the off-bail.
In the next over, he removed an out-of-form Mitchell Marsh (4), having got Usman Khawaja (57 off 121 balls) with the half-tracker in the post-lunch session.
The first two sessions, however, belonged to Australia with senior players Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne (72 off 145 balls) and Steve Smith (68 batting, 111 balls) scoring half-centuries.
The final session was all about Bumrah magic. The Indian spearhead didn't let the hosts completely walk away with the game which they threatened to do at one stage.
He now has 24 wickets in the series. With Mohammed Siraj (0/69 in 15 overs) off-colour, Bumrah didn't have much support save off-spinner Washington Sundar (1/37 in 12 overs), who bowled a containing line.
Akash Deep (1/59 in 19 overs) though got Alex Carey with the second new ball at the fag end of the day.
Even Ravindra Jadeja (1/54 in 14 overs) leaked runs despite getting Konstas out and Nitish Reddy, the batting all-rounder, was only used before the second new ball was taken.
&nbsp;
'Sam Jams at the G'
The morning was owned by the precocious 19-year-old from New South Wales.
Konstas didn't show any nerves during his scintillating knock, which comprised of two sixes off Bumrah.
He also didn't mind a good scrap with India's superstar Virat Kohli, whose shoulder brush with the 19-year-old led to a brief confrontation.
In fact, Bumrah was hit for a six for the first time in a Test since Cameron Green hit him for one back in 2021. The gap between Konstas' first six, which was a lap scoop, and the one that Green hit three years ago was 4000 legal Test match deliveries.
After a conventional lap scoop for maximum, Konstas also hit a reverse lap scoop towards third man for another boundary. The second six was pummelled over mid-on.
The way he attacked the Indian bowling with gusto gave his veteran opening partner Khawaja a chance to get back to form with a patient half-century.
But Khawaja would be really annoyed with himself as he couldn't time a pull shot off a Bumrah half-tracker, which went straight into KL Rahul's hands in the post-lunch session.
The duo added 89 runs in such quick time that Labuschagne and last match's centurion Smith didn't need to show any urgency.
For Konstas, it all began with a few play and misses off Bumrah's opening over but as soon as the teenager got his first couple of runs, things changed dramatically.
The fearlessness of youth stood out on the big stage as Konstas pulled off the lap-scoop against Bumrah before smashing him over mid-on for another maximum.
The fans and experts alike were forced to think the last time Bumrah (1/50 in 15 overs) was hit for two sixes in his first spell of a Test match. They couldn't because it never happened in a first spell.
The stump mic caught Bumrah saying "Beginner's Luck" but Konstas seemed to have enough wares to answer his probing queries. And it was laced with a lot of spunk as he got into a verbal duel with Kohli after their shoulders brushed while crossing each other.
He often shuffled towards leg-stump to make room and on one occasion, crunched Bumrah past cover.
Mohammed Siraj was welcomed into the attack with a loud round of boos as he sledged the youngster due to his unconventional hitting style.
In all, Konstas hit six fours apart from the two maximums. Only Akash bowled a good channel among the pacers as Siraj was guilty of going too full or too short.
As Australia scored at more than a fair clip, skipper Rohit Sharma had to introduce Ravindra Jadeja (1/33 in 11 overs) in the 16th over to at least stem the flow of runs before it went out of hand.
The decision did pay dividends as the seasoned spinner got an arm ball to skid through with the angle to trap Konstas in front.
Khawaja and Labuschagne then added 65 for the second wicket with the Pakistan-born opener hitting Akash for a couple of boundaries to complete his first fifty of the series.

As India prepares for the Boxing Day Test against Australia, all eyes are on skipper Rohit Sharma’s batting position. With the series tied 1-1, Rohit's move to open could disrupt the lineup, possibly affecting players like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. 

Rohit Sharma Faces Key Batting Decisions in Boxing Day Test

India are back at one of their favourite Australian venues where they have remained undefeated in Tests since the 2014 series.

Divine intervention and a wagging tail might have lifted India's sagging spirits in Brisbane but an out-of-form skipper Rohit Sharma's batting position will be in focus against a dangerous Australia bracing to deliver the knockout punch in the 'Boxing Day' Test starting here on Thursday.
The Indian skipper was the last to hit the nets on Christmas eve and there is speculation doing rounds that he could replace the team's most assured opener, KL Rahul, at the top of the order.
If that happens, Rahul will come in at No. 3 while Shubman Gill could either play in the middle order or make way for a Dhruv Jurel in the playing eleven. The series is currently locked 1-1.
The Indian skipper stopped batting in the middle order after being elevated to the opening slot back in 2019. But he chose to come down in Adelaide and Brisbane to accommodate an in-form Rahul and first-Test centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The move was a spectacular failure and it remains to be seen how the team adjusts in case Rohit opens and Gill is either dropped or bats at number five.
Asked about his batting position during the pre-match press conference, he was borderline irritated.
"Let's not worry about that. I think who bats where, we should be discussing that within ourselves and I shouldn't be answering this question in every press conference," the skipper just about held his composure.
&nbsp;
How teams are stacked
Both captains feel that 1-1 after three games is a fair reflection of the competition between the sides but things can quickly change at the MCG.
The rain-affected draw at the Gabba was like a soothing balm for India after Pink Test debacle in Adelaide.
But now, India are back at one of their favourite Australian venues where they have remained undefeated in Tests since the 2014 series.
The last two (2018-19 and 2020-21) of the three Tests (other being 2014-15) resulted in Indian wins where solid batting played its part.
But this line-up, with three young mavericks (Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill), one confident opener (KL Rahul) and a couple of ageing stalwarts (Virat Kohli and Rohit) hasn't looked very assured.
They will have to put up their best show against a home team which isn't exactly a runaway favourite either but has shown tremendous resilience.
For under-fire Rohit, it is his own reputation as a Test batter that is at stake while Kohli will need to channelise the inner champion in him which lit up the MCG skyline with the most talked about sixes in his T20 career.
Those sixes required flair, the situation now will warrant loads of patience when Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc tease him with that probing line outside the off stump.
For Rohit, the equation is as simple as it gets. Win the next two Tests and likely head into a potentially memorable swansong at the Lord's in June.
A captain has to score and even without an injured Josh Hazlewood, Australia would be a handful with local hero Scott Boland ready to bowl those uncompromising hard lengths.
Jaiswal, Gill and Pant would like to live up to their own expectations and go into the game with an uncluttered mindset as expected by their skipper.
&nbsp;
Indian Bowling combination
For the hosts, all eyes will be on teenage sensation Sam Konstas, billed as one for the future with an attacking game to match Jasprit Bumrah.
Konstas would do well to know that Bumrah has already put brakes on his predecessor Nathan McSweeney's career.
The other good news for Australia is that the marauding Travis Head is fully fit and raring to go at Melbourne which is certain to increase the creases on Rohit's forehead.
Head had an extended session on Wednesday where he appeared for a fitness test and then looked in good touch at the nets.
With scores of 89, 140 and 152, the Indian bowlers need some special plans to counter their main threat.
Temperature is predicted to be close to 40 degrees followed by an equally hot second day, which is why the role of an extra spinner is being seriously looked into by the team management.
But if one looks at teams in recent Tests at MCG, the option for second specialist spinner has never looked viable.
The pitches at MCG, over the years, don't have too many cracks but could offer variable bounce which Nathan Lyon has used to the fullest in the past.
But then Lyon, as a finger spinner, is in a different league compared to a relatively inexperienced Washington Sundar.
The question is where does one fit in Washington? Dropping Nitish Reddy could just be a very poor move.
Will they trade a seamer like Akash Deep specifically looking at conditions? Looks unlikely unless it's a like-for-like fast bowler taking that slot.
Rohit will have a lot on his plate as skipper and more as batter if he goes back to the top.
Teams (from):
India: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Tanush Kotian, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal.
Australia (XI): Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marcus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
Match Starts at 5 am.

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