Nitish Reddy was the star of the day for India. Follow the highlights from the fourth IND vs AUS Test, right here
On day 2, Rohit Sharma-led Team India reached 164 for five at stumps on day two, trailing Australia by 310 runs in the fourth Test. Skipper Rohit Sharma (3) fell cheaply once again before Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36) steadied the ship with a 102-run stand. Australia were all out on 474 after lunch with Steve Smith scoring his 34th Test hundred.
India's chances of qualifying for the WTC final will only rely on them winning the MCG Test. If they fail to win, they would have to rely on Australia and Sri Lanka for results with the former dropping over poor over rate, and is the only realistic chance for Rohit Sharma's men.
Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
So, we are all ready for the third day. Pat Cummins with the ball. Rishabh Pant on strike and Ravindra Jadeja on the other end. India still trail by 310 runs. Big day today in this series as well as this game.
Pant gets lucky. Cummins goes full and Pant just hangs his bat outside off stump. An edge but the ball just runs to the boundary after beating the second slip and gully. First runs of the day and it is a boundary.
IND 168/5 (47)
Australia review for caught behind. On-field decision is not out. Length ball from Cummins that is rising sharply and Pant decides to leave. Australia appeal for caught behind but it is not given.
Australia lose review. Replays show the ball took the sleeve and no bat was involved. Pant stays.
IND 173/5 (49)
Pant goes aerial and gets a four in the square leg region. Just a little short from Boland and Pant latches on to it. The left-hander lofts the ball on the leg side and the ball has enough legs to cross the long boundary. Good start to the 52nd over.
Just one more single from the over.
IND 180/5 (52)
Poor delivery from Boland to end the over and Jadeja makes him pay. Jadeja makes contact with his glance to this ball on to his pads and gets a four to the fine leg region. First boundary of the day for Jadeja.
IND 186/5 (54)
Rishabh Pant departs. Big jolt to India. He was looking good and had played out the early fast bowling spells. This shot would not be liked by many. Goes for a scoop against Boland and does not time it well. Nathan Lyon at third man takes an easy catch and Pant has to take the long walk back. His plan to disrupt Boland's rhythm fails and the local boy takes his third wicket.
IND 192/6 (56)
A boundary and with that India will cross 200. They have had some real problems reaching here. They have already lost six wickets. Talking about the boundary, it was full outside off from Starc. Reddy saw his opportunity and threw his bat hard. A thick edge but the ball flew through the gully region and Reddy gets his second boundary.
IND 203/6 (58)
Another budding partnership this between Reddy and Jadeja. It has crossed 20 now but India would want it go into the three figures. No demons in the pitch so far. Only the odd ball is doing its bit. A good batting deck overall. But can India make use of it?
IND 214/6 (62)
Jadeja tries to turn the ball on the leg side but plays all over it and the ball thuds into his pad. Huge appeal and umpire gives it out. Jadeja review but it is umpire's call and India lose their seventh wicket. Lyon opens his wicket tally with that wicket. Jadeja lbw b Lyon 17(51)
IND 221/7 (64.5)
Nitish Kumar Reddy having another solid outing. He has looked good all this series and today too the youngster has been impressive. Already India's second highest scorer in this innings. He is now into 40s and would love to get his maiden Test fifty. India really need it badly.
IND 243/7 (72)
So that is it in the opening session of the third day of the fourth Test match in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Series. India scored 80 runs in 27 overs but they have lost both their overnight stars. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja have fallen and now the onus is on Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy who has looked really good so far. India still trailing by 270 runs. We will be back after the break.
IND 244/7 (73)
Players are back on the field. Pat Cummins will take the ball and Sundar will be on strike.
A quiet start so far for India after lunch but they would not mind. Reddy has been hit on the body, Sundar has edged the ball but the duo manages to stay at the crease which is the most important thing for India. They would want to bat whole day. Still two sessions to go for that. Reddy, batting on 41, is also looking at what would be his maiden Test half-century.
IND 253/7 (76)
Australia have taken the second new ball straightaway. Mitchell Starc has been introduced and handed the red cherry. A new challenge awaits Reddy and Sundar who both have batted well so far.
IND 261/7 (80)
A boundary to bring up his maiden Test half-century. Brilliant fifty from Reddy. He has looked confident and married his aggression with a lot of patience in this innings.
IND 270/7 (83)
4 runs and all through running. Starc strays on to pads and Sundar times this flick beautifully. Not enough power to go all the way to the ropes but Sundar and Reddy run four. Brilliant running. These are the things you only see in Australia. Big grounds.
IND 283/7 (85)
Drinks are on the ground now. This partnership has brought India back into the contest. But both Sundar and Reddy know there is still a long way to go. They still trail by 180 runs. For Australia, this has been a frustrating partnership. They have given away 73 runs to this duo and the second new ball has not worked.
IND 294/7 (88)
Reddy slams a boundary. He is batting beautifully and here is another shot to prove that. Nathan Lyon overpitches it and Reddy lofts the ball over covers to get a boundary.
IND 311/7 (94)
The conditions have gone overcast and dark. The umpires have stopped play due to poor light at the MCG. Players are walking back.
And early tea has been taken. Good call by the umpires. A little drizzle has also arrived and the pitch has been covered.
IND 326/7 (97)
So, we will get some play soon. It is almost an hour since the play stopped. Rain has stopped and the covers are off now. We will soon resume.
Players are out in the middle. The weather is still not clear and we have floodlights on at the MCG. Marsh has the ball. Sundar on strike and Reddy on the other end.
Just two runs from the over since the break. Some tight bowling by Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc. Sundar and Reddy are hanging in there, treading with caution.
IND 328/7 (101)
Nitish Reddy now has the highest score by an Indian batting at no8 in Australia. He surpassed 87 from Anil Kumble that he scored in Adelaide in 2008. He is currently batting on 89 from 145 balls. Tremendous innings.
IND 338/7 (105)
Washington Sundar completes a composed half-century. Takes 146 balls and soaks in all the pressure to raise a crucial half-century for India.
IND 345/7 (108)
Sundar is gone! There is the wicket Australia were waiting for. Extra bounce for Lyon and he gets the edge of forward lunging Sundar's bat. Smith completes the catch at slip to remove Sundar. The partnership comes to an end. Sundar and Reddy added 127 and batted 47 overs. India are back in this game and the credit goes to this duo.
Sundar c Smith b Lyon 50 (162)
IND 348/8 (112)
Cummins into the attack and Jasprit Bumrah is dismissed just three balls into his innings for a Duck. More drama coming our way. Nitish Reddy is stranded on one end at 99. A length ball from Cummins and Bumrah gets an outside edge. Khawaja with the catch.
Mohammed Siraj needs to survive three balls. And he does it.
IND 350/9 (114)
What an incredible innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy with his first Test century. 21 years of age and so much of skill. Came in when India were in trouble. Bided his time. Restricted his shots and patiently got to a hundred. Champion player. India have found a gem.
IND 355/9 (115)
Play yet again halted. This time it is bad light yet again. It is very dark at the MCG with black clouds all over. Players walk back. Let us wait and watch when they come back.
IND 358/9 (116) trail by 116 runs.
Nitish Reddy is now the third youngest to score a century in Australia. He is also the third youngest cricketer with a Test century batting at no8 and below. Currently, he is on 105(176).
Now rain has arrived and it has picked up. The ground is being covered. We might not see much cricket today.
Play called off. Stumps.
IND 358/9 (116) trail by 116 runs.
Nitish Kumar Reddy. We will be hearing this name a lot in Indian cricket now. He was the star for India today with an incredible hundred at number eight. Third youngest Indian to smash a century on Australian soil, third youngest to do it at number eight. He was phenomenal today. A bit of rain ended the day prematurely but thanks to Reddy and a fifty from Washington Sundar, Australia's lead is just over 100 now. India too have the last pair in the middle. Both teams will have to try hard to push for a result in this game now.
Australia: 474
India 1st Innings:
Yashasvi Jaiswal run out (Cummins/Carey) 82
Rohit Sharma c Boland b Cummins 3
KL Rahul b Cummins 24
Virat Kohli c Carey b Boland 36
Akash Deep c Lyon b Boland 0
Rishabh Pant c Lyon b Boland 28
Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Lyon 17
Nitish Kumar Reddy not out 105
Washington Sundar c Smith b Lyon 50
Jasprit Bumrah c Khawaja b Cummins 0
Mohammed Siraj not out 2
Extras: (LB-2, NB-4, W-5) 11
Total: (For 9 wickets in 116 overs) 358
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-51, 3-153, 4-154, 5-159, 6-191, 7-221, 8-348, 9-350
Bowling: Mitchell Starc 25-2-86-0, Pat Cummins 27-6 -86-3, Scott Boland 27-7-57-3, Nathan Lyon 27-4-88-2, Mitchell Marsh 7-1-28-0, Travis Head 3-0-11-0.
We will take your leave now. Thank you for following us. We will return tomorrow morning. Good bye till then.