Fourth Test: Cummins Claims Rohit and Rahul as India Trails Australia by 423 Runs at Tea

Melbourne, Dec 27 (NationPress) Captain Pat Cummins made a significant impact by taking down Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, leaving India at 51/2 after 15 overs, as they trailed Australia by 423 runs during the tea break on the second day of the Boxing Day Test held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Australia had been all out for 474 in their first innings, and Cummins ensured that Australia maintained their dominance in the match by dismissing Rohit with ease and then sending Rahul back with an exceptional delivery just before tea.

With Yashasvi Jaiswal remaining steady on 23 not out, India will need substantial contributions and partnerships to reach 275, the target necessary to evade a follow-on. India’s innings began poorly as Rohit, batting first for the series, attempted a half-hearted pull shot off Cummins, resulting in a top-edge that was caught easily by mid-on, dismissing him for just three runs.

This dismissal brought Rohit’s total runs in this series to 22, further extending his disappointing form in Tests this year. Following Rohit’s exit, Jaiswal exhibited composure, hitting Cummins for boundaries with confidence. Meanwhile, Rahul showcased remarkable steadiness and energized the session with three stunning boundaries.

As India seemed poised to finish the session positively, Cummins unleashed a spectacular delivery—a full ball pitched on the off stump that seamed past Rahul’s bat to hit the top of off stump, sending the batter back for 24 runs off 42 balls, leaving Australia in high spirits as they headed into the tea break.

Earlier, Steve Smith was the standout performer, scoring 140 runs—his 34th Test century, which included 13 fours and three sixes—as Australia amassed a colossal 474 runs. He received valuable assistance from Cummins (49) and Mitchell Starc (15), forming partnerships of 112 and 44 runs, which left the visitors’ bowling attack ineffective.

This marked Smith’s fifth century at the MCG, and his second century against India in the current series. Jasprit Bumrah again excelled with impressive figures of 4-99, while the rest of the bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batting onslaught.

Post-lunch, India enjoyed a brief respite as Ravindra Jadeja bowled out Starc, who was clean bowled as the ball straightened to hit the off-stump. Smith followed suit in an unusual manner, dancing down the pitch to hit Akash Deep but ended up with a bottom edge that rolled onto the stumps, dislodging the off-stump bail.

After Scott Boland effectively used reviews to overturn lbw decisions, Jadeja finally concluded Australia’s innings in 122.4 overs by trapping Nathan Lyon plumb lbw, although the hosts remained the happier side at the close of the session.

Brief scores: Australia 474 in 122.4 overs (Steve Smith 140, Marnus Labuschagne 72; Jasprit Bumrah 4-99, Ravindra Jadeja 3-78) leads India 51/2 in 15 overs (KL Rahul 24, Yashasvi Jaiswal 23 not out; Pat Cummins 2-27) by 423 runs.