India vs Australia highlights, 4th Test Day 4: Australia 228/9 at stumps, lead by 333 runs vs India at MCG

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj each picked up a wicket as Australia reached 53/2 at lunch on the fourth day of the fourth Test on Friday, with the hosts extending their overall lead to 158.

Marnus Labuschagne was unbeaten on 20, alongside Steve Smith (2 not out) at the break.

Bumrah dismissed Sam Konstas (8) and Siraj sent Usman Khawaja (21) back to the pavilion before lunch, as the Indian bowlers kept the hosts in check.

Earlier, India were bowled out for 369, having resumed their first innings at 358/9. India added 11 runs to their overnight score before Nitish Kumar Reddy (114) became the final wicket to fall.

Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon each took three wickets, as Australia built a vital 105-run lead.

Cometh the hour, cometh Nitish Reddy. He first rescued India from a precarious position, bowled some overs, and then turned into a guide for India's No. 11, Mohammed Siraj.

The 21-year-old Reddy, who displayed tremendous resilience by scoring a determined 105 not out at number 8 to virtually save India on day three of the Boxing Day Test, was heard guiding Siraj from the non-striker's end on how to handle the Australian bowling attack.

"Miyan bhai, off pe khade rehna. Bahar ka ball chhod do. Ghumega nahi. Ghum gya to fir kuch nahi kar sakte. Chhod do usse," Reddy was heard telling Siraj. [Stay on the off side. Leave the ball outside. It won't turn. If it turns, then there's nothing we can do. Just leave it.]

Impressed by Reddy's sensational maiden century, former coach Ravi Shastri advocated for his promotion in the batting order, suggesting that a top-six position would provide better balance for India going into the fifth and final Test.

"I feel that the way he's batted, this is the last time he will bat at 7," Shastri told Star Sports.

"To get the balance of the side, you need him to go higher up the order, either 5 or 6, and then you have the opportunity of playing 5 bowlers to take the 20 wickets. He's given that kind of confidence to the selectors, the team management, and the captain."

India's batting has appeared fragile, especially with skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant struggling for runs in the five-Test series so far.

Throwing his support behind Nitish, Shastri added, "Reddy is fully capable of batting in the top 6. Then it changes the whole balance of the game.

"You go to Sydney with him batting in the top 6, and you're playing five bowlers."

Australian captain Pat Cummins was left perplexed after the third umpire overturned what appeared to be a legitimate dismissal on day four of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.


While attempting to wrap up India’s first innings, Cummins delivered a full-length delivery to Mohammed Siraj, which seemed to produce an edge caught by Steve Smith at second slip.

The Australians celebrated, but on-field umpire Michael Gough referred the decision to third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat to confirm whether it was a bump ball.

Third umpire Sharfuddoula ruled Siraj not out, stating, "I can see the ball after hitting the back, I am satisfied."

The decision left Cummins and his team visibly confused.

Cummins approached on-field umpire Gough to request another review of the footage, but both Gough and fellow umpire Joel Wilson declined his appeal, allowing Siraj to continue batting.

The decision also left fomer cricketers Adam Gilchirst and Ravi Shastri confused.

Rohit Sharma's poor form in Australia has been a major concern for the Indian cricket team. The Indian captain has struggled to score runs, managing only 22 runs in four innings, with scores of 3, 6, 10, and 3. This slump has sparked debates about his place in the team and whether it's time for him to step away from Test cricket. Former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has been critical of Rohit's form, suggesting that if he fails to score in the upcoming innings, serious discussions about his Test career will be unavoidable.


Even former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has criticized Rohit's batting, calling his shot selection "lazy".

Rohit's struggles have also impacted his captaincy, with many questioning his decision-making on the field. His decision to promote himself up the batting order in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG hasn't paid off, and he was dismissed cheaply. The Indian team management faces critical decisions, and it remains to be seen how they'll address Rohit's poor form.

Key Statistics:

- Rohit's Recent Scores: 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, 11, 3, 6, 10, and 3 over his last 14 innings

- Average: 11.07 over his last 14 innings

- Runs Scored in the Series: 22 runs in four innings

The Indian captain's average in 2024 is 25.41, while aggregating 610 in 14 Tests (25 innings). It included two hundreds and two fifties and is his poorest in a calendar year since 2016. Rohit's average in the current series so far of 5.50, while scoring 22 runs in three Tests (four innings) at a strike rate of 31.42, is his poorest in a series (minimum two innings). Rohit's average in the 2024-25 season of 11.07, in eight Tests with 155 runs in 14 innings, which included a fifty, is the second lowest by an Indian among the top six.

Rohit's poor form against Australia is a pressing concern, and addressing it requires a multi-faceted approach. Rohit clearly needs to reassess his batting position and focus on regaining his form. Considering KL Rahul's impressive performance as an opener, Rohit might need to make way for him.

Rohit's shot selection has also been questionable, particularly his pull shots, which have deserted him. He needs to work on his technique, focusing on playing more responsibly and avoiding reckless shots. Rohit's captaincy has also been under scrutiny, with some critics labeling it as "pathetic". He needs to lead by example, making tactical decisions that inspire confidence in his team.

The pressure to perform is mounting, and Rohit needs to develop strategies to manage stress and stay focused. He must work on his mental preparation, visualizing success and building a positive mindset.

Rohit just needs to take a step back, reassess his game, and make necessary adjustments to regain his form and confidence.

India have a new hero – Nitish Kumar Reddy. The 21-year-old cricketer made history with a defiant maiden century, cheered on by a large contingent of Indian supporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Nitish displayed remarkable grit and determination, taking 172 balls to reach the milestone with 10 fours and one six, as he fought to get India back into the fourth Test against Australia.

It was Nitish's resilience, coupled with his love for the game and admiration for Virat Kohli, that helped him overcome financial hurdles and fulfill his dream of playing for Team India.

Nitish was just 12 when his father, Mutyala Reddy, introduced him to former India wicketkeeper and ex-selector MSK Prasad. Mutyala, who was present at the MCG to witness his son's majestic knock, sought Prasad's guidance to shape Nitish's cricketing journey.

Prasad, who represented Andhra Pradesh in domestic cricket, assessed Nitish by asking him a few questions and then observed him in the nets. The young batter impressed with his professional stroke play and disciplined wicket-to-wicket bowling.

Recognising his talent, Prasad introduced Nitish to the Andhra Cricket management, which decided to nurture the prodigy. The association provided financial support, investing Rs 15,000 per month, and looked after his cricketing and educational needs.

Nitish on Saturday played a pivotal role, rescuing India from a precarious 221/7 by stitching a 127-run partnership with Washington Sundar (50). The partnership narrowly missed the record for India’s highest eighth-wicket stand against Australia, set by Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar in 2008.

"It is one of the happiest moments for Nitish, his family, and myself. The entire country and Andhra cricket are proud of this kid. It's a remarkable achievement. He comes from a humble background, rose through the ranks, defied the odds, and now he is a superstar. Nitish has worked incredibly hard to reach this level. I salute his family, who made phenomenal sacrifices to support him," MSK Prasad told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

Nitish’s moment of glory came when, on 99, he played a lofted drive and then endured a tense over before completing his century with an elegant on-drive to the boundary.

The MCG erupted with deafening cheers, including from his father in the stands, who was seen praying continuously for his son's success.

"Andhra Cricket has played a significant role in his development. Ever since his father brought him to me, I knew this boy was destined for big things on the bigger stage. Andhra Cricket invested Rs 15,000 per month in him until he reached a certain level. They took care of his cricket and education. He was just 12 when he came to me. I am truly happy for him," said MSK Prasad.

"The amount was just for Nitish. We knew this guy had a lot of talent and would reach a certain level. He never looked back. A keen learner, a silent assassin, and a man who loves to play, that's how I would define Nitish," he added.

It was an absolute theatre at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday (28 December) when Nitish Kumar Reddy realised his dream. The dream of scoring his maiden Test hundred and it couldn't have come at a better venue. In front of 83,073 fans, including a very emotional father who kept praying with hands folded, the youngster went down on one knee and struck a 'Bahubali' pose. Reddy Sr., meanwhile, had his arms up in the air and took a huge sigh of relief as loud cheers erupted in the stands celebrating what was a sensational knock under pressure.

Over 2,50,000 people have already walked through the turnstiles at the MCG in anticipation of a blockbuster clash. They would have hoped to cheer for a Virat Kohli hundred or a Travis Head special but little did they know that the loudest cheer of the match, so far, would be for a young Reddy. It was deafening at the 'G on Saturday when the young gun reached the milestone.

There were some nervy moments in the 90s when he saw Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah take the long walk back but Mohammmed Siraj ensured his young teammate wasn't left stranded on 99 and received his loudest cheer on Australian soil when he blocked Pat Cummins' last delivery. Two dots and a boundary later, the wait ended in Scott Boland's over as he deservingly soaked in the rapturous applause from over 80,000.

It wasn't easy out there as India were in all sorts of trouble at 191/6. The madness in the last session on Day 2 handed the advantage back to Australia and it continued as Rishabh Pant played a shocking shot during a delicate situation in the match.

In walked Reddy, India's crisis man in this series, and went about doing his business with a lot of confidence and clarity.

Reddy's game is modelled on balance and the positions he gets into are nearly perfect. He has trigger movements - both forward and backward - but they are very small and that allows him to maintain that exquisite balance even while keeping the weight a bit more on the front foot.

The youngster, however, doesn't stick to one trigger movement and keeps switching between forward and backward to different bowlers, and sometimes in the same over. It's the balance which is not compromised during the switch and the body alignment allows him to get into very correct positions while executing a shot or a defence.