Australia pulled off an amazing victory on day five of the fourth Test, taking seven wickets after tea to defeat India by 184 runs. The win gives Australia a 2-1 lead in the series, heading into the final match in Sydney.
India seemed steady during the middle session, thanks to a solid partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. However, in front of a massive crowd of 74,362 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the team collapsed and were bowled out for 155.
Australian captain Pat Cummins and pacer Scott Boland each claimed three wickets, with spinner Nathan Lyon contributing two on a dramatic day marred by controversies involving the Decision Review System (DRS).
“It’s been five days of fantastic cricket. A great way to end the week,” said Australia’s Mitchell Starc. “This group has always believed in staying calm and adapting to challenges.”
India began the final session at 112 for three, with Jaiswal and Pant holding firm. However, Pant’s aggressive style cost him his wicket as he swung at part-time spinner Travis Head, only to be caught by a sprinting Mitchell Marsh at long-on for 30. The dismissal ended an 88-run partnership and triggered a rapid collapse.
Boland soon dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for two with a rising delivery, and Nathan Lyon struck next. A brilliant slip catch by Steve Smith removed Nitish Kumar Reddy for one.
Controversy erupted when Jaiswal was given out caught behind off Cummins after an immediate review by Australia. Although “Ultra Edge” failed to show a clear nick, the TV umpire overturned the on-field decision, leading to chants of “Cheater! Cheater!” from parts of the crowd.
Akash Deep was also dismissed following a successful review, leaving tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj with an uphill battle. Both were dismissed for ducks, with Lyon sealing the win by trapping Siraj lbw.
India captain Rohit Sharma expressed disappointment, saying, “We wanted to fight till the end but couldn’t do it. We had our chances but let Australia back into the game when they were 90 for six.”
Earlier in the day, Australia’s bowlers had set the tone. Cummins took two wickets in an over, while Mitchell Starc dismissed Virat Kohli cheaply, leaving India struggling. Despite a promising partnership between Jaiswal and Pant, the visitors couldn’t recover.
Australia’s second innings ended at 234, with Jasprit Bumrah taking five wickets for 57 runs. His outstanding performance earned him nine wickets for the match, bringing his series tally to 30 wickets at an average of 12.83. Mohammed Siraj also bounced back with three wickets after a challenging first innings.
The match drew a record-breaking total attendance of 373,691 in Melbourne, highlighting the enduring appeal of Test cricket.
