At tea on Day 2 of the fourth Test between India and Australia, the visitors found themselves at 51 for 2, trailing by 423 runs. Australia’s imposing first-innings total of 474 has set the tone for a dominant display at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
India’s innings began tentatively, with Yashasvi Jaiswal showing some resilience to remain unbeaten on 23 off 43 balls. KL Rahul’s dismissal on the last ball before tea added to the mounting pressure. Pat Cummins, leading from the front with figures of 2 for 27 in 6 overs, claimed the vital wickets of both Indian openers. His sharp bowling underlined Australia’s relentless discipline with the ball.
Jaiswal and Rahul had started cautiously, but the latter fell victim to Cummins’ accuracy, bowled off a delivery that kept its line and deceived him completely. This marks yet another instance of India’s top order struggling under pressure.
Australia’s bowlers, including Scott Boland, kept the scoring tight, giving away no room for Indian batters to settle. Boland’s three overs for just nine runs typified the hosts’ suffocating strategy, while Cummins reaped the rewards with disciplined stump-to-stump bowling.
The pitch at the MCG, expected to favour batters on Day 2, provided little assistance to bowlers, making Australia’s precise and intelligent bowling even more commendable. For India, the challenge remains steep, with a fragile middle order now exposed to a charged-up Australian attack.
Trailing by 423 runs, India’s hopes rest heavily on a patient innings from Jaiswal and meaningful contributions from the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both senior players have been underwhelming in this series, with their form needing a turnaround to stabilise the innings and mount a fightback.
As the final session unfolds, India’s batters will need to recalibrate their approach, focusing on partnerships and capitalising on any loose deliveries. The margin for error is slim, and Australia’s bowlers will look to capitalise on their momentum.
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