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India faced a significant setback in their quest for the WTC 2025 final after losing to Australia by 184 runs in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This defeat puts India at a disadvantage in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy and complicates their chances of qualifying for the WTC 2025 final.
Implications for WTC 2025 Qualification
India’s loss has drastically affected their position in the WTC 2025 standings. Their points percentage dropped from 55.89 to 52.77, placing them third in the table with seven losses this cycle.
The defeat means that India must win their final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting January 3 to keep their hopes alive for the WTC 2025 finals. However, even a victory may not guarantee qualification if Australia performs well in their upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Match Summary
Australia’s Innings:
1st Innings: 474 all out
2nd Innings: 234 all out
India’s Innings:
1st Innings: 369 all out
2nd Innings: 155 all out
WTC 2025: What Went Wrong for India
Top Order Struggles: India started their second innings poorly, losing three wickets for just 33 runs before lunch. Key players like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli failed to score runs and put pressure on the middle order.
Batting Collapse: After a decent start at 121/3, India lost seven wickets for just 34 runs. This collapse began after Rishabh Pant was dismissed, despite him forming a good partnership with Jaiswal.
Fielding Mistakes: India dropped important catches that allowed Australia to score more runs than they should have. One crucial drop by Jaiswal off Labuschagne could have changed the game.
Lack of Support from Other Batters: Besides Jaiswal and Pant, no other Indian batsman scored more than ten runs in the second innings, showing a lack of depth in batting.
Handling Pressure: The team struggled to cope with pressure situations, leading to poor shot selections and mistakes at key moments.
WTC 2025: The Rise of Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy has made a significant impact in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, emerging as a crucial player for India.
Throughout the series, he has scored 294 runs in seven innings at an average of 49, making him India’s second-leading run-scorer after Yashasvi Jaiswal. His contributions have been vital, particularly during challenging times when the team requires reliability.
In the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Reddy played a standout innings, scoring an impressive 114 runs off 189 balls. This was his maiden Test century and came at a critical time when India was struggling at 191/6. His innings included 11 fours and 1 six, showcasing his ability to score runs under pressure.
Reddy’s partnership with Washington Sundar, which added 127 runs, was instrumental in helping India avoid the follow-on and regain some momentum in the match.
WTC 2025: Bumrah at His Best for Team India
Jasprit Bumrah delivered an outstanding performance during the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), further solidifying his reputation as one of the world’s leading fast bowlers.
In this match, Bumrah took a remarkable five-wicket haul in Australia’s second innings, finishing with figures of 5 for 57 off 24.4 overs. This achievement marked his 13th Test fifer and brought his total wicket tally in the series to 30, making him the first pacer to reach this milestone in a single Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Bumrah’s bowling was instrumental in keeping India in the contest, as he helped reduce Australia to a precarious 91 for 6 at one point. His ability to maintain pressure with unplayable lengths and a sharp swing left the Australian batsmen struggling.
He bowled a total of 53.2 overs in the MCG test, the most he has ever bowled in a single Test, showcasing his endurance and commitment under pressure.
WTC 2025 finals: Will India Fight Back to Level the Series in Sydney?
As the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, cricket fans can expect an intense showdown between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting on January 3, 2025.
With Australia leading the series 2-1 after their recent victory at the MCG, India is under pressure to win this match to keep their hopes alive for the World Test Championship final.
Overall, this match is set to be a critical one for both teams, with India fighting to stay in contention for the WTC 2025 finals while Australia aims to claim the series win. Fans can expect a thrilling contest filled with high stakes and intense competition.