The fourth day of the ongoing Test match between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) witnessed a dramatic turn of events. India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, after a promising start to the series, had a forgettable day in the field, dropping three crucial catches, including one off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling that left skipper Rohit Sharma visibly exasperated.
Fielding woes overshadow India’s bowling effort
During the 48th over, Ravindra Jadeja delivered a ball that induced an edge from Australian captain Pat Cummins. The ball went towards Jaiswal at slip, but the fielder failed to latch on. The missed opportunity drew a fiery reaction from Rohit Sharma, who was stationed at the slips and was seen punching the air in frustration. This was Jaiswal’s third dropped catch of the day, raising concerns over India’s fielding performance in this crucial Test.
Earlier, Jaiswal had missed two chances—both off Labuschagne—including a regulation catch at gully. These lapses proved costly as the Australian batter continued to hold the fort for the hosts. Such missed opportunities have hampered India’s efforts to capitalize on their bowlers’ remarkable spells.
Session overview
Despite the fielding lapses, India had a productive session. In 24 overs, the visitors managed to restrict Australia to 82 runs while taking four crucial wickets. Jasprit Bumrah’s magical spell, which saw him dismiss Alex Carey and bolster India’s momentum, was the highlight of the session. Bumrah’s relentless precision put Australia on the back foot, providing India with much-needed breakthroughs.
However, the dropped catches, especially those offered by Labuschagne and Cummins, denied India a chance to fully dominate the session. Labuschagne remained unbeaten at Tea with a resilient 65 off 118 balls, while Cummins contributed 21 off 40 balls.
Australia in command
At the Tea break on Day 4, Australia stood at 135/6, leading by 240 runs. The lead gives Australia the upper hand as India faces the task of restricting the remaining batters quickly in the final session.
India’s bowlers have been exceptional, particularly Bumrah and Jadeja, but the fielding lapses have overshadowed their efforts. Jaiswal’s off day in the field could prove costly as Australia looks to set a formidable target.
What lies ahead
India will need to regroup quickly in the final session to wrap up the Australian innings while minimizing the damage from their missed opportunities. With the pitch offering some assistance to the bowlers, it promises to be an exciting finish to the day’s play.
Session Summary:
Overs: 24 | Runs: 82 | Wickets: 4
India will rue the missed chances but still have an opportunity to fight back in the game. Stay tuned for more updates.
