Indian cricket team at Melbourne Cricket Ground during Boxing Day Test vs Australia.© AFP
After the conclusion of play on Day 2 of the Melbourne Test between Australia and India, all-rounder Washington Sundar expressed confidence in the team’s ability to stage a comeback on the third day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test match. The final hour of Day 2 was packed with dramatic twists and turns. Disaster struck the visitors in quick succession late in the day. Jaiswal was run out for 82 after a mix-up with Kohli, who appeared caught ball-watching as both batters ended up at the same end.
The setback seemed to unsettle Kohli’s focus. After a disciplined display of leaving deliveries outside the off stump, he fell to his old nemesis, edging a ball while fishing outside off and departing cheaply.
From a promising 153/2, India slumped to 164/5 by stumps, losing nightwatchman Akash Deep for a duck as well. Rohit Sharma’s side trailed Australia by 310 runs, with 111 more required to avoid the follow-on.
“We will still come back and continue to fight tomorrow morning. The energy is very good in the dressing room. We are all positive. There’s a long time left in the game–three days and a lot of overs to play. It will be just about us trying to fight really hard and get things done for the team. We looked like we were in a good position to get big runs, especially when Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal were batting,” Sundar said in the post-day press conference, as quoted by the ICC.
With three days remaining, all three results are still possible. However, India face an uphill battle to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and keep their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship Final alive.
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