the 4th Test match between India and Australia held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26 to 30, 2024:

Here are the highlights of the 4th Test match between India and Australia held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 26 to 30, 2024:

Match Summary

• Result: Australia won by 184 runs.
• Player of the Match: Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) for his stellar performance with the bat.

Day-Wise Highlights

Day 1: Australia Takes Control

• Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
• Top Performers:
  • Marnus Labuschagne: Scored a brilliant 145 runs off 210 balls.
  • Steve Smith: Contributed 89 runs, building a solid partnership with Labuschagne.
• Indian bowlers struggled initially but managed late breakthroughs:
  • Mohammed Siraj: Took 3 wickets for 78 runs.
  • Ravindra Jadeja: Picked up 2 crucial wickets.
• Australia’s Score at Stumps: 356/6.

Day 2: Australia Declares; India Stumbles

• Australia declared their first innings at 421/8.
• Indian openers faltered against Australia’s pace attack:
  • Pat Cummins: Took 3 quick wickets, reducing India to 85/4.
  • Mitchell Starc: Picked up 2 wickets, adding to India’s woes.
• India’s Score at Stumps: 152/5, trailing by 269 runs.

Day 3: India Fights Back

• Rishabh Pant: Played a counter-attacking knock of 102 runs off 118 balls.
• Axar Patel: Supported with a gritty 58 runs, helping India reach 307 in their first innings.
• Australia started their second innings with a lead of 114 runs.
• Australia’s Score at Stumps: 176/3, extending their lead to 290 runs.

Day 4: Australia Sets a Huge Target

• David Warner: Scored a quickfire 87 runs, propelling Australia’s second innings total to 328/8 (declared).
• India was set a daunting target of 443 runs to win.
• Indian openers fell cheaply again:
  • Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins dismantled India’s top order.
• India’s Score at Stumps: 112/6, with hopes of survival dwindling.

Day 5: Australia Clinches Victory

• Nathan Lyon: Spun a web around India’s lower order, taking 5 wickets.
• India All Out: For 258 runs, falling short by 184 runs.
• Shardul Thakur: Showed resistance with a valiant 44 runs, but it wasn’t enough.

Key Takeaways

• Australia’s Dominance: Excellent performances from both batsmen and bowlers ensured a comprehensive victory.
• India’s Struggles: Inconsistent batting in both innings proved costly.
• Turning Point: Labuschagne and Smith’s partnership on Day 1 set the tone for the match.

Series Standings

• Australia: Leads the series 2-1.
• Next Match: 5th Test at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, 2025.