From Hope to Collapse: Analyzing India’s Dramatic Decline in the Final Session Against Australia
CricketPanditA huge crowd at the MCG, exceeding 66,000, witnessed a remarkable Australian victory as Pat Cummins’s team triggered an Indian collapse, taking 7 wickets for just 34 runs in the final session to lead the series 2-1.
Rishabh Pant’s early temptation after Tea, when he hit a half-tracker from part-timer Travis Head to Mitchell Marsh at long-on, marked a turning point for Australia after they had gone wicketless in the middle session. Pant’s reckless choice significantly hindered India’s chances of securing a draw, as Australia struck twice more in the next 27 deliveries.
Scott Boland managed to get one ball to rise from a length against a defending Ravindra Jadeja, who edged it behind. Nathan Lyon then boosted Australia’s confidence for a series lead by dismissing first-innings centurion Nitish Reddy, who edged to Steve Smith at first slip for just 1 run. India slipped from 121/3 to 130/6, giving Australia a renewed sense of purpose.
Washington Sundar came in with five close-in fielders surrounding the bat, eager and animated in pursuit of a win. Sam Konstas, in particular, tried to rattle both Washington and Jaiswal from silly point, constantly engaging them in conversation. Cummins re-entered the attack after Boland’s brief but effective spell and made a significant impact by taking the wicket of Jaiswal.
The Indian opener attempted a pull against a short ball but failed to make solid contact. Australia appealed for a caught behind, and Cummins opted for a review the moment umpire Joel Wilson turned them down. Replays revealed a clear deflection in the ball’s path as it passed the bat and glove, but the Snicko showed no significant spike. However, the third umpire overturned the on-field decision based on the deviation, leaving India seven down. Akash Deep then lasted 16 balls before edging Boland to Head at forward short leg.
The fifth day concluded as it began, with India crumbling under pressure. They started with Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli all failing against the new ball, with The India captain attempted to flick a full delivery from Pat Cummins but ended up edging it to the gully fielder. Rahul faced an exceptional delivery from the skipper in the same over, which he couldn’t keep the outside edge of his bat away from. Kohli, on the other hand, fell victim to his recurring issue of chasing a ball well outside the off-stump, edging it just as Lunch was called.
The partnership between Jaiswal and Pant during the middle session gave India a glimmer of hope for a draw, but the match shifted to a tense situation where all nine fielders crowded around the bat, eager to claim two wickets with 15 mandatory overs remaining in the day. Boland managed to get Bumrah to nick one to Smith at first slip, and Lyon sealed the victory by trapping Mohammed Siraj leg before wicket.
Brief Scores: Australia 474 (Steve Smith 140, Marnus Labuschagne 72; Jasprit Bumrah 4-99) & 234 (Marnus Labuschagne 70; Jasprit Bumrah 5-56, Mohammed Siraj 3-70) defeated India 369 (Nitish Reddy 114, Yashasvi Jaiswal 82, Washington Sundar 50; Scott Boland 3-57, Pat Cummins 3-89, Nathan Lyon 3-96) & 155 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 84; Pat Cummins 3-28, Scott Boland 3-39, Nathan Lyon 2-37) by 184 runs.
