The India cricket team needs 340 runs to win the Boxing Day Test. If Team India wishes to take a 2-1 lead in the series, they must chase down the target; it’ll be the highest successful chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Considering just 237 runs were scored in 85.3 overs on the fourth day of the India vs Australia 4th Test, the idea of a team somehow chasing over 340 runs seems impossible. And if Team India falls short by around 80-100 runs, the only ones they’ll have to blame are themselves.
Bumrah, Siraj & Akash Deep let down by poor fielding
It was an incredible feat to get Australia to 91/6. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep gave it their all. The three pacers combined bowled 63 of the 82. They did everything they could for those wickets. But they weren’t always helped by their own teammates.
Jaiswal drops 3 catches: Labuschagne, Cummins & Khawaja
Even if we leave misfields and that no ball aside, there were four dropped catches in the third innings. The main culprit was Yashasvi Jaiswal. He dropped three catches, two of which were of top-order batters. He dropped Usman Khawaja while fielding a leg gully. This one didn’t cost that much, as Khawaja scored just 5 more runs. The second one was the most costly. He dropped Marnus Labuschagne when the score was 99/6. Had he been dismissed then, no way was Australia going to score over 150.
Jaiswal then dropped Pat Cummins at a silly point. In fairness, this was a tough chance since the southpaw was so close to the batter. But before the drop, Rishabh Pant had told Jaiswal to crouch low. He didn’t do that, and the ball went under him while grazing his fingers. Siraj dropped a catch of Nathan Lyon in his follow-through; the chance was as well difficult but cost Team India quite a bit. It would have been the last wicket. From there on, Australia scored a further 61 runs and are still batting.
How dropped catches from Jaiswal & Siraj affected Team India
- Usman Khawaja was on 3 and went on to score 8. The score when he was dropped was 11/0, and when he was dismissed, it was 20/1.
- Marnus Labuschagne was on 46 and went on to score 70. The score when he was dropped was 99/6, and when he was dismissed, it was 148/7.
- Pat Cummins was on 21 and went on to score 41. The score when he was dropped was 135/6, and when he was dismissed, it was 173/8.
- Nathan Lyon was on 5 and went on to score 41. The score when he was dropped was 173/9 and currently Australia are 234/10.
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