India are behind in the ongoing fourth Test [Source: AP Photos]
The fourth Test at the MCG has been a mixed bag, but let’s face it, India seems to be running out of steam. After battling hard in the first innings, they now find themselves chasing shadows as Australia holds a commanding 323-run lead with one wicket in hand.
With the series tied 1-1, this match could be a make-or-break moment for India. But unless they pull off something extraordinary, here are three reasons why India will lose the ongoing 4th Test vs Australia.
3. Top-Order in Tatters
India’s top-order has been a shaky ship throughout the series, and this Test has been no different. Skipper Rohit Sharma has been a pale shadow of his usual self. With just 22 runs in four innings, his bat has been quieter than a Sunday morning. In the first innings, he fell for a mere 3, leaving fans scratching their heads.
KL Rahul hasn’t fared much better. His 24 in this Test was just another scratchy knock. Virat Kohli, though showing some fight, managed only 36 before falling prey to Boland courtesy of his outside-the-off-stump weakness. The solitary shining light was Yashasvi Jaiswal, who played a gutsy knock of 82, but even he couldn’t do it all alone.
If the top-order continues to crumble like a pack of cards, India’s chances of putting up a fight in the fourth innings look bleak. They need to stop playing musical chairs with their wickets and start anchoring innings.
2. Middle-Order Blues
The middle-order has been as unpredictable as the weather during the last match in Brisbane . Nitish Reddy has been the knight in shining armour, having scored 293 runs at an average of 58.60, including a stunning 114 in the first innings. But beyond him, it’s been slim pickings.
Rishabh Pant has been hit-and-miss, scoring just 124 runs at an average of 20.66. He’s shown flashes of brilliance but hasn’t stayed long enough to make a real impact. Ravindra Jadeja, too, has had his moments but hasn’t produced the big scores needed.
Washington Sundar played a gritty 50 in this match, but you can’t expect two players to keep bailing the team out every time. The rest of the middle-order has been playing like they are on thin ice and unless they find their form, India’s chances of pulling off a miracle are slim.
1. Australia’s Relentless Attack
Let’s not mince words: Australia’s bowling attack has been top-notch, and they have collectively made India’s batters dance to their tunes. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon have been relentless, proving why they’re one of the best bowling units in the world.
Cummins has been a class apart, picking up 3 wickets in the first innings, including the big fish Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Scott Boland has been a thorn in India’s side, with figures of 3/57 in the first innings, making life miserable for the middle and lower order.
And then there’s Nathan Lyon, who spun a web around the lower order with another 3-wicket haul. He got rid of both Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, breaking India’s back when they were trying to fight back. Australia’s bowlers have been like a pack of wolves, pouncing on every mistake India’s batters have made.
Conclusion
India is in a tight spot, and it’s going to take something extraordinary to turn this game around. The top-order needs to wake up and smell the coffee, the middle-order needs to stop playing hot and cold, and they need a plan to counter Australia’s explosive bowlers.
With Australia’s lead swelling to 323 runs, the hosts are firmly in the driver’s seat. India has pulled off miracles before, but this one looks like a mountain too steep to climb. If they can’t fix these cracks in their batting, this Test could slip through their fingers, leaving them with a do-or-die situation in the fifth Test.