NEW DELHI: India may have lost the Boxing Day Test against Australia by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, but there were more than a couple of heroic performances from the Rohit Sharma-led team
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah took 9 wickets in the match – (4/99 and 5/57). Bumrah also completed 200 Test wickets in the match – the milestone coming at the lowest bowling average of all time.
Bumrah took 8484 balls to reach 200 Test wickets, only after Waqar Younis (7725), Dale Steyn (7848) and Kagiso Rabada (8153).
In Boxing Day Tests at the MCG, Bumrah has taken 24 wickets at an average of 14.66, strike rate of 32.7 and an economy rate of 2.68.
Bumrah has been the best bowler in Test cricket in 2024 with 71 wickets from 13 matches at an average of 14.92 and a strike rate of 30.16, the best figures for any bowler in the traditional format.
The right-arm pacer has also been the best bowler in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy with 30 wickets in a mere four Tests Down Under.
The other hero for India was Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hit his maiden hundred in the India first innings.
The hundred by Nitish at No. 8 came when India needed someone to stay at the crease.
Having made his debut in the Perth Test, Reddy had scores of 41, 38*, 42, 42 and 16 heading into the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Reddy arrived at the crease at the dismissal of Rishabh Pant with India at 191/6 with the follow-on threat still looming large on Day 3 of the fourth Test on Saturday.
But Reddy showed remarkable application and temperament to put up a 127-run stand with Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket enroute his maiden Test hundred.
Reddy also became the third youngest Indian to score maiden Test century in Australia.
On Tuesday, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video of Bumrah and Reddy’s names being etched on the Honours Board of Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The video has Reddy taking pictures of Honours Board and also giving a thumbs up to celebrate the feat.
India now need to win the last Test of the series, in Sydney, to draw level and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
