Australia vs India Test Match Scorecard: Bumrah, Siraj strike as India narrow Australia's lead in Melbourne Test

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj gave India a fighting chance on Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, claiming two crucial wickets before lunch. As Australia reached 53 for 2, their lead extended to 158 runs. Marnus Labuschagne, on 20 not out, and Steve Smith, with 2, were the unbeaten batsmen at the break.

Earlier, India were dismissed for 369 in their first innings. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s patient 114 played a crucial role in stabilising India after they resumed on 358 for 9. Reddy’s knock came at a time when India needed resilience, and his contribution, along with lower-order partnerships, helped India narrow the deficit in a match that remained evenly poised.

Bumrah Gets His Revenge on Konstas

Bumrah had the opportunity to exact revenge on debutant Sam Konstas for his strong first-innings performance. Konstas had inflicted damage on Bumrah during his 60 in the first innings, but on Sunday, the Indian pacer bowled a brilliant delivery that nipped back off the seam to bowl him out for just 8.


Bumrah’s celebration was full of emotion, as he flapped his arms and mocked Konstas, who had earlier tried to fire up the crowd after his strong first-innings knock. The crowd responded with mixed reactions: while some Indian fans booed, others chanted "Kohli! Kohli!" — a reference to the incident between Konstas and former Indian captain Virat Kohli, which had led to a penalty for Kohli earlier in the match.

“I felt good to get the breakthrough,” Bumrah said after the dismissal. “It was important for us to take early wickets to stay in the game."

Siraj’s Early Breakthroughs

Mohammed Siraj followed Bumrah’s lead, taking the key wicket of Usman Khawaja for 21. Khawaja was clean bowled through bat and pad by a delivery that found the gap. Siraj’s celebration was equally charged, as he made a “shhh” gesture towards the crowd, which had been vocal throughout his previous appearances in the series, especially after his fiery send-off to Travis Head in Adelaide.

Siraj’s wicket was a welcome moment for India after a missed opportunity earlier when Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped a catch at leg gully. At the time, Khawaja was on just two, and Bumrah had shown visible frustration.

Siraj remarked, “It was good to get a breakthrough, especially after all the distractions. It’s been a challenging series, but we are ready to fight."

Reddy’s Century Anchors India’s Recovery

The day’s play had started with India finishing their first innings at 369, with Reddy’s 114 being the standout performance. Reddy, who had started the day on 103, added 11 more runs before he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon, caught in the deep by Mitchell Starc.

Reddy’s century, made off 171 balls, included 11 fours and a six. It was an emotionally charged knock, as Reddy was playing in front of his family in Melbourne. The Australian crowd, recognising his determination, applauded his effort as he left the field.

Reddy’s knock came at a critical time after India had lost both Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja early on Day 3. Partnering with Washington Sundar, Reddy put together a record eighth-wicket partnership, reducing Australia’s substantial first-innings lead from 311 to 116 runs by the end of the third day. His century was a significant recovery, providing India with hope of staying competitive in the match.

“The century meant a lot to me,” Reddy said after his dismissal. “It was an emotional moment, and I’m proud of the fight we put in as a team.”

The morning session was also marked by a controversial moment when Australia appealed for a low catch from Siraj’s bat, off a delivery from Pat Cummins. The third umpire ruled the ball had not carried to Smith, and Cummins was visibly frustrated after the review was turned down.

“It was a tough decision, but we have to move forward,” Cummins said. “We’re in a strong position, and we have to keep pushing.”

As Australia head into the second session with a lead of 158 runs, the game remains finely poised. India will need to continue their fight with the ball and hope their batsmen can counter the Australian attack in the second innings. With Bumrah and Siraj bowling well, and Reddy’s century giving India momentum, the contest at the MCG promises to be an exciting finish to a hard-fought series.