IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test: Australia continued their dominance in the ongoing India vs Australia Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as they finished Day 2 of the 4th Test with India at 164-5, trailing by 310 runs. India were cruising along nicely with Yashasvi Jaiswal nearing his second hundred of the series and Virat Kohli looked in good touch as well but Australia struck in quick successions to send both the batters back in the hut and then taking the wicket of night watchman Akash Deep, taking honours on Day 2 and push India on backfoot.
India started the pursuit of Australia's daunting first-innings total of 474 runs with the Indian captain Rohit Sharma returning to his usual opening spot. However, he continued to suffer from the woeful run with the bat as he was dismissed for just three runs by Pat Cummins on an innocuous delivery. Yashasvi Jaiswal, however, forged a good partnership with now-number three batter KL Rahul before Australian captain Pat Cummins got rid of the latter by bowling a jaffa, breaking a 48-run partnership, just before Tea on Day 2.
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Virat Kohli came to the crease and looked promising right from the get go as he and Jaiswal joined hands for a 100-run partnership. However, a massive mix-up resulted in Jaiswal being run out on the score of 82 runs and it ended up being the turning point of India’s batting innings on Day 2. Melbourne’s local hero Scott Boland then weaved his magic to dismiss Virat Kohli for a well-made 36-run knock. Akash Deep was sent in as the night watchman but Boland was too good for him too as Australia ended Day 2 having sent half of India’s side back in the hut. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja will continue from their respective overnight scores and will look to steady India’s ship.
Earlier on Day 2, Australia batter Steve Smith unleashed his fluent best against India as he brought up his 34th Test century and 11th against India, the most by any batter ever in Test. He ended up scoring 140 runs off 197 balls, including 13 boundaries and three sixes. He forged impactful partnerships with Cummins and Mitchell Starc to help the hosts pile on 474 runs.