India vs Australia Boxing Day Test start time: The thrilling Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia continues as the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw, with rain and poor light disrupting play throughout. With IND vs AUS five-match Test series now tied 1-1, the teams will head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for IND vs AUS 4th Test.


India vs Australia 4th Test match, set to begin on December 26, will also be a Boxing Day Test. Unlike the Gabba Test, which started at 5:50 AM IST, IND vs AUS 4th Test will kick off at 5:00 AM IST, with the toss scheduled for 4:30 AM IST.


Known for its fast-paced pitches, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will present a challenge for Indian batters, who will need to be on their toes against Australia's pace attack. Both teams will aim for a win to take the crucial 2-1 lead in Border-Gavaskar Test series.


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Race to World Test Championship Final: Why winning IND vs AUS 4th Test is crucial for India?


The 5-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently tied 1-1. India has just two more Test matches left in WTC 2023-25 cycle, both against Australia, while Australia still has a two-match series in Sri Lanka, and South Africa will soon play two Tests against Pakistan in Pakistan.


If India wins IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1, they will automatically qualify for WTC Final, regardless of other results. If India wins BGT 2-1, their qualification will depend on the outcome of Sri Lanka-Australia series. India will qualify if Sri Lanka defeats Australia 1-0 or if the series ends in a 1-1 draw.


If IND vs AUS Test series ends 2-2, India's path to qualification becomes more complicated. In this scenario, India will need Sri Lanka to beat Australia 2-0 in their upcoming series.


Even with a 2-2 draw in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, if Australia wins their series against Sri Lanka 2-0, India can still qualify. However, this will depend on the results of Pakistan-South Africa series. If Pakistan defeats South Africa 2-0, India will have a chance to secure a spot in the WTC Final.