Pat Cummins' double wicket-maiden pushes India on back foot in mammoth run chase of 340, Virat Kohli's offside issue continues

Pat Cummins' double wicket-maiden pushes India on back foot in mammoth run chase of 340, Virat Kohli's offside issue continues
Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates the wicket of Rohit Sharma of India during day five of the Men's Fourth Test Match in the series between Australia and India at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 30, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.

Story Highlights:

Pat Cummins dismissed Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul in his seventh over.

Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten for 14 off 83 balls.

Virat Kohli got out playing the cover drive.

Australia captain Pat Cummins led from the front in the first session of Day 5 of the ongoing fourth Test of the series at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Cummins' double wicket-maiden pushed India on the back foot early in the run chase.ย 

The ball beat the outside edge dozens of time. Cummins continued to bowl after the drinks break and got the wicket of Rohit with a delivery that was slightly fuller. Rohit tried to play the flick shot but the leading edge went straight to Mitchell Marsh at gully. The opener scored nine runs from 40 balls.

Then Cummins set up KL Rahul by bowling into the stumps. He shaped a back of the length delivery away from Rahul and the outside edge went to first slip fielder Usman Khawaja who did not make a mistake. Rahul departed for a five-ball duck, his first on the tour.

Later in the first session, India lost the prized wicket of Virat Kohli. Once again, he got out playing the cover drive. Mitchell Starc bowled one full and wide. Kohli went after it and edged it to Khawaja. India were 33/3 at the stroke of lunch in the run chase of 340.ย 

Rohit's horrendous run

Rohit's dry run in the tournament continued. He has scored just 31 runs from five innings on the tour. He registered a single-digit score in the pink-ball warm-up game as well. Rohit's highest score in the series is 10 runs. His fortunes did not change after he promoted himself up the order after chosing to bat at no.6.ย 

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Rahul flourishes as opener, fails at no.3

Meanwhile, Rahul seems to be affected by the change in position. He was asked to open when Rohit was on paternity leave. He scored a half-century in the second innings of Perth Test. He scored another half-century in the previous Test as well. He has scored 259 runs from eight innings at an average of 37.

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Bumrah strikes againย 

Jasprit Bumrah put an end to Australian tailenders' fightback early on Day 5. He knocked over Nathan Lyon with his fourth ball of the day. Lyon scored 41 runs from 55 balls including five fours. Lyon and Scott Boland shared a 61-run partnership for the 10th wicket to help Australia post 234 and set a target of 340 for the tourists. Bumrah bagged a fifer, his third of the series.