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The fourth Test match between India and Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) took a dramatic turn on Day 2, leaving India in a precarious position. Australia, resuming their innings at 311/6, added a further 163 runs, reaching a formidable first innings total of 474. This imposing score set a challenging target for India, who immediately faced adversity in their response. Captain Rohit Sharma's early dismissal for just three runs in the second over signaled a disastrous start for the Indian team. The partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul offered some respite, accumulating a 43-run stand before Rahul's departure. This brought Virat Kohli to the crease, and he, along with Jaiswal, orchestrated a crucial 102-run partnership for the third wicket, raising hopes of a strong comeback.
However, this resurgence was short-lived. A mini-collapse ensued, leaving India reeling at 164/5 at the end of Day 2's play. The partnership between Jaiswal and Kohli was eventually broken through a regrettable mix-up, resulting in Jaiswal's dismissal just 18 runs short of a well-deserved century. Kohli followed soon after, caught behind off the bowling of Scott Boland. The loss of these two key batsmen dealt a significant blow to India's hopes of achieving a respectable first innings score. India's bowlers, while having taken seven wickets between Jasprit Bumrah (4/99) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/78), with Akash Deep contributing two scalps (2/94), could not prevent Australia from achieving a commanding lead.
The situation facing India is critical. With 164/5 on the board, India still requires a further 111 runs to avoid the follow-on. The follow-on threshold in this match is 275 runs, a target which appears exceptionally daunting considering their current position and the remaining batting order. Should India fail to reach 275 runs, they will be forced to bat again, facing the prospect of chasing a potentially insurmountable target set by Australia in their second innings. This would put India in a significantly weaker position heading into the final days of the crucial match, possibly jeopardizing their chances of winning the series. The pressure is immense on the remaining Indian batsmen to rescue the team from this difficult situation.
The match highlights the inherent volatility of Test cricket, where fortunes can change rapidly. India’s batting performance on Day 2 underscored the need for greater resilience and consistency in the face of pressure. The team's response to the early dismissals, the crucial partnership between Jaiswal and Kohli, and then the subsequent mini-collapse, all paint a picture of a team battling with inconsistency. The ability of the lower-middle order to forge substantial partnerships will be crucial in determining whether India can avoid the follow-on and make this a contest. The strategic decisions made by the Indian captain and coaching staff regarding batting order, risk-taking, and target setting in the face of this significant deficit will be rigorously analyzed in the aftermath of this crucial second day's play. The next day of play will undoubtedly be one of high tension and intense focus for the Indian team, as they fight to avoid a potentially decisive blow to their hopes of winning the series.