Can India Qualify for WTC Final After Boxing Day Test Draw or Loss?

After three days of the India vs Australia 4th Test in Melbourne on a saturday. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, batting at numbers 8 and 9, performed their role and gave India some reason to believe they might do well heading into Day 3.

India is trail by 116 runs to Australia but with 3 day of play left, there's a solid chance things could change. Getting a win or even a draw matters a lot because the spot for the World Test Championship (WTC) final is ready to be taken.

THE QUALIFICATION SCENARIO FOR TEAM INDIA IN WTC FINAL.

- The dream to Lord's is still alive 🤝#INDvsAUS #AUSvIND #INDvAUS #AUSvINDIA #NitishKumarReddy #Siraj pic.twitter.com/8vf05nNUHZ

— mr_cricz (@mr_unknown1507) December 28, 2024

Today, South Africa is at the top of the WTC points table, with Australia and India right behind. If India can achieve a 3-1 series win, they get straight into the WTC final. They can still make it if the 4th test in Melbourne is a draw, or even if they lose it; but then, everything depends on how the South Africa vs. Pakistan and Sri Lanka vs. Australia series turn out.

During the third day of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Nitish Kumar Reddy became a great champion for India by scoring his first-ever Test centur right in front of 83,073 spectators. Nitish was playing his fourth Test match and showcased exceptional skill, mastering both offense and defense techniques with calmness and control; the ideal duo was formed when Washington Sundar also stepped up, steadily scoring a fifty and perfectly teaming up with Nitish.

When India's score was a low 221/7, the two players teamed up and did something really great by adding 127 runs for the eighth wicket. They really made it difficult for the Australian bowlers as the pitch became easier to play on, and by the end of day 3, India's score was 358/9. They were still behind by 116 runs but now they had some hope.

When Nitish hit a lofted on-drive off Scott Boland and obtained a century it was extremely special. He celebrated by lifting his bat high and then dropping to his knees. This entire thing was like a scene out of the Baahubali movie because when he looked up, you could tell he was dedicating this amazing moment to his family and even talking to the sky and his dad Mutyala, along with the rest of the family were in the stands. Seeing his son shine, his dad couldn't hold back the tears and started praying with his hands together, soaking in this memorable day with his son.

At the MCG, immediately after Nitish hit his century, everyone was cheering him, and the atmosphere was amazing, even if it didn't last long, because play stopped due to low light and drizzle. With his century, Nitish was the first ever Indian to make a hundred runs in Australia while playing in the eighth spot. Only nine balls later, the game had to pause, yet Nitish was still holding his bat proudly and in everyone's cheers.

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