IND vs AUS Day 2 Highlights: Australia's Massive Total, India Fights Back and Last Hour Nightmare

On Day 2 of the fourth test at the MCG, Australia scored a massive 474 runs in the first innings. India tried to fight back, but by the end of the day, it was in trouble again, with three wickets in the last half hour.

Days Start: Australia and its batting show.

 Australia started their day at 311 runs with Steve Smith and Pat Cummins on the crease. Both continued to bat for the next 18 overs and contributed to a partnership of 112 runs partnership in 132 balls. Steve Smith continued his batting form and scored a second consecutive century in the series, while Captain Pat Cummins missed his fifty by one run mark. The partnership was broken when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Cummins in the 105th over.

By the end of its innings, Australia scored 474 runs in 122.1 overs. From the Indian side, Jasprit Bumrah was the highest wicket-taker with four wickets, Jadeja took 3, Akashdeep took 2, and Washington Sundar took one wicket.

Steve Smith's Century 

Steve Smith continued his Boxing Day test form with his fifty century in the Boxing Day test match and scored one more century in the series; after having an average first two test matches, Smith also scored a century in the last game. Smith scored 140 runs in 197 balls, hitting 13 boundaries and three sixes with a strike rate of 71.07.

Steve Smith Test hundred, number 34!

He brings it up in style too 🙌#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jRjwC6bdIZ

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 27, 2024

India's batting 

When India came to bat, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings, while KL Rahul opened the innings in the last test match. However, the team changed its decision again this match. The start was not what India expected. Rohit Sharma lost his wicket in the second over of the innings, and Pat Cummins dismissed him.

After that, Jaiswal and Rahul tried to form a partnership and batted for the next 12 overs until Cummins dismissed Rahul when India was at a score of 51 runs.

Jaiswal and Kohli Partnership 

After Rahul's wicket, Virat Kohli and Jaiswal scored a partnership of 102 runs. Kohli Scored 36 runs off 86 balls with four boundaries, while Jaiswal scored 82 runs off 118 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and 1 six with a strike rate of 69.49. But the partnership broke in the last half an hour when Jaiswal got run out. 

The Last Half an Hour: Nightmare

Kohli and Jaiswal's partnership went well until a miscommunication occurred. Jaiswal got run out. He played the shot towards mid-off and called for the run promptly while running towards the non-striker side. Kohli didn't respond similarly, and it was too late for Jaiswal to return.

A massive mix-up between Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal sees Jaiswal run out for 82! #AUSvIND | #PlayOfTheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/a9G4uZwYIk

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 27, 2024

What happened next was another blow to the team. Scott Boland dismissed Virat Kohli in his next over. Soon after this, night watchman Akashdeep also got out. The team lost three wickets in just five overs. The session, which was going towards the Indian side, went to Australia with a triple blow in the last half an hour.