India’s Strategy for Day 2: A Look at Their Boxing Day Test Chances

India must not allow itself to lose focus on its current Boxing Day Test against Australia. On the last day of Day 1, Australia reached 311/6 in 86 overs. Even after losing Travis Head, the leading run-scorer in the series for a duck on just seven balls the other batsmen took over at the MCG.

For the first time in 10 years, the top four Aussie batsmen scored fifties in a Test innings against India. Sam Konstas impressed on his debut, producing a powerful 60-run knock the man who has been troubled lately, Usman Khawaja, proved it's not all a worry with a solid knock of 57 off 121 balls.

Marnus Labuschagne scored 72 runs at No. 3, and Steve Smith scored his 10th fifty-plus score at the MCG. Alex Carey also made his mark with a 31-run innings. Australia never really felt the pressure throughout the day.

The brightest spot for India was probably Jasprit Bumrah. He took three wickets and led the attack for the team. Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar each took one wicket. India has much to do in four remaining days of the Boxing Day Test if they want to emerge victorious.

Australia has lost only five times at the MCG when they have scored more than 300 runs in the first innings. England won against them three times in 1895, 1928, and 1962, while South Africa won in 1953 and 2008. Interestingly, no Asian team has ever defeated Australia at the MCG when they have conceded more than 300 runs in the first innings. It would then be obvious that India must conjure something special in order to get the game into their favor.

Instances of Australia Losing at MCG After Scoring 300+ in the First Innings

Not impossible for India. Of the 10 Tests India has won, two came after Australia posted more than 300 runs in their first innings. In 2003, a brilliant 233 and 72 from Rahul Dravid helped India win in Adelaide, when Australia had racked up 556 in their first innings. Similarly, in the historical Gabba Test, India chased down a total after India conceded 369 runs in the first inning. Here, Rishabh Pant's match-winning 89* took the show for himself. So, therefore, the current MCG test is still within India's reach.

Instances of India Winning in Australia After Conceding 300+ in the First Innings

Although Australia enjoy the lead, India are far from being out of the running. Four times in Australia, India have won while fielding first. During January 1978, Bishan Singh Bedi's side bashed the hosts with an innings and two runs. In the year 2003, India were able to successfully chase a total of 230 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

India had won by eight wickets at the MCG, chasing down just 70 in 2020, and then they pulled off a stunning win at the Gabba, chasing 328, in 2021. So, with these kinds of performances in the past, there is absolutely no reason for India to give up because they have enough scope to mount a comeback in the Boxing Day Test.

Instances of India Winning Test Matches in Australia After Fielding First

With the start of Day 2, India will look to keep Steve Smith in check as he has got going in the series. After initial failures in Perth and Adelaide, Smith bounced back with a match winning hundred at Brisbane. He is unbeaten on 68 off 111 balls, which includes five fours and a six, making Australia a good position to be in.

India will rely on Jasprit Bumrah to make the breakthroughs in the morning session. Bumrah has dismissed Smith before and needs to do it again. If Australia crosses the 350-run mark quickly, then the MCG Test could slip away from India fast.

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