India’s dramatic collapse in the final session of the fourth Test at Melbourne, culminating in an emphatic 184-run victory for Australia, has left the cricketing world buzzing. While the headlines focus on the match’s dramatic conclusion, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has highlighted a broader range of issues that contributed to India’s setback in the series.
India’s performance had moments of brilliance that hinted at a possible fightback. Nitish Reddy’s maiden Test century stood out as a testament to his promise, while Jasprit Bumrah delivered another stellar performance, claiming a five-wicket haul.
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Additionally, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant offered a glimmer of hope with a rescue act that brought India from a precarious 33/3 to 121/3 just after tea. However, the turning point came when Australian skipper Pat Cummins introduced part-timer Travis Head into the attack to manage the over-rate.
This gamble paid off spectacularly as Head dismissed Pant, who was caught attempting an ill-timed big shot at long-on. The dismissal triggered a catastrophic collapse, with India losing their last seven wickets for just 34 runs, ultimately being bowled out for 155.
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Sanjay Manjrekar, analyzing the defeat, opined that India’s loss wasn’t due to a single factor but rather a culmination of multiple shortcomings. “India didn’t lose because of Jaiswal’s dropped catches or any controversial decision or poor team selection or failures of their most experienced batters or a weakening bowling attack. It was all of this,” he tweeted.
Ind didn’t lose because of Jaiswal’s dropped catches or any controversial decision or poor team selection or failures of their most experienced batters or a weakening bowling attack. It was all of this. #INDvsAUS
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 30, 2024
The loss significantly dents India’s chances of qualifying for the ICC World Test Championship final. To stay in contention, India must win the upcoming Sydney Test, starting January 3, while also relying on Australia to lose their two-match series against Sri Lanka next year. With South Africa already securing their spot in the final, India’s path to redemption looks increasingly narrow.
