Tensions ran high on Day 4 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), as Virat Kohli expressed his frustration after a brilliant four off the bat of Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne. The moment highlighted the fierce competition between India and Australia, adding more intensity to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The incident occurred on the first ball of the 39th over in Australia’s second innings. Mohammed Siraj bowled a full delivery outside off, allowing Cummins to move leg-side and free his hands for a sliced drive behind square on the off side. Akash Deep, fielding at third man, sprinted across and dived to stop the ball. However, the Australian duo seized the opportunity and completed a quick four, much to the dismay of Kohli and Siraj.
WATCH – Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Costly Drops: Gives Lifelines To Labuschagne and Cummins
Kohli, known for his fiery on-field presence, visibly directed his frustration at Siraj, who had just bowled a well-executed delivery. It was a clever piece of batting by Cummins and Labuschagne, coupled with excellent running between the wickets, that kept India under pressure.
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) December 29, 2024
The four runs helped Australia build momentum, with their scoring rate picking up as Cummins and Labuschagne added 17 more runs to the total. At this point, Australia had already extended their lead to over 230 runs, with Labuschagne on a half-century and Cummins batting on 17*.
WATCH – Jasprit Bumrah’s Stunning Jaffa Sends Alex Carey Packing In Melbourne Test
Their partnership was proving to be a real threat to India, who still needed to take four more wickets to break Australia’s resistance. Earlier in the day, another dramatic moment unfolded when Siraj appeared to be caught by Steve Smith at second slip. However, there was uncertainty whether the ball had bounced. Umpire Michael Gough consulted with Joel Wilson and referred the decision to the third umpire for further review, adding more drama to an already tense day of cricket.
