New Delhi: India will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of victories when they return to their happy hunting ground – the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the much-anticipated Boxing Day Test against Australia starting Thursday, December 26. India have some fond memories of playing at the MCG having won their last two Test matches against the hosts at the iconic venue.
Rohit Sharma & Co. will be eager to carry their stellar run at the MCG having been unbeaten at the venue since 2014. With the Test series locked at 1-1 and a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the line, there will be no dearth of motivation for India, who have been far from their best in the last two Test matches after their cruising victory in the series opener in Perth.
As the visitors aim to return to winning ways, they have plenty of issues to address as far as the team combination for the all-important Boxing Day Test match is concerned. Indian batters have struggled massively in the last two Tests owing to the failures of seniors Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Poor returns from young guns Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have not helped India’s case either.
While Mohammed Siraj has done well in the last two games, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has often found himself single-handedly carrying the entire pace attack on his shoulders. India will need to to address their concerns in both their batting and the bowling department ahead of the crucial encounter which will decide their fate in the series and the WTC final.
India’s recent golden run at MCG
The visitors will take some inspiration from their recent golden run in Tests at the MCG. India have been unbeaten at the iconic venue in their last three Test matches and have beaten Australia in the last two Boxing Day Tests. India thrashed Australia by 137 runs at the MCG on their way to clinching their maiden Test series Down Under in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2019-19.
They made it two wins in a row at the MCG after hammering the hosts by 8 wickets under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2021-22. Having won two matches in a row at MCG on their last two tours of Australia, India will be eyeing a special hat-trick in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 this time around.
India’s overall record in Tests at MCG
Overall, India have played a total of 14 Test matches at the MCG and have managed only four wins. India have lost eight while two matches have ended in a draw. However, two of those four victories have come in the last two Test tours of Australia which will boost India’s confidence heading into the all-important Boxing Day Test match as they will be aiming to keep their winning run intact.
Team India will be looking to complete a hat-trick of victories in Boxing Day Test matches at the MCG when they take on Australia in the much-anticipated 4th Test starting Thursday, December 26. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
