BGT 2024-25: 3 reasons why India lost the MCG test

Australia beat India by 184 runs at the MCG and took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Right from the start of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy BGT 2024-25 test in Adelaide, Australia have been the dominant side in the series. They have taken an unassailable 2-1 lead with one test to go.

India and Australia played out a thoroughly captivating test match at the MCG that ended with a little less than an hour to go on the fifth day of the game.

The hosts were ahead from the onset of the game when Sams Konstas unleashed a quickfire half-century. Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland all played significant roles in Australia keeping control over India.

India did fightback with brilliance from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah, but lacked a collective effort. Let us see what and where India went wrong at the MCG.

BGT 2024-25: 3 reasons why India lost the MCG test

1. Allowing Australia’s lower-order to collect crucial runs

In Australia’s both innings, India allowed their last few wickets to collect significant runs. In the first innings, Smith and Cummins formed a 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

In the second innings, Cummins and Labuschagne scored 57 runs together for the seventh wicket and Boland and Lyon formed a 61-run tenth wicket stand. These proved to be the difference in Australia’s 184-run victory.

2. The harakiri in the last half hour on day 2 by the batsmen

Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal were going well in their third-wicket partnership of 102 (158) before chaos ensued.

Jaiswal got run out before Kohli edged a ball outside the off-stump after being patient and restrained for a long time. Akash Deep, the nightwatchman, couldn’t stave off the threat of the last few minutes either. India lost three wickets in six runs to lose the opportunity of a huge first innings total.

3. Collapse in the last session on day 5

India could’ve yet been able to save the test match as the pitch was still good for batting. Pant and Jaiswal had batted throughout the second session on day 5, but a poor mistake from Pant, in trying to take on part-timer Travis Head, opened the gates for Australia to barge through in.

Pant’s dismissal initiated the collapse: India slipped from 121/3 to 155 all-out, with 12.5 overs left in the match.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.