NEW DELHI: The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ended in high drama, with Australia clinching a 184-run victory over India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri pointed to Rishabh Pant's dismissal as the pivotal moment that swung the match in favour of the hosts.
"The wicket of Rishabh Pant was crucial," Shastri stated during post-match analysis on Star Sports. "Once India lost three wickets by lunchtime, their chances of winning were slim. The only hope was for a strong platform to be set, and when Pant got out after tea, it gave Australia the lift they needed. That was the opening they were waiting for, and they capitalised on it."
India's hopes rested on a determined 88-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal (84) and Pant (30) for the fourth wicket, which kept the visitors in contention during the final day. However, Pant's dismissal, caught off Travis Head's part-time spin, marked a turning point. Moments later, Jaiswal's controversial dismissal via a TV umpire review added to India's woes.
The Australian attack, led by Player of the Match Pat Cummins (3/28) and Nathan Lyon (2/37), ensured no further resistance, with Lyon claiming the final wicket of Mohammed Siraj to spark jubilant celebrations among the 74,000-strong crowd.
The victory handed Australia a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, putting them in prime position to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and secure a place in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's in 2025. For India, the loss leaves their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, with a must-win situation in the series finale in Sydney.
Australia's victory was a testament to their collective effort, but as Shastri emphasised, the decisive blow came when Pant departed. "That moment after tea gave Australia all the momentum," Shastri added, "and they made sure not to let it slip."
