Melbourne: Following the conclusion of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between Australia and India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, former head coach Ravi Shastri reflected on the pivotal moment of the match.
The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne reached a thrilling conclusion, with Australia securing a 184-run victory over India in the final hour of play on Monday.
"I believe the turning point was the dismissal of Rishabh Pant. Once they lost three wickets, they understood that winning the game by lunchtime was no longer feasible. The only way to have a chance was to establish a solid foundation, just as Rohit mentioned. When Rishabh Pant was out after tea, it energized the Australians. That was the opportunity they had been waiting for, and they ensured they took full advantage of it," Ravi Shastri stated on Star Sports.
India's last wicket fell with fewer than 14 overs left in the day, as Nathan Lyon dismissed Mohammed Siraj, igniting celebrations among the MCG crowd of over 74,000 as this intense rivalry came to a close.
With this victory, Australia now leads the series 2-1 against India in the five-match Border-Gavaskar series and can reclaim the trophy by avoiding defeat in Sydney. The reigning ICC World Test Championship winners are well-positioned to secure a spot in next year's final at Lord's.
Australia remains in second place in the World Test Championship standings and can join South Africa in the one-off Test decider in 2025 with a win in any of their three remaining Tests this cycle.
India still has a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship Final, but they must secure a victory in the final Test of the series against Australia in Sydney to level the Border-Gavaskar series. Additionally, they will need to depend on Australia not winning any Tests during their upcoming series in Sri Lanka next month.
Australia delivered a strong all-around performance, with Pat Cummins earning Player of the Match honors for his impressive figures of 3/28. His exceptional bowling spell before lunch on the final day was pivotal in shifting the game's momentum. Yashasvi Jaiswal (88) and Rishabh Pant (30) provided India with a glimmer of hope through a solid 88-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
However, Pant's dismissal, caught by the unexpected Travis Head (1/14), shifted the momentum back to the Australians. Shortly after, Jaiswal was dismissed in an unusual manner, as the TV umpire overturned the on-field decision, allowing Australia to sense victory.
Nathan Lyon (2/37), who worked diligently throughout the day, claimed the final wicket, concluding one of the most thrilling Test matches witnessed in Australia in recent times.
