Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli curb a solid partnership with a mix-up

India doesn’t seem to have the fortunes favoring them down under as they fight Australia in the Boxing Day Test. Despite early setbacks in their batting innings, the visitors managed to find a firm footing as Yashasvi Jaiswal navigated the attack alongside Virat Kohli. Jaiswal finally had the resurgence he needed after falling to Mitchell Starc consistently across the last two Tests. Though his opening partner, skipper Rohit Sharma, departed in just the second over of the innings, Jaiswal didn’t fumble this time around. Jaiswal failed to find a stable partner for the second wicket too, as Pat Cummins struck the timber to dismiss KL Rahul at 24 runs. Eventually, the youngster gained a reliable partner in Virat Kohli, who seemed to be in good touch, leaving the outside-off-stump deliveries seamlessly. However, this partnership between Jaiswal and Kohli, which gave a semblance of India’s comeback in the game, saw an abrupt end.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli stage a fumble in the middle as India struggles in the Boxing Day Test

The Australian pacers were brushed aside to the corners as Jaiswal and Virat Kohli knitted a 100-run partnership. The falling of this near-perfect synchronization, however, came at their own hands, with the Aussies rejoicing in the falter. In the 41st over of the game, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell to a run-out as the fans witnessed a frustrating confusion in the middle. Facing the last delivery of Boland’s over, Jaiswal ran for a risky single, calling for Kohli to complete the run. However, his senior gauged the danger as he stood rooted to the crease. Jaiswal, batting at 82, was caught in a puddle as Alex Carey dislodged the stumps. A visibly shattered Jaiswal reminded Kohli of calling the run before he walked off the field as India lost the third wicket.

It was the disappointing wicket that shifted the day’s momentum into Australia’s favor. Kohli, seamlessly ignoring the widish balls until then, once again fell to his vices. Jaiswal’s setback might have played a role in Kohli’s dismissal, as the batter seemed rattled following the run-out. Losing focus, Kohli once again nicked an outside-off-stump delivery straight into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. A partnership that seemed like India’s winning chance crumbled in a matter of two overs. The former Indian captain once again failed to make a countable impact in India’s batting display as he walked off at a score of 36 off 86.

Horrible end to a great partnership between Kohli and Jaiswal. 🥲 pic.twitter.com/tgWPPdWnCw

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 27, 2024

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who started the Border Gavaskar Trophy with a commendable second-innings century in Perth, lost his touch in the next contests. Mitchell Starc became his arch-nemesis, as he recorded a duck, 24, 4, and 4* in the second and third BGT Tests at Adelaide and the Gabba, respectively. However, the MCG turf in the fourth Test, as anticipated, aided the youngster in reclaiming his rhythm with the runs. Jaiswal’s knock of 82 didn’t show any hesitation as the batter hit 11 fours and an eye-catching six off Mitchell Marsh.

Border Gavaskar Trophy: No turnaround in the Indian batting display

Virat Kohli, at MCG, looked firm in his plans to completely ignore the deliveries thrown outside the line of the stumps. Kohli approached the game cautiously initially, as he walked in with India reduced to 51 for 2 by the Aussies. However, after facing the initial challenges, Kohli showed glimpses of his classic strokes as he seemed to find breezy boundaries. After Jaiswal walked off, however, it grew difficult for the batter to keep his concentration intact, as he, for the nth time, became a victim of his known nemesis, the outside-off-stump delivery. Scott Boland, who replaced the injured Josh Hazlewood in the Australian squad for the remaining fixtures, lured him out as Alex Carey completed an easy catch when Kohli nudged Boland’s attack.

India seems to be in trouble with two days of the Boxing Day Test completed. The batting lineup, despite several attempts to shake things up, shows no sign of a resurgence in the series. From what has unfolded so far at the MCG, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are at the center of the disappointment. Rohit’s attempt to climb up the order claimed the place of Shubman Gill in the team. However, the opening spot provided no chance for Rohit to find his form again.

The story remained the same as what happened when the captain batted in the middle order in the Adelaide and the Gabba Tests. Across the four innings he has played so far, Rohit has managed just 22 runs at an average of 5.50. While the match remains, India first needs to avoid a follow-on in the Boxing Day Test to count on a victory. With Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant in the middle, India were 164 for 5 at the end of the day’s play in Melbourne.