Jobaaj Stories
India lost the Boxing Day Test to Australia by 184 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday. Despite the defeat, there were some incredible performances from the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma.
Jasprit Bumrah Shines with the Ball
India’s star bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, was outstanding in the match, taking 9 wickets across both innings (4/99 and 5/57). Bumrah also reached a special milestone by completing 200 Test wickets. He achieved this feat with the lowest bowling average in history.
Bumrah took only 8484 balls to reach 200 wickets, placing him among legends like Waqar Younis, Dale Steyn, and Kagiso Rabada. At the MCG, Bumrah’s record is phenomenal—24 wickets at an average of 14.66.
In 2024, Bumrah has been the best bowler in Test cricket, with 71 wickets from 13 matches at an incredible average of 14.92. He is also the top wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with 30 wickets in just four matches.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Maiden Test Century
Nitish Kumar Reddy was another hero for India, scoring his first-ever Test century. Batting at number 8, Reddy displayed great patience and skill. India was struggling at 191/6 when Reddy joined Washington Sundar at the crease. Together, they added 127 runs for the eighth wicket.
Reddy’s innings came at a critical moment when India needed stability. The young batter became the third-youngest Indian to score a maiden Test hundred in Australia.
Magnificent 5️⃣-wicket haul 🤝 Special Maiden 💯
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 31, 2024
Vice Captain Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy's names are etched on the Honours Board of Melbourne Cricket Ground ✍️ 👏#TeamIndia | #AUSvIND | @Jaspritbumrah93 | @NKReddy07 pic.twitter.com/4tat5F0N6e
Honours Board Recognition
After the match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of Bumrah and Reddy’s names being added to the prestigious Honours Board at the MCG. The video showed Reddy celebrating the achievement with pictures and a thumbs-up.
Conclusion
Though India lost the match, the brilliant efforts of Bumrah and Reddy gave fans moments to cheer. Their performances are a testament to the team’s resilience and talent, even in challenging situations.
