India three down in big chase at MCG

Pat Cummins struck twice in an over to dismiss Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc took out Virat Kohli at the stroke of Lunch to leave India queasy on Day 5 at the MCG after they were set a massive target of 340 in 92 overs.

Jasprit Bumrah pegged back Nathan Lyon's stumps to wrap up Australia's innings, ending his 2024 well on top of the bowling charts with 71 Test wickets. India's openers Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal made a watchful start. In his opening spell, Mitchell Starc bowled 26 deliveries to the left-handed Jaiswal, repeatedly getting the ball to shape away and beat his bat.

Rohit was extremely cautious to start off. The Indian pair got through the first hour unscathed. But Cummins ruffled feathers after the drinks break with a double-wicket over. He first took out Rohit – for the sixth time in Tests – on the first time that the latter looked to show intent against all morning. Cummins angled a full ball in, prompting Rohit to attempt a flick but the ball straightened just a little and flew off the edge to Mitchell Marsh who took a good catch at gully.

KL Rahul's success and survival on this tour have relied on him being able to play inside the line of the ball and defend as close to his body as possible. On this occasion though, even that instinct was not enough to keep the outside edge of his bat away from a back-of-length ball from Cummins that went to Usman Khawaja at first slip.

Virat Kohli walked out to the cauldron to big cheers and boos, and only momentarily kept up his first-innings habit of leaving balls on the fourth and fifth stump channel. He copped a stinging blow to his right thumb from a Cummins delivery, but taped it up and carried on. Right at the stroke of lunch, however, he went chasing after a delivery outside the off-stump from Starc and edged to Khawaja at slips.