A rare moment unfolded when Washington Sundar was fortunate to survive during the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Washington Sundar’s reverse edge off left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc went to Steve Smith, who dropped a low catch in the slips.
India resumed at 5-164 on Day 3 of the Test in Melbourne on Saturday, December 28. Overnight batters Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja added 32 runs for the sixth wicket. Pant played a reckless shot and was dismissed by Scott Boland. Nathan Lyon trapped Jadeja on the pads for 17 runs in the first session.
Watch: Washington Sundar Gets Lucky as Steve Smith Drops Catch in Slips
After the lunch break, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar tried to rebuild India’s innings. Sundar was fortunate to survive a close call on the third ball with the second new ball. Sundar tried to flick a full delivery from Starc, but the ball hit the backside of the bat and flew towards Smith at second slip.
Smith was surprised and failed to catch the low chance. Sundar and Reddy survived the rest of the afternoon session, with rain forcing an early tea break. The two Indian all-rounders added an unbeaten 105 runs off 195 balls for the eighth wicket. Reddy scored his maiden half-century in Test off 81 deliveries.
Have a look at the incident right here:
Never seen anything like this. #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/NS5ufcakHZ
— A 🏏 (@CaughtAtGully) December 28, 2024
Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy Successfully Avoid the Follow-On
India stabilized after the early dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, with Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar at the crease before rain interrupted play. Reddy is unbeaten on 85 runs off 119 balls, including eight boundaries and one six, while Sundar has scored an unbeaten 40 runs off 115 balls.
The pair successfully avoided the follow-on and is now focused on reducing the first-innings deficit. At 326/7, India still trails by 148 runs in response to Australia’s 474. Both Reddy and Sundar handled the new ball well.
The Energy Is Very Good in the Dressing Room – Washington Sundar
After the conclusion of play on Day 2 of the Melbourne Test, Sundar expressed confidence in India’s ability to make a comeback. He highlighted the team’s positive energy and determination in the dressing room.
“We will still come back and continue to fight tomorrow morning. The energy is very good in the dressing room. We are all positive. There’s a long time left in the game–three days and a lot of overs to play. It will be just about us trying to fight really hard and get things done for the team. We looked like we were in a good position to get big runs, especially when Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal were batting,” Sundar said in the post-day press conference, as quoted by the ICC.
Also read: Watch: Babar Azam’s bail-switch does the trick as Pakistan remove Temba Bavuma on Day 2