Australia carried forward the momentum gained during the final half-hour of Day 2, quickly dismissing Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja in the morning session of Day 3.
However, a crucial 127-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Washington Sundar and Nitish Reddy steadied India’s innings.
Sundar, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, was dismissed in an unusual manner midway through the third session, followed by Jasprit Bumrah falling to Pat Cummins just as Nitish approached his maiden Test century.
With only one wicket remaining, Mohammed Siraj emerged as the unlikely savior, ensuring Nitish reached his well-deserved milestone in the 115th over.
After Bumrah edged out on the third ball of Cummins’ over, Siraj faced the daunting task of surviving three deliveries with Nitish stranded on 99.
He narrowly evaded a similar delivery on the fourth ball and skillfully ducked under a bouncer on the fifth. On the final ball of the over, Siraj leaned forward and solidly defended an angling length delivery from the Australian skipper.
— DJ Sinha (@sdj374531) December 28, 2024
His composed technique, coupled with his pose after playing inside the line, left fans on social media in awe, humorously dubbing him “Viv Siraj Richards.”