Australia carried their momentum from the final 20 minutes of the second day into Saturday’s morning session, as Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were dismissed early.
However, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar rescued the visitors with a game-changing 127-run partnership for the eighth wicket, shifting the momentum in Australia’s favor.
Sundar’s half-century and Nitish’s remarkable century were the highlights of the day, as the pair frustrated the Australian bowlers and guided India to 358/9 before bad light brought an early end to play.
Nitish’s brilliant century drew widespread attention, with his emotional father at the venue becoming a focal point. Meanwhile, the intensity of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy extended beyond the pitch, as Indian and Australian supporters engaged in a heated fan war.
The real BGT is happening between Bay 13 and Bay 14 #AUSvIND #MCG #BoxingDayTest pic.twitter.com/bqKO9cqLUN
— Kartik Kannan (@kartik_kannan) December 28, 2024
Spectators in Bay 13 and 14 at the MCG exchanged boos and chants, with social media dubbing the spirited clash a “Battle Royale.”