There was a rare moment when Washington Sundar was lucky 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 the third day of the Test in Melbourne on Saturday 28 December. Overnight batsmen Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja added 32 runs for the sixth wicket. Pant played a reckless shot and was dismissed by Scott Bolland. Nathan Lyon trapped Jadeja on the pads for 17 runs in the first session.
Watch: Washington Sundar gets lucky when Steve Smith takes his slip
After the lunch break, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar tried to rebuild India's innings. Sundar was lucky to escape close contact of the third ball with the second new ball. Sundar attempted a full delivery from Starc, but the ball hit the back of the bat and flew towards Smith at second slip.
Smith was caught off guard and failed to capitalize on the low chance. Sundar and Reddy survived the rest of the afternoon session, as rain forced an early tea break. The two Indian pacers added an unbeaten 105 off 195 balls for the eighth wicket. Reddy scored his maiden Test half-century off 81 deliveries.
Take a look at the incident here:
I've never seen anything like this. #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/NS5ufcakHZ
— A 🏏 (@CaughtAtGully) December 28, 2024
Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy successfully avoided the follow-up
India settled down after the early dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, with Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar at the crease before rain stopped play. Reddy's unbeaten 85 runs off 119 balls, including eight boundaries and one six, while Sundar scored an unbeaten 40 runs off 115 balls.
The pair successfully avoided the follow-on and are now focusing on reducing the first innings deficit. At 326/7, India are still 148 runs behind 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 the second day 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 locker room.
“We will keep coming back and keep fighting tomorrow morning. The energy is very good in the dressing room. We are all positive. There is still a long time in the game – three days and a lot of playing time. It will be like that.” “It's just that we are trying to fight hard and get things done for the team. We looked like we were in a good position to make big runs, especially when Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal were batting,” Sundar said in the post-day press. Conference, as reported by the ICC.
Read also: Watch: Babar Azam's bail switch does the trick as Pakistan remove Temba Bavuma on day two
