Watch: Rishabh Pant hits bullseye to run out Mitchell Starc at MCG

Pat Cummins lost another batting partner in Mitchell Starc, as he continued to tick the scoreboard for Australia on Day 4 of the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against India at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.

Mitchell Starc was run out for 5 runs off 13 balls after a brilliant piece of fielding by Rishabh Pant in the 59th over of Australia’s second innings in Melbourne. It happened when the Australian pacer played a hard-length ball from Jasprit Bumrah and hit it behind square on the leg side for a single.

Rishabh Pant's brilliant fielding sends Mitchell Starc back in Fourth Test at the MCG

Starc attempted to return for a second run, but his batting partner, Pat Cummins, wasn’t interested. Starc had to turn back, and as the throw came in to Pant, he quickly moved ahead of the stumps. The Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant collected the ball and made a direct hit to run Starc out.

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Earlier, Australia faced a moment of concern when Mitchell Starc seemed to grab his back midway through an over during India’s first innings. However, the Australian pacer quickly recovered and continued to bowl at a solid pace on Day 3 at the MCG.

Read Also: Mitchell Starc seriously injured at MCG? Pacer drops huge injury update

Despite his efforts, Mitchell Starc finished the day wicketless from 25 overs, as the pressure on the Australian bowlers increased with the workload piling up ahead of the fifth and final Test in Sydney. However, before the start of Day 4, Mitchell Starc himself ruled out any injury concern and said he is ready to go.

Jasprit Bumrah leads the charge as Australia falters on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test

Speaking about Australia’s second innings, the hosts didn’t have a great day, as they were reeling at 91/6 in the second session against India. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj ran through the Australian top and middle order to put the hosts under pressure on Day 4.

Sam Konstas (8), Usman Khawaja (21), Steve Smith (13), Travis Head (1), Mitchell Starc (0), and Alex Carey (2) failed to make a mark in the second innings. However, Marnus Labuschagne played a stunning knock of 70 runs off 139 balls studded with three boundaries and added 37 runs with Smith and 57 runs with Pat Cummins (41 runs off 90 balls) to put Australia in a strong position against India in the fourth BGT 2024-25 Test in Melbourne.

The Australian side has already taken a 280+ run lead in the ongoing Boxing Day Test, and India would have been really disappointed with their dismal fielding efforts despite their remarkable bowling on Day 4 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.

Read Also: Watch: "Har ball kone se" - Virat Kohli plots dismissal of Steve Smith for Mohammed Siraj

MCG Test holds significant significance for both India and Australia

Notably, Jasprit Bumrah has bowled 47.4 overs in the ongoing fourth BGT 2024-25 Test match, marking the most he has bowled in an away Test since his debut calendar year in 2018. Bumrah has scalped four wickets so far in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG.

With the five-match Test series tied at 1-1, India faces a crucial challenge at the MCG. A loss would severely hurt India’s chances of making it to the WTC 2023-25 final, as their fate would no longer be in their hands. On the other hand, if Australia loses the Boxing Day Test, it would be a tough blow for them, as they haven’t won a Test series against India in the last ten years.