<p>Melbourne: There's a thin line between adventure and recklessness. And Rishabh Pant breached that line on the day. His decision to persist with the risky shot -- which entails him to rollover on the turf after what can be described as part-pull and part-scoop -- was at once inexplicable and exasperating. The outrage expressed by batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was on air at that time and which since then has gone viral, perfectly captured the mood of every Indian team's supporter.</p><p>India, overnight 164/5 and still 340 runs behind Australia's 474 all out, needed the southpaw to stay in the middle as long as possible. While his penchant for bringing out unorthodox strokes is well-documented, India's precarious situation demanded utmost restraint from the batter. Instead, he went for a scoop despite being hit on his belly while attempting a similar shot the previous ball. The resultant top edge was comfortably taken at third-man by Nathan Lyon who was specifically stationed there.</p><p>Lyon caught Ravindra Jadeja in front a little later to leave India reeling at 221/7, still 253 runs adrift and 54 more to avoid a follow-on. Given the time left in the match, it was unlikely Australia would have asked India to bat again but it's about not losing those small mental battles. Nitish Reddy (105 n.o., 176b, 10x4, 1x6) and Washington Sundar (50, 162b, 1x4), included in the side at the expense of Shubman Gill, put on a batting display that was as much about character as it was about technical finesse; as much about hunger as it was about drive to excel.</p>.Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Nitish Kumar Reddy scores maiden Test ton at MCG, keeps India afloat.<p>The pair added 127 runs for the eighth wicket that weakened Australia's position and loosened their vice-like grip on the Test. With rain and bad light giving a small helping hand, India finished the third day of the Boxing Day Test at 358/9 with Nitish unbeaten on a ton worth its weight in gold and Mohammed Siraj on two. In the process, India, who lost just four wickets on the day, cut their deficit to 116 runs here at the MCG on Saturday.</p><p>Washington's batting abilities are well chronicled, the southpaw who was one of the heroes of the iconic Gabba triumph in 2021. His monk-like stay in the middle played an ideal foil to Nitish's calculated belligerence. That said, it wasn't mindless slogging from the 21-year-old right-hander -- it was a methodical takedown of the Australian bowlers who didn't know what hit them on the precipice of pushing India into further abyss.</p><p>While Nitish was obviously the toast of the Indian camp, no praise can be too high for Washington who blunted the Aussie attack with a dour defence and hard running between the wickets. That he struck just one four off the 162 balls he faced mirrored his discipline and application. That they both played for Sunrisers Hyderabad till last season reflected in their good understanding between the wickets with the lengthy partnership leaving Australia frustrated. </p><p>The testing period brought out the young duo's unlimited fortitude, technical expertise and game awareness -- in stark contrast to some of the stars in the side -- to the fore as the Indian camp began to breathe easy.</p><p>India, however, aren't completely out of the woods -- there are still two more days left and the hosts have a handy lead. While a few more runs on the fourth morning would go a long way in helping India's cause, it will be back to the bowlers to haul them back again in the game.</p>.<p><strong>Scoreboard:</strong></p><p><em>Australia (I Innings):</em> <strong>474 all out</strong></p><p><em>India (I Innings; O/n: 164/5):</em></p><p>Jaiswal (run out) 82 (118b, 11x4, 1x6), Rohit c Boland b Cummins 3 (5b), Rahul b Cummins 24 (42b, 3x4), Kohli c Carey b Boland 36 (86b, 4x4), Akash c Lyon b Boland 0 (13b), Pant c Lyon b Boland 28 (37b, 3x4), Jadeja lbw Lyon 17 (51b, 3x4), Nitish (batting) 105 (176b, 10x4, 1x6), Washington c Smith b Lyon 50 (162b, 1x4), Bumrah c Khawaja b Cummins 0 (3b)</p><p>Extras (LB-2, NB-4, W-5) 11</p><p><strong>Total (for 9 wkts, 116 overs) 358</strong></p><p><em>Fall of wickets:</em> 1-8 (Rohit), 2-51 (Rahul), 3-153 (Jaiswal), 4-154 (Kohli), 5-159 (Akash), 6-191 (Pant), 7-221 (Jadeja), 8-348 (Washington), 9-350 (Bumrah).</p><p><em>Bowling:</em> Starc 25-2-86-0 (nb-3), Cummins 27-6-86-3 (w-5), Boland 27-7-57-3, Lyon 27-4-88-2, Marsh 7-1-28-0 (nb-1), Head 3-0-11-0. </p>
<p>Melbourne: There's a thin line between adventure and recklessness. And Rishabh Pant breached that line on the day. His decision to persist with the risky shot -- which entails him to rollover on the turf after what can be described as part-pull and part-scoop -- was at once inexplicable and exasperating. The outrage expressed by batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, who was on air at that time and which since then has gone viral, perfectly captured the mood of every Indian team's supporter.</p><p>India, overnight 164/5 and still 340 runs behind Australia's 474 all out, needed the southpaw to stay in the middle as long as possible. While his penchant for bringing out unorthodox strokes is well-documented, India's precarious situation demanded utmost restraint from the batter. Instead, he went for a scoop despite being hit on his belly while attempting a similar shot the previous ball. The resultant top edge was comfortably taken at third-man by Nathan Lyon who was specifically stationed there.</p><p>Lyon caught Ravindra Jadeja in front a little later to leave India reeling at 221/7, still 253 runs adrift and 54 more to avoid a follow-on. Given the time left in the match, it was unlikely Australia would have asked India to bat again but it's about not losing those small mental battles. Nitish Reddy (105 n.o., 176b, 10x4, 1x6) and Washington Sundar (50, 162b, 1x4), included in the side at the expense of Shubman Gill, put on a batting display that was as much about character as it was about technical finesse; as much about hunger as it was about drive to excel.</p>.Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Nitish Kumar Reddy scores maiden Test ton at MCG, keeps India afloat.<p>The pair added 127 runs for the eighth wicket that weakened Australia's position and loosened their vice-like grip on the Test. With rain and bad light giving a small helping hand, India finished the third day of the Boxing Day Test at 358/9 with Nitish unbeaten on a ton worth its weight in gold and Mohammed Siraj on two. In the process, India, who lost just four wickets on the day, cut their deficit to 116 runs here at the MCG on Saturday.</p><p>Washington's batting abilities are well chronicled, the southpaw who was one of the heroes of the iconic Gabba triumph in 2021. His monk-like stay in the middle played an ideal foil to Nitish's calculated belligerence. That said, it wasn't mindless slogging from the 21-year-old right-hander -- it was a methodical takedown of the Australian bowlers who didn't know what hit them on the precipice of pushing India into further abyss.</p><p>While Nitish was obviously the toast of the Indian camp, no praise can be too high for Washington who blunted the Aussie attack with a dour defence and hard running between the wickets. That he struck just one four off the 162 balls he faced mirrored his discipline and application. That they both played for Sunrisers Hyderabad till last season reflected in their good understanding between the wickets with the lengthy partnership leaving Australia frustrated. </p><p>The testing period brought out the young duo's unlimited fortitude, technical expertise and game awareness -- in stark contrast to some of the stars in the side -- to the fore as the Indian camp began to breathe easy.</p><p>India, however, aren't completely out of the woods -- there are still two more days left and the hosts have a handy lead. While a few more runs on the fourth morning would go a long way in helping India's cause, it will be back to the bowlers to haul them back again in the game.</p>.<p><strong>Scoreboard:</strong></p><p><em>Australia (I Innings):</em> <strong>474 all out</strong></p><p><em>India (I Innings; O/n: 164/5):</em></p><p>Jaiswal (run out) 82 (118b, 11x4, 1x6), Rohit c Boland b Cummins 3 (5b), Rahul b Cummins 24 (42b, 3x4), Kohli c Carey b Boland 36 (86b, 4x4), Akash c Lyon b Boland 0 (13b), Pant c Lyon b Boland 28 (37b, 3x4), Jadeja lbw Lyon 17 (51b, 3x4), Nitish (batting) 105 (176b, 10x4, 1x6), Washington c Smith b Lyon 50 (162b, 1x4), Bumrah c Khawaja b Cummins 0 (3b)</p><p>Extras (LB-2, NB-4, W-5) 11</p><p><strong>Total (for 9 wkts, 116 overs) 358</strong></p><p><em>Fall of wickets:</em> 1-8 (Rohit), 2-51 (Rahul), 3-153 (Jaiswal), 4-154 (Kohli), 5-159 (Akash), 6-191 (Pant), 7-221 (Jadeja), 8-348 (Washington), 9-350 (Bumrah).</p><p><em>Bowling:</em> Starc 25-2-86-0 (nb-3), Cummins 27-6-86-3 (w-5), Boland 27-7-57-3, Lyon 27-4-88-2, Marsh 7-1-28-0 (nb-1), Head 3-0-11-0. </p>