India vs Australia: Can India achieve a repeat of their December 2018 win at MCG? | Cricket news

NEW DELHI: Having been delivered one of the worst defeats in Test cricket history by Australia in the first Test in Adelaide, India will seek to make amends in the Saint Stephen’s day test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, starting December 26.
India collapsed to its lowest test score of 36 in its second inning when Australia claimed an eight-wicket victory in the pink ball event to take a 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
CAN INDIA RETURN ITS FORTUNE IN THE MCG?
India’s record in the MCG events is not good.
India has so far managed to win just three tests out of 13 plays, finishing on the losing side eight times. Two of those contests ended in draws.
But they have bragging rights from their most recent test match played at the venue.
INDIA TEST RECORD AT MCG:

India emerged victorious by 137 runs in their last Boxing Day event at MCG in December 2018 and took a 2-1 lead in the four-game series on their last tour of Australia in 2018-19. Jasprit bumrahThe 6 by 33 magic spell on the match is by far the best bowling figure of an Indian bowler in Australia. This was a crucial victory, as India subsequently created history by recording its first Test Series victory at Down Under in 2018-19 after Test Four ended in a draw.
The visitors also managed to draw their Boxing Day Test which was played at the same venue in 2014 after posting 465, their highest level at MCG, in their first innings in response to Australia’s 530.
Incidentally, India’s first victory in the test on Australian soil was also recorded at the MCG in 1977.
India has their homework short this time as they are also grappling with selection issues. Captain virat Kohli He will not be available for the rest of the Test series because he will be on paternity leave. Mohammed Shami has a broken wrist and has also been sidelined. Add to that the fact that several players like Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Anjinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha and Hanuma Vihari have been far below average so far in the test series, based on what was seen in the first test in Adelaide.
A new Indian look is expected playing XI for the Boxing Day Test. But India will expect the same result at the MCG as on their last tour if they want to stay well and truly alive in all four test series.