Indian captain Rohit Sharma rued missed chances after the visitors suffered a 184-run loss against Australia in the fourth Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday to conceded a 2-1 lead in the ongoing BGT. India could not save the match on the final day as they lost the last seven wickets for only 34 runs in the final session after tea.
Meanwhile, India had a lot of opportunities to put themselves ahead in the game after Australia were reduced to 91-6 in their second innings on the penultimate day. However, crucial runs from Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins and a 10th wicket alliance of 74 runs between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland helped Australia steal back the advantage.
Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped three catches and it could have been a different story had he grabbed those chances.
Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation, “I went back to my room and thought about it, what else we could have done as a team but we tried everything we could, we threw everything we had but they fought hard with the last wicket partnership, we had our chances and we didn’t grab them, probably cost us the game little bit there. We know 340 wasn’t going to be easy for us. We tried everything we could, if we have wickets in the final two sessions then we could go for the target, but they bowled really well. We wanted to set the platform but that didn’t happen.”
On the other hand, there were positives for India as well despite the big loss as Nitish Kumar Reddy continued to impress and scored his maiden Test century in the first innings and kept India in the game.
Rohit said, “Nitish is coming here for the first time, these conditions can get tough but he has shown lot of character and fight, showed solid technique as well. He has bright future ahead of him and he has all the skills to be successful.”
Rohit also showered praise on India’s gun fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who picked nine wickets in the match but his efforts went in vain.
Rohit concluded, “We know the quality of him, we have been watching him for a number of years now, coming here and getting the job done for the team, he is not a statistical person, wants to just come out there and play for the country, that is what he has been doing on this tour, unfortunately he needs little more support from the other side as well. The way he has managed himself is outstanding.”
The fifth and final Test match between Australia and India will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 onwards.
