Australian media targeted Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, branding him "Captain Cry Baby" after his outburst at Yashasvi Jaiswal during Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia. Jaiswal dropped three catches, including crucial ones of Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins. Rohit’s visible frustration drew criticism from commentators and former cricketers. Mike Hussey condemned Rohit’s reaction, stressing the importance of supporting young players under pressure. Alyssa Healy emphasized the need for team unity, while Darren Berry suggested Jaiswal requires encouragement, not berating. The incident overshadowed India’s gritty battle on the field as they prepared for a challenging chase.

South Africa secured a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in Centurion. South Africa’s resilience, led by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, allowed them to overcome a challenging chase. With this win, South Africa tops the WTC points table at 66.67%. India now faces pressure in their ongoing series against Australia, with their qualification hopes dependent on winning the series and favorable outcomes in other matches. Australia and India are closely competing for the second spot, with two matches remaining in the ongoing series.

  India fought valiantly on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ending Australia’s second innings at 228/9. Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery spell, including 4 wickets and his 200th Test scalp, dismantled Australia’s batting. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja also contributed key dismissals. Despite India’s efforts, a resilient 50-run last-wicket partnership between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland extended Australia’s lead to 333. Earlier, India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a valiant 114, bringing India’s first innings total to 369. With one day remaining, India faces a challenging chase in this thrilling Border-Gavaskar Trophy encounter.

Yashasvi Jaiswal's three dropped catches during Day 4 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground left India captain Rohit Sharma furious. The first drop came off Usman Khawaja, followed by a costly error on Marnus Labuschagne, and another dropped chance in the 49th over off Pat Cummins. Despite Jaiswal's blunders, Jasprit Bumrah's remarkable spell helped India gain the upper hand, reducing Australia to 135/6. However, commentators criticized Rohit's body language, suggesting he should have been more supportive of the young player. Australia still holds a significant lead in the match.

A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800, traveling from Bangkok to South Korea, crashed while landing at Muan Airport, killing at least 120 people onboard. The plane had 181 passengers, including six crew members. Footage shows the plane skidding off the runway, crashing into a wall, and bursting into flames. The cause is yet to be confirmed, but the fire service suspects a bird strike and adverse weather conditions may have contributed. Two survivors, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage. Rescue operations continue as authorities investigate the crash.

Jasprit Bumrah became the fastest Indian to reach 200 Test wickets during the Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne. Achieving the milestone in 44 matches and 8,484 deliveries, Bumrah surpassed Mohammed Shami’s record. Globally, he’s the fourth-quickest bowler to this feat, after Waqar Younis, Dale Steyn, and Kagiso Rabada. Bumrah also set a record with a phenomenal sub-20 bowling average, surpassing Joel Garner. His performance in the World Test Championship further cements his legacy, with 151 wickets since 2019. This milestone highlights Bumrah’s dominance and contributions to Indian cricket.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s unbeaten 105 at the MCG in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has captured the cricket world’s attention. The 21-year-old's knock, alongside Washington Sundar's 50, rescued India from a precarious 7-231. Reddy completed his maiden Test century with a boundary off Scott Boland, bringing tears of pride to his father in the stands. Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar lauded Reddy as a future star but cautioned him to honor the sacrifices of his family and remain grounded. “He must not take Indian cricket for granted,” Gavaskar stated, emphasizing humility and dedication for sustained success.

India’s World Test Championship (WTC) qualification hopes depend on the outcome of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. India is currently third in the WTC standings, behind South Africa and Australia. If India wins the series 3-1, they will qualify for the final. However, even with a loss or draw in Melbourne, India can still make it to the final, depending on the results of South Africa’s series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s series against Australia. India’s chances were bolstered by Nitish Kumar Reddy’s stunning maiden Test century, helping India stay competitive.

Nitish Reddy's maiden Test century and Washington Sundar's gritty 50 helped India reduce Australia's lead to 116 runs on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Reddy's unbeaten 105 and Sundar's 127-run partnership for the eighth wicket halted Australia's momentum after Nathan Lyon’s bowling put India at 221/7. Sundar fell to Lyon after a patient knock of 50 off 162 balls. Australia’s bowlers, led by Scott Boland, maintained pressure throughout the day. Early stumps were called due to rain, with India at 358/9, keeping the match intriguingly poised.

India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy created history in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, becoming the first Indian No.8 to score a century in Australia. The 21-year-old’s nervy 105-run knock saw him stuck in the 90s with one wicket remaining. His father, present at the stadium, prayed fervently and was moved to tears after Nitish hit a boundary to complete the milestone. Speaking to Adam Gilchrist, he called the day unforgettable and praised Mohammed Siraj for surviving Pat Cummins’ over. Nitish’s gritty performances have been key for India throughout the series, solidifying his impact on international cricket.