Fri Dec 27 06:50:00 UTC 2024: ## India Stumbles on Day 2 of Boxing Day Test, Facing Follow-On Threat
**Melbourne, Australia:** India’s hopes of victory in the fourth Ashes Test against Australia suffered a significant blow on day two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After Australia posted a formidable first-innings total of 474, India ended the day at 164/5, still a massive 310 runs behind.
The Indian batting collapse in the final session saw the loss of two key wickets – Yashasvi Jaiswal (82) and Virat Kohli (36). Jaiswal, who looked set for a century, was unfortunately run out, a dismissal that sparked debate among commentators. Kohli, who was batting fluently, fell victim to Scott Boland.
The Indian team now faces the daunting task of avoiding the follow-on, needing a further 111 runs with only five wickets remaining. The onus is now on Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja to rebuild the innings and steer India towards a more respectable total. This match is crucial for India’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final.
The day also saw a record-breaking attendance of 87,242 spectators, the highest ever for a single day of a Test match between these two nations. A minor incident involving a collision between Virat Kohli and Sam Conners was downplayed by Conners, who attributed it to an accidental clash during the game. The Indian team wore black armbands in a show of solidarity, though the specific reason wasn’t detailed in the provided text.
First Piper 