Sat Dec 28 02:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Kohli Applauds Smith’s Century as Australia Posts Mammoth Total in Melbourne Test
**Melbourne, Australia:** The fourth and final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match between India and Australia is underway in Melbourne. Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia posted a commanding 474 runs in their first innings, largely thanks to a magnificent 140 from Steve Smith.
This century was Smith’s 34th in Test cricket, moving him closer to a significant milestone. He currently sits on 9949 Test runs and needs just 51 more runs in the next innings to reach 10,000.
The moment was marked by a display of sportsmanship between rivals. Indian captain Virat Kohli applauded Smith’s achievement, highlighting the strong bond between the two players. Smith’s century also broke Joe Root’s record for most centuries against India in Test cricket. Video footage of Kohli’s reaction to Smith’s century has been widely circulated.
First Piper 