Mon Dec 30 11:25:15 UTC 2024: ## India Suffers Crushing Defeat in Fourth Test Against Australia
**Melbourne, Australia –** India’s captain Rohit Sharma described his team’s 184-run loss in the fourth Test against Australia as “mentally disturbing,” admitting a lack of fighting spirit. The defeat puts India 1-2 down in the five-match series, with the final Test to be played in Sydney starting January 3rd.
Speaking after the match, Sharma, who himself struggled with the bat, highlighted the team’s inability to capitalize on opportunities. Despite reducing Australia to 90/6 in their second innings, India failed to prevent a late surge that set a challenging 340-run target. Sharma lamented missed chances and the crucial final-wicket partnership as key factors in the defeat. He acknowledged the difficulty of the target but expressed disappointment in the team’s inability to create a platform for a successful chase.
Despite the loss, Sharma praised the performance of debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy for his impressive century in the first innings, and lauded Jasprit Bumrah’s consistent bowling efforts despite limited support from the other end.
The series continues to Sydney, where India will strive to salvage some pride in the final match.
First Piper 