Mon Dec 30 21:25:50 UTC 2024: ## India’s Cricket Hopes Hang by a Thread After Crushing Defeat to Australia

**Melbourne, Australia:** India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final are hanging precariously after a devastating 184-run loss to Australia in the fourth Test. The defeat leaves India’s chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy also in jeopardy.

While not completely eliminated from WTC contention, India’s fate now rests entirely on external factors. A victory in the final Test in Sydney is crucial, but even that win doesn’t guarantee a place in the final. India’s qualification hinges on the outcome of Australia’s upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka. If Sri Lanka manages to win one or draw both matches against Australia, India’s chances remain alive. However, a Sri Lankan whitewash of Australia would dramatically boost India’s prospects.

The Indian batting performance remains a significant concern, failing to even secure a draw in the Melbourne match. Sunil Gavaskar even criticized what he saw as questionable umpiring decisions that benefited Australia. Experts also highlighted the poor performance of several key Indian players as the reason behind the team’s defeat. Yashasvi Jaiswal did manage to equal a Sachin Tendulkar record with a fifty, but this was overshadowed by the team’s overall struggles. The loss further fueled speculation surrounding the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.

The upcoming Sydney Test is now a do-or-die match for India, with all eyes focused on the team’s performance and the unpredictable nature of international cricket. The article also includes a section on the controversy surrounding some umpiring decisions. Other news items in the original text, including a BPSC exam controversy, various weather alerts, accidents, and other unrelated news, have been excluded from this cricket-focused news summary.

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