IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Day 2 is set to be thrilling as Indian batters are expected to face challenges due to the evolving conditions. Prior to that, the bowlers will aim to conclude the Australian innings swiftly, particularly to prevent Steve Smith from accumulating a significant score. Until then, take care and farewell!

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded India's resurgence by claiming the wickets of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh shortly after Washington Sundar dismissed Marnus Labuschagne for 68 runs. With the pitch deteriorating and the new ball exhibiting movement, it is clear that the conditions will favor the bowlers as the match advances. Will the Indian batters, who have struggled throughout the series, manage to adapt to the shifting conditions on Day 2?

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Australia has gained the advantage as Sam Konstas, making his debut, establishes a strong foundation with a bold innings at the top of the order. The young opener's aggressive style proved effective, leading to Australia's first 50+ opening partnership of the series. This allowed players like Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith to play freely, each contributing with half-centuries.

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Australia suffers no further losses as Cummins navigates Jasprit Bumrah's final over of the day. Although Bumrah unleashed his most effective delivery—the yorker—Cummins managed to defend it successfully. STUMPS!

311/6 in 85 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Earlier, Bumrah returned to the bowling attack, bringing relief to Indian supporters. He bowled with the new ball in the 82nd over before Akash Deep eventually achieved success. With only 10 minutes left in the day, India will be eager for another wicket from their leading pacer.

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Captain Pat Cummins steps to the crease and takes a single off a flick, bringing Australia's score to 300. India will aim to conclude the Australian innings promptly, as any additional runs could prove detrimental to the visitors. 

300/6.

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: WICKET NO.6! Akash Deep makes an impact with the new ball, dismissing Alex Carey for 31. The ball deviates off the seam, catching Carey's edge, and Rishabh Pant secures an uncomplicated catch behind the stumps. This marks Akash Deep's first wicket, and it comes at a crucial moment.

299/6

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: We have completed 80 overs, yet India has not opted for the new ball. Nitish Kumar Reddy continues to bowl from the opposite end, possibly awaiting the conclusion of Jasprit Bumrah's treatment.

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Both batsmen appear settled at the crease, accumulating runs with ease. Concerns linger regarding the severity of Jasprit Bumrah's injury, which is troubling. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been brought into the attack and has managed to find Carey's edge on several occasions.

291/5

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: A rather disheartening sight for Indian supporters. During the over break, he received attention from a physio for his left calf, likely due to a sprain. He has now exited the field. We hope it is not a significant concern.

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Alex Carey is now making his presence felt. Mark Nicholas remarks, "so reminiscent of Gilchrist," as Carey skillfully sweeps a flighted delivery over mid-on, making solid contact to send the ball soaring over the fielder. Is there a shift in momentum?

276/5 after 74 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: A SIX from Smith! This shot exemplifies the quality of Smith's innings. He adeptly handles a short-pitched delivery from Siraj, positions himself perfectly, and executes a superb pull that clears deep square leg for a maximum.

269/5 after 73 overs.

 IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Steve Smith maintains his impressive form! Following his century in Brisbane, he has now scored a remarkable fifty in the first innings at the MCG, reaching his half-century in 72 deliveries.

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: EDGED AND GONE! A dramatic turn of events unfolds late on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test. The delivery was short, yet not too short for a comfortable pull, which Marsh attempted. However, he played the shot too early, resulting in an outside edge that Pant expertly caught. Remarkably, India, who had struggled throughout the day with their edges not finding hands, suddenly experienced a flurry of wickets. This has been an electrifying spell from Bumrah.

Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 4 (13)

Australia 246/5 in 69 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: Travis Head, a persistent threat to the Indian bowling attack over the past two years, has been dismissed for a duck while shouldering arms. Known for his aggressive style, he typically dominates bowlers, but this time he was out leaving a delivery. The ball, delivered with impeccable line and length, struck the top of off stump, dislodging the bails.

Head b Bumrah 0 (7)

Australia 237/4 in 66.3 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: After the break, he charged down the pitch on the first ball and hit it directly to Virat Kohli at mid-off. Although he made solid contact, he failed to elevate the ball enough to clear the fielder. Kohli leapt to take a sharp catch, making it appear effortless. This presents India with an opportunity at last, but it also brings the dangerous Travis Head to the crease.

Labuschagne c Kohli b Washington Sundar 72 (145)

Australia 237/3 in 65 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: A surprising delivery from Akash Deep in the 65th over. After Smith took a single off the first ball and Labuschagne ran two off the second, Deep bowled a short ball that rose sharply at Labuschagne. He attempted to defend but the ball zipped past the outside edge to the wicketkeeper. Labuschagne then got off strike on the next delivery, while Smith solidly defended the final ball. Kohli is actively engaging in discussions on the field.

Australia 237/2 in 65 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: This situation appears quite concerning for India. Smith and Labuschagne are beginning to exhibit a level of dominance reminiscent of their peak performances. Their partnership has smoothly progressed to 72 runs off 114 deliveries. Akash Deep allowed three runs in his 16th over, while Sundar continues from the opposite end for the 64th over. Smith has scored 36 runs off 57 balls, and Labuschagne has accumulated 67 runs off 137 balls.

Australia 226/2 in 63 overs

IND vs AUS LIVE Score: A significant appeal for LBW by Akash Deep against Smith arose again, this time on the fourth ball of the 61st over. The umpire declined the appeal, and Deep urged Rohit to consider a review, but the Indian captain opted against it. This day has proven to be exceedingly frustrating for India. Smith is at 32 runs off 52 balls, while Labuschagne stands at 66 runs off 103 deliveries.

Australia 221/2 in 61 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Australia is beginning to score runs with increasing ease. They secured nine runs in the 59th over, with Smith at 30 runs off 44 balls and Labuschagne at 64 runs off 126 deliveries.

Australia 217/2 in 59 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: The partnership between Labuschagne and Smith has surpassed 50 runs. The stand reached 54 runs off 86 balls by the conclusion of that over. Labuschagne took a single off the second ball from Ravindra Jadeja, bringing up Australia's 200. Smith then struck a short ball wide of mid-on for four runs and followed it by advancing down the pitch to hit the fifth ball for another boundary. At the end of the over, Smith is on 27 runs off 43 balls, while Labuschagne is at 58 runs off 121 deliveries.

Australia 208/2 in 58 overs.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Smith has been moving across the stumps from outside leg and has been adjudged in front twice by Akash Deep. India made a significant appeal for the second instance, almost imploring the umpire, but Gough declined. Following a discussion with Pant, Rohit opted for a review, during which Pant appeared to animatedly advise Akash Deep to communicate with them first rather than with others after the Indian captain signaled. Ball tracking indicated that the delivery was missing leg stump. A leg bye was taken off the third ball, after which Labuschagne secured a single.

Australia 199/2 in 57 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Akash Deep is bowling from the opposite end in this session, and Labuschagne plays the final ball through gully, running for two. This brings him to his half-century off 114 balls.

Australia 190/2 in 55 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Jadeja is set to commence the session, raising the question of whether India will employ spin from both ends. He is bowling to Steve Smith, who has scored 10 runs off 25 balls, while Labuschagne is on 44 runs off 109 at the other end.

India 176/2 in 53 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Only 64 runs were accumulated in the second session, compared to 112 in the first. Nevertheless, just one wicket fell, and India is acutely aware of the challenge that lies ahead once they conclude this partnership between Smith and Labuschagne—Travis Head. To complicate matters, Head will be batting against an older ball under conditions that currently appear favorable for batting. Securing wickets will be of utmost importance for India.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: That was indeed the final over of the session. Labuschagne advanced down the track for the fifth ball of that over and drove it back down the ground for a four. He concluded that over with 44 runs off 109 balls, while Smith stands at 10 runs off 25 balls. This session is being regarded as evenly contested, likely due to India limiting the runs and claiming a wicket. However, it is evident that if Australia does not experience a collapse in the third session, the situation may shift significantly.

Australia 171/2 in 52 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: India has been close to taking wickets, with edges being produced, yet the ball has frequently fallen short of the slip fielders. Mark Nicholas has repeatedly noted during commentary that the slip cordon should be positioned closer to the batsman. Smith has scored six runs off 19 deliveries, while Labuschagne has accumulated 38 runs from 96 balls. Jadeja continues to bowl from one end, with Bumrah resuming for the 51st over.

Australia 165/2 in 50 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Bumrah delivers a final ball that rises sharply towards Labuschagne on the off-stump line. Labuschagne handles the challenge adeptly, resulting in another maiden over for Bumrah. This match is evolving into a captivating contest, consistent with the nature of this series.

Australia 155/2 in 47 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Bumrah is seen laughing, while the catcher Rahul appears taken aback; a seemingly innocuous delivery has resulted in a wicket. The short ball, directed towards Khawaja at waist height, prompted the opener to attempt a pull shot, which instead led to a toe-end catch to midwicket.

Khawaja c Rahul b Bumrah 57 (121)

Australia 154/2 in 44.1 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: However, the efforts are not yielding significant results. Labuschagne is looking increasingly comfortable at the crease, having scored 26 runs off 70 balls, while Khawaja stands at 56 runs from 118 deliveries.

Australia 146/1 in 42 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: So Reddy was brought in for just two overs. Slip and gully for Jadeja, who will be bowling his fifth over. Siraj just bowled his 11th, Khawaja on 53 off 114, Labuschagne on 23 off 56.

Australia 140/1 in 39 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: This is what Konstas had to say about that whole argy-bargy with Kohli. He also said something that probably no batter in the world does at the moment, which is that he wanted Bumrah to be back on.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: A quiet hour but Australia won't be too bothered by the lack of runs. India, on the other hand, would be quite bothered by the lack of wickets despite the pressure they have built and the edges they have drawn.

Khawaja on 52 off 109, Labuschagne on 22 off 55 balls.

Australia 138/1 in 38 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: So here we go, Nitish Kumar Reddy brought in for the first time in the 36th over. India have included Washington Sundar in this lineup as an extra spinner. No signs of him 35 overs into this innings and one really can't see where he will come in really or if his bowling skills will be of any use at all. The ball is over 30 overs old, the pitch has eased out. India are in for a real grind here.

Labuschagne on 21 off 43 balls, Khawaja on 50 off 103 balls.

Australia 134/1 in 35 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Khawaja with a straight drive off the second ball of the 34th bowled by Akash Deep for a four. He leaves the third alone and then reaches out for the fourth. It takes the edge and goes between second slip and gully for four. Khawaja has got to his half-century in 101 balls, he finished that over on 50 as well. Labuschagne on 14 off 37.

Australia 127/1 in 34 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Labuschagne edges the first ball of the next over by Bumrah but it falls just short of second slip. Khawaja edges the fourth ball of the next over by Deep, same result. Now Mohammed Siraj replaces Bumrah.

Australia 119/1 in 32 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Akash Deep continues in the 30th over, short one to start with and Khawaja latches on to it with an emphatic pull shot over midwicket for a four. He is beaten next ball though, and off the fourth, and there were no more runs in that over. Khawaja moves to 42 off 91 balls, Labuschagne on 12 off 24.

Australia 116/1 in 30 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Labuschagne misses out on a genuine half volley there from Bumrah fifth ball of that over and so no runs yet for Australia in the second session.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Back-to-back maidens for Akash Deep either side of one from Bumrah. Khawaja remains on 38 off 85 balls, Labuschagne on 12 off 18.

Australia 112/1 in 28 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: So no Siraj early in the second session. It was a maiden from Akash Deep and so Bumrah to now bowl to Marnus Labuschagne.

Australia 112/1 in 26 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: All right Akash Deep to bowl the first over of the second session, Usman Khawaja is on strike, he has scored 38 in 73, Marnus Labuschagne at the other end on 12 off as many.

Australia 112/1 in 25 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Irfan Pathan says that India need to start with quicks from both ends after Lunch. If Bumrah can bowl, nothing like it, Akash Deep has to be the man from the other end. He also says that India should've targetted Konstas's stumps early on.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: So how utterly bizarre was that innings from Konstas? Well he had a control percentage of just 55.4 during that innings. His innings has helped Australia break the record for most runs scored in the first session of a Boxing Day Test, with the previous best being 111/0 by Aus vs Ind in 2007.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Bumrah tries to strangle Labuschagne down the leg side with the last ball of the session and that is that. Konstas' carnage has helped Australia score a whopping 112 runs in the first session. India drag themselves off the field.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Well Labuschagne ends that 23rd over from Jadeja with back to back nudges to backward point for four. Sam Konstas, meanwhile, can be seen signing autographs and taking selfies, while the match is going on, how about it. Anyhow, Bumrah returns now, he had been completely thrown off his line by the boy signing those autographs at the MCG tunnel. Now he wants his.

Australia 103/1 in 22 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: As stated earlier, the match referee is going to take note of this and extended replays don't make Virat Kohli look too good. Michael Vaughan said that Kohli will look back at this with some regret. Anyhow, two runs off the 21st over by Akash Deep and Jadeja continues. Rohit Sharma doesn't bring back Bumrah.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: LBW and Konstas walks off, he doesn't waste his time with a review. Jadeja turns it less than Konstas expected, something that the veteran spinner has done to batters for years. Hits him on his front pad after beating the inside edge and Gough has no hesitation in raising his finger. Konstas walks off to a standing ovation from the capacity crowd at the MCG. We may have seen the birth of a star here and while Konstas may have scored just 60, the way he has made those runs and the way the Indians seemed utterly bereft of ideas against him might amplify the impact of this innings on this match.

Konstas lbw b Jadeja 60 (65)

Australia 89/1 in 19.2 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Amid all the storm kicked up by Konstas, Akash Deep has done quite well this far. He bowls a rare maiden in the 17th over. That puts his figures at 0/5 in 3 overs, which is excellent considering the circumstances. Three runs off the next over by Jadeja, Konstas is on 57 off 62, Khawaja on 28 off 46 balls.

Australia 86/0 in 18 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: It is a hot day today, which is why there was a short drinks break earlier. Konstas has made it worse for the Indians by the absolute disrespect he has shown to their bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah in particular. He is on 55 off 59, Khawaja on 27 off 37. The latter, twice the age of Konstas, seems to be feeding off the positivity of his opening partner.

Australia 83/0 in 16 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Siraj taken off after seven overs, at the end of which he was looking an angry, ragged wreck. Khawaja took a single off the fourth ball of the 15th over by Akash Deep and that was all the runs that came off it. He is on 22 off 32, Konstas on 55 off 58.

Australia 78/0 in 15 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Siraj returns for his seventh consecutive over after Akash Deep bowls for the first time in the 13th. The first ball is full and angling into the stumps, Konstas tries to go inside out over covers and inside edges it to square leg. He sprints to take two and that is a half-century in 52 balls. Konstas waves his bat to all sides of the ground, he has taken this bull by the horns and, for now, brought it down to its knees.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: How many times have we seen this in the recent past, Jasprit Bumrah has been thrown off his lines completely here. He moved outside leg stump first ball of the 11th over by Bumrah and drives past mid off for a four. Bumrah then sends in a slow ball and almost catches him moving outside leg stump. The third ball is pulled for two runs and then Konstas launches the fourth ball down the ground for a six. Then he opens the face of the bat and steers the fifth one through gully for a four. The last is sent over mid-off for two runs, the crowd cheers and Konstas waves at them to keep that noise up. The boy's a superstar!

Australia 62/0 in 11 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Some ugly scenes now as Kohli and Konstas bump shoulders. The pair then have a few words with each other before the umpire walks in to intervene. Gough has a word with both players, we have not heard the last of this. Konstas has been a suckerpunch for India today.

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Some lovely spice early in the day as Konstas gets under the skin of the Indians. He smashes the fourth ball of the 10th over straight back at Siraj, who responds by firing a volley at the batter. Well, Konstas responds by advancing down the pitch next ball and square driving it through point for a four. He walks right down the pitch after that and Siraj can do nothing but walk back to his mark. Konstas then pulls a short one last ball for a single. He is on 27 off 38, Khawaja on 16 off 22.

Australia 44/0 in 10 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: It's a hot day and so drinks are coming in early, we aren't yet done with the first hour of play. Australia's openers are motoring along now and Sunil Gavaskar has criticised India for not attacking the stumps too much in these first nine overs.

Bumrah bowled his fifth over, he goes full on Khawaja's pads last ball and the latter tucks it away nicely for a four. Now Siraj returns for his fifth over. Khawaja on 16 off 22 balls, Bumrah on 20 off 32 balls.

Australia 37/0 in 9 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Well how do you react to an approach like this! Konstas reaches out well outside off after the two scoops, misses it fortunately for him. Then he leaves the fourth ball and then out comes the scoop again! This time it is a reverse scoop and it goes over deep third. Bounces just in front of the boundary pad for a four. Konstas then drives the last ball to mid-off. He has raced to 19 in 27 balls, Khawaja is on seven off 15 balls.

Australia 26/0 in 7 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Can you believe it! Konstas with flicks off the first two balls of Bumrah's fourth over. The first one goes behind the wicketkeeper for a four, the second one goes all the way for six! Well he has got the record crowd at the MCG at the edge of their seats. Siraj just fired a few words at him last over after he tried another scoop and missed.

Australia 22/0 in 6.2 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Big appeal for LBW from Siraj and India off the second ball of the fourth over, umpire Michael Gough shakes his head and Rohit takes the review. It was another celebrappeal from Siraj. However, ball-tracking shows that the bounce was too much. Khawaja flicks the fifth ball away fine for the first four of the match.

Australia 6/0 in 4 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Konstas leaves the first ball of the next over from Bumrah, then he tucks the second away from his hips and takes two. Konstas is off the mark in Test cricket. The third ball is defended back to the bowler, the fourth one is left. Good careful Test batting so far from Konstas, which probably made his next shot doubly surprising. Bumrah goes short of a length fifth ball, Konstas shapes up for a reverse ramp out of nowhere! He misses it, Khawaja and Bumrah and everyone in the ground have a smile on their faces. Bumrah follows it up with a jaffa and once again, beats Konstas. Rahul and Kohli say a few things to Konstas with smiles on their faces as they run to the other end.

Australia 2/0 in 3 overs

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: Siraj follows Bumrah with six jaffas of his own. What a stern test this is early on for the Australian openers. Siraj with an absolute cracker of a delivery second ball that shapes in and then jags away late to beat Khawaja. He beats Khawaja again fourth ball as well.

Australia 0/0 after 2 overs

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Outswingers all the way and Konstas beaten four - FOUR - times in the opening over. He leaves the first ball and is beaten not too comprehensively off the second. Bumrah goes full outside off third ball and Konstas leaves that. He gets the fourth to angle much closer to off stump, shapes away late and fizzes past the outside edge. The next one is even better, Konstas squared up again and the ball misses his outside edge by millimetres. Bumrah then goes back of a length, the ball skims the outside edge again. Welcome to Test cricket Sam Konstas!

India vs Australia 4th Test Day 1 Live Score: All right here we go then at the ‘G. Young Konstas to face a stern test with Bumrah steaming in. The crowd is rising their pitch of voice with the pacer’s approach…

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: The Indian national anthem comes first and then the Australian. The Indians then stay out, 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas races out to the wicket with Usman Khawaja walking in behind him.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: The two greats are joking with each other as they carry the trophy out to the middle at the MCG. They are followed by the two teams led by Rohit and Cummins. Oh it's an occasion all right and the Australians know how to mark one.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Sunil Gavaskar and Mark Nicholas on the pitch report today. 7mm of grass on it and Gavaskar says that batting is going to be very, very difficult for much of the first half of Day 1. It will get easier later in the day and on Day 2 when that grass is shaved off. Well how about that, Australia have chosen to bat first despite this assessment.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Star Sports is airing an interview that Ravi Shastri took of Virat Kohli. Here is what he had to say about his recent form. “If you would've told us we were going to be 1-1, we would've taken it with both hands. Last 2-3 innings haven't gone the way I wanted them to. As I said, haven't been disciplined enough to stick in there and grind out. That is the challenge of Test cricket. These pitches are much more livelier than the last times we played here. There is a different approach required but that is something I have taken a lot of pride in, to counter different conditions and step up when the team needs me to. The idea is to get stuck in there, get your eye set in, play enough number of balls but respect the conditions,” he said.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Rohit says that Gill is missing out today and Washington Sundar is taking his place. He also says that he will be opening, which means either KL Rahul or Yashasvi Jaiswal will drop down to No.3. However, the team sheet that is shown later shows Rohit Sharma as No.3. How about that…

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Ravi Shastri makes the MCG shake with his voice. He gives the late great Shane Warne a mention, leading to cheers from the crowd. Cummins tosses it up, Rohit Sharma calls it wrong and Australia win the toss. They are batting first.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: All right we didn't see any caps being distributed in the Indian huddle and so Tanush Kotian is not making his debut. Bumrah, Siraj and Reddy seem to have marked their run-ups. Shubman Gill is yet to be seen anywhere really.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Jasprit Bumrah is six strikes away from becoming the 12th Indian player to reach 200 Test wickets. If he did it at the MCG, in his 44th Test, he would be the joint second-fastest for India behind R Ashwin.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Here are the numbers for Travis Head in this series thus far: 409 runs in five innings at an average of 81.80 and a strike rate of 94.23 with two centuries in consecutive Tests and a half-century, highest score of 152 off 160 balls. Enough said.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: All right so this is what the track looks. It has been a heaven for fast bowlers in recent years. Curator Matt Page said he will follow the formula which has been a success in recent seasons, leaving around 6mm of grass on the surface. The forecast for a hot opening day, where temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius, may see the pitch quicken up earlier than normal.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Tickets to the general public was sold out all the way back on December 10, even before the start of the third Test in Brisbane. The Boxing Day Test is the fourth match in India's five-Test series in Australia. And yet, tickets are unavailable already on Ticketek, the Australian company that is facilitating ticket sales for summer's cricket matches. The message displayed on the website states: "General public tickets for Day 1 are currently sold out. If any further tickets become available from operational holds these will be released for sale on Tuesday 24th December (please monitor the website for the time closer to the date). Please note there is no guarantee tickets will be released."

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Travis Head has been as astonishing as ever in this series and here is what captain Cummins had to say about him: “Feels like in the last 12 months he has been in this unbelievable vein of form and he just keeps going. He is hitting it really cleanly, can see the pressure he shifts back on the opposition. I'm loving that he is in our team, don't have to set a field or bowl to him. Long may it continue.”

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: As has been the case for the past couple of years, Jasprit Bumrah has been the standout performer from India by some distance in this series. Here is what Rohit Sharma said about what it is like to captain a team that has a player like Bumrah: “It's very easy not to say anything. He knows exactly what he is doing, how he operates. Doesn't complicate things, he has got so much belief in his skill set that we don't need to have much discussions. I've captained him for a long time. I know how he thinks. Makes it a little easier for me when he is bowling because he is so clear in his mind, regardless of whether he is getting wickets or not. The conversations that I have with him during the game tells me that there isn't much I can add to what he knows. It's alwyas nice to have someone like him in your team. When he is in that form, the job of the other bowlers become that much easier. Crystal clear ideas when it comes to him, makes it easier for me.”

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: That is the other big question around the Indian team - what are they going to do at No.8? Stick with Nitish Kumar Reddy or play an extra specialist pacer, which would extend the tail but also potentially provide some much needed extra support to Jasprit Bumrah. Or play Washington Sundar and go for two spin-bowling all-rounders by retaining Ravindra Jadeja. Or the third option is going for a full-time spinner like Tanush Kotian, with the latter having played recently here as part of the India A squad.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Rohit Sharma couldn't help but let out a chuckle when he was asked about his batting position for this Test in the pre-match press conference. “Let's not worry about that. Who bats where is something that we need to figure out within ourselves, not a thing I should be discussing at every press conference. Whatever it takes for our team to have the best chance to succeed, we will try and do that,” he said.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Josh Hazlewood being ruled out for the series may be a big loss for Australia but the fact that Scott Boland is the player who replaces him shows the incredible depth they have in the department. MCG is where he made his debut in December 2021 against England and he ended up getting scarcely believable figures of 6/7 in the second innings.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: That is one of two big questions around the Indian team heading into this fourth Test and the fact that there have been questions over basic composition of the team before each match doesn't reflect quite well on them. Rarely has Rohit Sharma endured such a long spell of low scores in Test cricket, even back when he was not a regular in the team before 2019. That seems to have been exacerbated in this series, where he returned to the middle order to keep KL Rahul at the top. Rahul has been brilliant, Jaiswal hasn't quite fired after scoring a century in Perth but he can't possibly be taken away from his opening slot considering his overall success this year. But can Rohit continue this way? His scores in this series have read 3, 6 and 10 and not once has he looked deserving of a better score than those.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Australia were beaten to a pulp in Perth. However, they returned the treatment in kind in the second Test in Adelaide. In fact, India have seldom looked completely on top in this series since the last day of that first Test. Which is also why it might be fair to argue that Australia would be more disappointed of the two teams that the series is level at 1-1 after three Tests. Even more so when you consider these three Tests were almost designed for Australia to win - they had never lost a Test before this year at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the Adelaide pink-ball Test is something they always dominate while the Gabba remains a fortress for them, despite India and West Indies breaching it so emphatically in the last four years.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Well the last Test was ruined by the rain and we are happy to report that nothing of the sort will happen at the 'G. In fact, today is going to be quite a hot day and while there could be some clouds cover for the next few days, they are not the rainy kind.

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Tanush Kotian, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: As is always the case, Australia announced their playing eleven on the eve of the Test. Sam Konstas is making his debut as an opener, while Scott Boland comes in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood. Travis Head passed a fitness test to make it to the squad—he hadgroin trouble in the closing stages of the previous Test.

Australia XIUsman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India vs Australia Live Score, 4th Test Day 1: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground! The series is currently level at 1-1 as we move to the fourth Test, following a rain-hit draw at the Gabba. Changes are expected in the Indian XI, and a further batting order reshuffle is also under speculation as Rohit Sharma is touted to return to the top of the order.

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