HUMILIATED

India's Shocking Defeat: A crushing blow to cricketing glory and global ambitions

- Ketan Narottam Tanna

The Indian cricket team's defeat to Australia in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 30, 2024, was not just a loss—it was a humiliation, a stark reminder of the gulf between ambition and execution. The match wasn't just about a mere statistical outcome but exposed deep-rooted issues that threaten to derail India's cricketing ambitions on the global stage.

Let's start with the glaring issues on the field. India's batting line-up, which boasts of some of the finest talents in world cricket, crumbled under pressure. Chasing 340 in the fourth innings on the final day, the Indian team was dismissed for a paltry 155 runs. The batting collapse was swift, brutal, and entirely avoidable. How is it that a team that includes top-tier batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant could be reduced to rubble by an Australian bowling attack that, though formidable, was hardly at its peak?