New Delhi: Team India will be eager to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Australia in the 4th Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The much-anticipated Boxing Day Test will get underway on Thursday, December 26 with both teams looking to get the better of each other.

The five-match series is currently locked at 1-1 with both India and Australia managing a win apiece in the first three Tests. India crushed Australia by 295 runs in the series opener in Perth to go 1-0 up before the Aussies registered a dominant 10-wicket victory in the second Test in Adelaide to level the series 1-1. The recently concluded 3rd Test at the Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw.

India have some selection questions to ponder upon ahead of the Boxing Day Test match after the retirement of veteran spinner R Ashwin. The visitors have decided to rope in young Mumbai all-rounder Tanush Kotian as a replacement for Ashwin but Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are expected to remain ahead in the pecking order if India decide to play two spinners at the MCG.

India have been constantly let down by their batters in the series so far and will be hoping the likes of skipper Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli can step up and take responsibility. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant too have failed to fire in the series so far and will be looking to get a big knock behind their back in the Boxing Day Test.

What is India’s record in Tests at the MCG?

India don’t have a great record in Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia have traditionally dominated the visitors at the iconic venue. However, India have done well at the MCG in the recent past and have won the last two Boxing Day Test matches against Australia at the venue.

Overall, India have played 14 Test matches at the MCG and have managed only 4 wins while suffering 8 losses and managing two draws. Out of India’s four victories at the venue, two have come in the last two editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

India defeated Australia by 137 runs at the MCG in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19. India rode on impressive knocks from Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli to post a huge total of 443 runs on the board in their first innings before bundling out Australia for 151. India managed only 106 runs in their second innings but the hosts failed to chase down the target of 399 runs in their second innings to suffer a crushing defeat.

In the last meeting between India and Australia at the MCG, Ajinkya Rahane-led visitors defeated the hosts by 8 wickets riding on a brilliant century from the skipper. India will be looking to complete a hat-trick of Test victories against Australia at the MCG this time around.