NEW DELHI: India will look to take a pivotal lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they gear up for the fourth Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The focus will firmly be on opener KL Rahul, who has been in stellar form amidst a challenging series for Indian batters.
The Boxing Day Test, set to begin on December 26, sees the series evenly poised at 1-1.
KL Rahul, promoted to the opening slot after skipper Rohit Sharma opted for a middle-order role following the birth of his second child, has shown remarkable composure and confidence against the moving new ball.
KL Rahul is currently India’s leading run-scorer in the series and second overall, amassing 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.00. His performances include two half-centuries, with a top score of 84.
This Test offers KL Rahul a chance to achieve a rare feat: a hat-trick of centuries in Boxing Day Tests.
The right-hander previously notched up centuries in Boxing Day games against South Africa, scoring 123 in 2021 at Centurion during a victorious outing, and 101 at the same venue in 2023 in a losing effort.
Interestingly, KL Rahul’s only Boxing Day Test appearance in Australia came during his debut in 2014, where he struggled with scores of 3 and 1.
In 2024, Rahul has featured in eight Tests, scoring 469 runs at an average of 39.08, including four fifties with a best of 86.
In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle (2023-25), he has scored 574 runs in nine matches at an average of 41.00, including one century and four half-centuries.