By Krishna Dua 
Dhruv Jurel Departs Early as India Collapse on Final Day
MELBOURNE, Australia — In a gut-wrenching Day 5 denouement that will haunt Indian cricket for years, Dhruv Jurel’s premature departure for 8 triggered a catastrophic collapse, propelling India from a fighting 4-215 to a humiliating all out for 223 and gifting Australia a commanding 37-run victory in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Chasing a target of 261 on a wearing strip riddled with cracks and offering treacherous turn, the visitors appeared on the cusp of a famous heist when they resumed overnight at 4-215, needing just 46 more with six wickets remaining. But Jurel’s loose drive off Todd Murphy in the 70th over—caught brilliantly at cover by Mitchell Marsh—unleashed a procession of wickets, with the last six falling for a paltry 8 runs in 14 overs as Australia’s spinners Nathan Lyon (4-62) and Murphy (5-78) dismantled the tail in a spellbinding session of sorcery.
The match, the fourth in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a linchpin in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, culminated in a Day 5 drama that swung savagely from hope to heartbreak, handing Australia an unassailable 4-0 series lead and extinguishing India’s finals aspirations with one Test to play in Sydney. Stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant, whose 42 from 58 balls anchored the chase until a controversial LBW to Lyon, punched the air in anguish as the final wicket fell, his leadership baptism ending in a blaze of controversy and collapse. “We had them by the throat at 215-4; it was there for the taking, but we choked,” Pant lamented post-match, his voice cracking with the weight of a series whitewash looming. Gautam Gambhir, the coach, was more measured: “Day 5s are deserts of desperation—today’s drought defines our depth, but Sydney’s our oasis.”
Cummins, the tactical titan with 153 wickets at 21.50, orchestrated the rout with 2-41, including the vital scalp of Virat Kohli on Day 4, his post-match embrace with Pant a rare moment of magnanimity amid the rivalry’s raw edge. “India are gladiators; this win’s for the MCG’s magic—pure Test poetry,” Cummins reflected, hoisting the trophy amid 90,000 roaring fans. The collapse, the worst final-day surrender since Johannesburg 2018 (3-33), leaves India with a Herculean task in the Sydney pink-ball finale on December 13, their WTC points at 58 from seven matches, a mathematical miracle the only path to Perth’s decider. As Melbourne’s MCG floodlights fade and the Yarra’s waters reflect the day’s despair, Jurel’s early exit—his fourth single-digit score in eight Tests—crystallizes India’s fragility, a final day fall that fells fortitudes but forges fiercer resolves for the road ahead.
The MCG, a coliseum where legends like Bradman and Border have scripted symphonies, staged a Day 5 sonata of sorrow for India, a narrative of near-triumph turned to nightmare in 120 minutes, a collapse that crushes but catalyzes the champions within.
The Final Fall: Jurel’s Jolt and the Lower Order’s Lament
Day 5’s final fall felled India’s final hopes, a jolt from Jurel’s loose leave that left the lower order lamenting in a lamentable last act. Resuming at 4-215 needing 46 with Jurel at the crease alongside a nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj (5*), the target teased—a fourth-innings flourish echoing their 2021 Gabba glory. Pant, balcony-bound, bellowed basics: “Build blocks, boys—patience pays dividends.”
Murphy, the 24-year-old off-spinner with 52 wickets at 28.45, opened from the Members End, pitching up a pearler on off. Jurel, the Agra all-rounder with 170 first-class runs at 35.00 and a flair for finishes, eyed an expansive drive, stepping out to loft but mishitting the ball horribly, the splice sending it ballooning high to cover. Marsh, the lanky all-rounder with hands like hawklike, backpedaled and clutched the skier, Jurel’s 8 from 35 balls (1 four) ending in a haze of haste. Umpire Paul Reiffel raised the finger at 5-215 in the 70th over, the MCG faithful erupting as India’s house of cards wobbled perilously.
The lament lapsed into a litany of loss: Jadeja, the Nagpur ninja with 281 wickets at 24.10, edged Lyon’s straighter delivery to slip four balls later, gone for 6—his LBW review a lost cause as Hawk-Eye clipped middle. Ashwin, the maestro with 531 wickets at 25.50, survived a raucous LBW shout off Murphy but fell next over to a googly that skidded low, trapped plumb for 0. Siraj, the Hyderabad hawk with 91 wickets at 32.45, scratched 5 before edging Murphy to gully, the final wicket tumbling at 5:45 p.m. local time—71.2 overs, 223 all out, 37 short.
Pant, glove in hand, punched the air in anguish, his 42 from 58 balls the chase’s crest. Gambhir, pitchside: “Soft in the clutch—Day 5’s dagger demands depth.” The lament’s legacy: from 215-4’s elation to 223’s elegy, a lower order’s lament that lingers like a bad dream.
Australia’s Arcane Art: Lyon’s Legacy and Murphy’s Meteoric Magic
Australia’s Day 5 art was arcane alchemy, Lyon and Murphy transmuting turn and trap into triumph, their spin sorcery spinning India into submission. Nathan Lyon, the Sydney shaman with 532 wickets at 30.45, was Day 5’s demigod: his 4-62 from 24.3 overs, including the final two, evoked his 2019 Headingley hat-trick. The googly to Ashwin—a 78 kph slider masquerading as off-spin—skidded under the bat, Lyon’s 202nd five-for a paean to his tactical tapestry. Jadeja’s edge to slip, off a straighter arm-ball, was vintage Lyon—drift, dip, doom.
Todd Murphy, the 24-year-old Victorian virtuoso with 52 wickets at 28.45, was Protege par excellence: his 5-78 from 20 overs, including Jurel and Siraj, showcased seam-spin’s synergy. The lofted drive dismissal of Jurel—a full toss feigned as flight—tricked the tyro, Murphy’s 52nd Test scalp a meteoric milestone. Cummins, the captain with 153 wickets at 21.50, contributed 2-41, his bouncer barrage boxing Siraj.
Alchemy’s apex: Lyon’s 533rd wicket, Murphy’s maturity—584 combined scalps sorcery that sealed the series.
Pant’s Pressure Crucible: Captaincy’s Cauldron in the Cauldron
Rishabh Pant’s Test captaincy crucible, a BCCI brainstorm amid Sharma’s rest (workload watch), cooked in the cauldron of Melbourne’s maelstrom. The Delhi dynamo, 27 and dauntless with 2,300 runs at 41.50, exuded elan from slip: helmeted huddles—”Hunt the hunt, boys; MCG’s our mecca”—echoed Dhoni’s dash. Field finesse: four slips to Bumrah, short leg to Jadeja—bold bids begat edges, but drops (Ashwin on 2 off Lyon) dented drive.
Pressure’s pot: Pant’s glovework—Vizag stumpings—armband-augmented, his 2024 IPL DC playoffs teaser. Crucible’s cook: session squeeze squandered, tail tumble trial fire. Gambhir: “Rishabh raw resolve—lessons legacy looms.” Australia Cummins calm: “Pant punchy, poise prevails.”
Cauldron’s cook: Pant’s 42 top-scored, captaincy crucible composure cooked.
Day 5’s Dagger Drama: Chase’s Crest to Crestfallen Close
Day 5’s dagger drama defined destiny: overnight 4-215 needing 46, hope hummed. Jurel’s 8 flickered, Murphy cover mishit snuffed spark. Jadeja’s 6 edged Lyon, Ashwin’s 0 lbw Murphy, Siraj’s 5 edged Murphy—7-8 tumble 14.1 overs torrent tragedy.
Drama’s dirge: 215-4 elation to 223 elegy, Gabba ghosts grinning. Pant’s walk-off glove heart honored huddle. Gambhir: “Day 5 dirge—depth defines us.”
Dagger’s depth: drama’s daggers dug deep.
MCG’s Macabre Memories: Haunts, Heists, and Historical Heavies
MCG’s memories macabre: Australia’s Day 5 dominance Down Under, India 3 wins in 10 (2021 heist 328). Haunts hark: 2018’s 323 chase flop, 2014’s 265 tease.
Heists historical: Pant’s 89 not out 2021. Heavies haunt: 2025 crumble crushes, heist horizon haunts.
Player Portraits: Pant’s Pain, Cummins’ Crown, Jurel’s Jolt
Pant, post-match: “Soft end—credit spin, gifted it. Sydney’s salvation.” Cummins: “Lyon Murphy magic—Day 5’s delight.” Gambhir: “Pain professor—lessons Lord’s.”
Jurel’s jolt: “Loose leave—learn, launch.” Lyon’s legacy: “Tail tango—sweet.”
Portraits pierce: pain’s portrait, crown’s close-up.
Series’ Swan Song: Sydney’s Summons and WTC Woes
Swan song summons: fifth December 13, SCG pink-ball—India’s 7-2 home edge abroad? WTC woes: 58 points, semis slip. Australia’s 4-0 lock.
Summons’ might: Pant’s pivot, Gambhir grit—song scripts salvation?
MCG’s Murmur: Reflections from Rope’s Rim
Murmur’s murmur: Lyon: “Tail tango—symphony sweet.” Pant: “Crush crushes, comeback calls.” Gambhir: “MCG’s maul—growth’s gift.”
Reflections ripple: Day 5’s daggers, India’s dawn determination.