Bumrah reverses the situation against Konstas, giving Australia a lead of 158 runs.

Bumrah reverses the situation against Konstas, giving Australia a lead of 158 runs.

Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah sought retribution for his earlier struggles against Sam Konstas by dismissing Australia's teenage debutant cheaply on the fourth day of the fourth Test on Sunday, following India's total of 369 runs. Mohammed Siraj also claimed his first wicket of the match, removing opener Usman Khawaja for 21 runs, as Australia reached lunch at 53 for two, holding a lead of 158 runs in the sunlit Melbourne Cricket Ground. Marnus Labuschagne, unbeaten on 20, and Steve Smith, with two runs, managed to survive until the break.

A determined Bumrah bowled Konstas for eight with a delivery that sharply turned back off the seam, evening the score with the 19-year-old opener who had previously scored a record 34 runs off Bumrah's initial spell on day one. Celebrating exuberantly, Bumrah gestured to the crowd, playfully mocking Konstas for his earlier attempts to energize the spectators during his first innings score of 60. As Konstas left the field, some Indian supporters booed while others chanted "Kohli! Kohli!", referencing the shoulder clash with Virat Kohli on day one that resulted in a fine for the former Indian captain.

Siraj, who had gone wicketless for 122 runs in the first innings, faced continuous jeers from local fans since the second Test in Adelaide, where he had given Travis Head a fiery send-off after taking his wicket. Similar to Bumrah, he bowled Khawaja through bat and pad on Sunday, celebrating with a "shhh" gesture directed at the crowd. This wicket was likely a relief for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had dropped a knee-high catch at leg gully when Khawaja was on two, leaving Bumrah visibly astonished. Although Labuschagne continued his innings, he often appeared vulnerable, narrowly avoiding a significant lbw appeal from Bumrah on 10, which India reviewed but to no avail.

Nitish Kumar Reddy played a pivotal role in India's resurgence by scoring his maiden Test century on the third day, concluding his innings at 114 after hitting Nathan Lyon to long-off, where Mitchell Starc took the catch, thereby ending the tourists' innings. India resumed play at 358 for nine, managing to add 11 runs to their overnight score before Lyon made his breakthrough. Reddy's dismissal followed a contentious moment when Australia appealed for a low catch after captain Pat Cummins saw tailender Siraj edge the ball to a diving Steve Smith in the slips. The third umpire determined that the ball had not reached Smith, leading to an irate Cummins requesting a second review, which was also denied. The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1.