3 things India need to do right to dominate on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Team India and Australia were embroiled in a riveting set of sessions to kick-start the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). After opting to bat first, the Men in Yellow recorded the best start in the entire series.

Riding on Sam Konstas' quickfire fifty that set the tempo, the rest of the top-order batters also scored fifties to dominate the first two sessions.

India clawed their way back into the contest with a flurry of wickets as the innings progressed. At stumps, Australia are placed at 311-6, with Steve Smith still unbeaten on 68 runs off 111 deliveries. India had their moments on the first day but Australia were largely in command.

On that note, let us take a look at three things India needs to do right to dominate on Day 2 of the 4th BGT 2024-25 Test.

#1 Keep the new ball with Akash Deep

It was the same story of 'so close, yet so far' for Akash Deep at the MCG, much like it transpired at The Gabba. The right-arm pacer bowled his heart out and tested the batters on many occasions but without any returns on his wickets column.

After surprisingly not being given the brand new ball, the second new ball went in Akash Deep's favor. The batter dismissed Alex Carey towards the end of the day's play with the brand new cherry and it could do him a world of god in terms of confidence.

India must resist the temptation of handing the new ball to Mohammed Siraj on Day 2 and must persist with Akash Deep from one end. He, along with Bumrah, are the best exponents of it and are India's best hopes of an early breakthrough, which is desperately needed.

#2 Do not allow Steve Smith to settle again

The stumps came at the right time for India as Steve Smith was looking to trudge his way onto yet another Test ton. The innings by the former skipper was a bizarre one to dissect because there were periods where he hardly looked in control at all, but in other phases, he looked in complete command.

The positive for India is the fact that Smith has to start from scratch on Day 2. This is an area where the bowlers can target and not allow him to settle down. He looked in trouble against the incoming deliveries, the one he could not play inside the line after his exaggerated trigger movement outside the off-stump.

If India probes that area enough and builds pressure, they could induce a false stroke from him later on. Smith's contribution on Day 2 could be the difference between a 350-375-run first-innings score and something beyond 400 which India would not prefer given their own batting woes.

#3 Go the Smith-Labuschagne route and not the Konstas route

The MCG surface may look innocuous on first look - a tinge of green offering good pace and bounce but generally good for batting. While largely that is the case, there is also enough evidence to suggest that the pitch is a bit two-paced.

The dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Alex Carey were quite alarming in this regard. The veteran opener was surprisingly caught quite early on the pull, one of his favorite strokes. He was shocked at the prospect of having hit the toe of the bat off a stroke that he has such firm command of.

With a hint of seam movement on offer too as well, the Indian batters should be cautious. The Australian bowlers have extracted more of the surface than the Indian bowlers since the Perth Test. Coupled with India's questionable shot selection, things could go wrong if they are not watchful.

Smith and Labuschagne provided the perfect template while batting during the first innings. It was not a beautiful partnership without flaws but they stuck in and chose their moments carefully. They made it a point to not allow either spinner to settle down, which hampered India's game plan to some extent.