5 instances of an Indian batter scoring a Test hundred in a losing cause at the MCG ft. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Several Indian batters have put up memorable performances with the bat against Australia in Melbourne in Tests over the years. The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been a venue where many batters from India have left their mark, scoring Test hundreds.

Eleven Indians have achieved the feat of scoring a Test century at the MCG so far. However, a few of these batters have had bittersweet memories despite scoring tons at the venue.

While many games have seen the side registering wins or draws, there have also been instances where the performances from batters have gone in vain. Out of the 11 times an Indian batter scored a Test hundred at the MCG, five of those came in a losing cause.

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5 instances of an Indian batter scoring a Test hundred in a losing cause at the MCG

#5 Vinoo Mankad - 116, 1948 3rd Test

Vinoo Mankad was India's first batter to score a Test ton in Melbourne. During the third match of the series in 1948, he scored a century in the first innings. He carried the batting all by himself, scoring 116 runs off 187 deliveries as they posted a total of 291/9 declared.

Eventually, the visitors were set a target of 359 runs. They were bowled out for just 125, losing the game by 233 runs as Mankad's ton went in vain. Despite being the most successful batter for the visitors in the game, it was not enough to avoid defeat.

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#4 Vinoo Mankad - 111, 1948 5th Test

Vinoo Mankad features on the list yet again. In the fifth Test of the same series in 1948, he scored another ton that came in a defeat. Interestingly, the teams played twice in Melbourne in that series.

Mankad, opening the batting for India, scored 111 runs in the first innings as they were bowled out for 331 runs. Australia has posted a mammoth total of 575/8 declared first up. They enforced the follow-on and eventually won the match by an innings and 177 runs as well. Once again, Mankad's ton went in vain as the visitors suffered a huge loss.

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#3 Sachin Tendulkar - 116, 1999 2nd Test

Sachin Tendulkar is among the greatest players to have embraced the game, particularly in the longest format. When Sachin scored, India won games more often than not.

However, during the 2nd game of the series in 1999 in Melbourne, his century came in a losing cause. Australia scored 405 runs in the first innings. The visitors struggled with the bat as Sachin was the lone fighter with his 116-run knock off 191 deliveries. They were bowled out for 238 runs.

The second innings saw Australia get to 208/5 declared, setting the visitors a 376-run target. However, they were cleaned up for just 195 runs as Australia registered a 180-run win.

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#2 Virender Sehwag - 195, 2003 3rd Test

Explosive former Indian opener Virender Sehwag played one of his best Test innings in Melbourne in 2003. During the first innings of the third game of the series, Sehwag registered a magnificent hundred. He smashed 195 runs off 233 deliveries, including 25 fours and five sixes.

He missed out narrowly on a well-deserved double hundred. However, his heroics went in vain as the visitors could not win the Test. They managed to pose Australia an easy target of 95 runs, which the hosts chased down with nine wickets to spare in the end.

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#1 Nitish Kumar Reddy - 114, 2024 4th Test

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy slammed his maiden Test ton during the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Melbourne. In the first innings, he led India's fightback with a brilliant 114-run knock off 189 deliveries that comprised 11 fours and a six.

Unfortunately for him and the visitors, they crumbled under pressure on the final day and ended up losing the game by 184 runs. Nitish Reddy's first-ever Test hundred thus did come in a memorable game as they suffered a heavy defeat in Melbourne.