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Still Wondering What Millets Are! Millet Cookbook By ‘Millet Chef’ Vikas Chawla Has The Answers

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Still Wondering What Millets Are! Millet Cookbook By ‘Millet Chef’ Vikas Chawla Has The Answers
‘Millets – The Grain Revolution’, published by New Delhi-based Worldly Wise Publishers, unravels the goodness of the ‘superfoods’, and provides 40-odd easy-to-cook recipes, with millets as primary ingredients
Vikas Chawla is also the Millet Ambassador at Nutrihub, an arm of the Hyderabad-based ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research
The ‘Millet Chef’ has made it a mission in life to promote millets as a healthy way of life

Just as the overwhelming wheat-paddy crop cycle is bad news for the environment, so is the wheat-rice overdependence in our diet for our health. The awareness that millets, a diverse group of small-grained cereal crops extensively cultivated for thousands of years in semi-arid regions of Asia and Africa, are a probable answer is growing but not translating into action on the ground fast enough.

Here comes a well-researched cookbook on millets by a well-known chef, who, after trying out the superfoods on himself, his family and social circles, for months, has made it a mission in life to promote millets as a healthy way of life.

The cookbook, ‘Millets – The Grain Revolution’, authored by Millet Chef Vikas Chawla, and published by New Delhi-based Worldly Wise Publishers, was officially unveiled in Chandigarh in mid-December 2024 by Bal Mukund Sharma, Chairman of the Punjab State Food Commission. Wordly Wise Publishers founder Chandni Mathur also graced the occasion.

The cookbook, into which Vikas Chawla has encapsulated his 15 years of experience and research on millets, provides 40-odd easy-to-cook recipes, with millets as primary ingredients, that can seamlessly replace everyday grains. The recipes come with detailed set of measured ingredients and instructions for ease of cooking.

Sharing his thoughts about the book in an exclusive interaction with your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com, Chef Vikas Chawla shared that “Despite years of advocacy, I had identified a significant gap in public awareness about millets. Many people still ask What are millets? How do we cook them? Why are these important?”

He said recognizing this widespread lack of understanding, he crafted the book to bridge the knowledge gap, featuring simple, easy-to-follow recipes that can be made in any kitchen.
“With this book, I have aimed to simplify healthy eating and encourage more people to explore the incredible benefits of millets. It’s about making sustainable, nutritious choices accessible to everyone,” Chef Vikas added.

For a better understanding of the recipes Chef Vikas Chawla, who is the Millet Ambassador at Nutrihub, an arm of the Hyderabad-based ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, has devoted several pages to familiarise the reader with the various popularly used millets, and the nutritional benefits of each.

The various types of millets (photographs provided at the end of the write-up)

1. Sorghum millet (Jowar)
2. Pearl millet (Bajra)
3. Finger millet (variously called as Ragi, Nacheeni or Mandua)
4. Foxtail millet (Kangni)
5. Little millet (Kutki)
6. Kodo millet (Kodra)
7. Proso millet (Chena)
8. Barnyard millet (called Sanvak, Sanva or Jhangora)
9. Browntop millet (Hari Kangni)

Additionally, there are a couple of pseudo millets as well, which are not true members of the millet family, but share similar characteristics, and are often used as substitutes in various cuisines around the world. These are:

1. Amaranth millet (called Rajgira, Ramdana or Chilai)
2. Buckwheat millet (Kuttu)

Millet recipes

Red cabbage millet rolls

The recipes in Millet Chef Vikas Chawla’s cookbook range from Fermented Millet (a magical food naturally rich in Vitamin B12 and an incredible immunity booster), to Boiled Millet, to Beetroot Millet Curd Rice, Red Cabbage Millet Rolls, Chana Dal & Cranberry Pulao with a cupful of millet, Coconut Millet, to Barnyard Millet Khichdi (a fasting-friendly dish which is a comforting blend of barnyard millet, aromatic spices, and potatoes simmered to perfection).

Barnyard millet ‘khichdi’

Then there is Pongal, a wholesome South Indian delicacy that brings together millets (Little or Barnyard) Moong dal, and a flavoured tempering of spices and cashews.

Autumn millet salad

Autumn Harvest Millet Salad is a refreshing, colourful salad that combines the crunch of lettuce, the sweetness of apples and pears, and the nutty richness of walnuts and Proso millets, all tied together with a tangy vinaigrette.

Ragi millet ‘roti’

Among Indian flatbreads, the cookbook has a recipe for Ragi Millet Roti. For people who can’t do without paranthas, there is the healthy Jowar Pumpkin Parantha and Bajra Mooli Paratha among others.

Little millet ‘kheer’

The book has good number of recipes for the sweets and dessert-loving folks too, among them being Sarvagun Meetha, Alsi Ki Pinni (a super energy ball), Jowar Halwa, Little Millet Kheer, Healthy Millet Hot Chocolate Pudding, Ragi Burfi, and Ragi Dry Fruits Panjeeri.

Jowar ‘halwa’

In bakes, the cookbook gives you recipes for making crispy and delicious Millet Shortbread Cookies, Orange Upside Down Sorghum Millet Cake, and more.

Healthy millet hot chocolate pudding

In a foreword to the book, Nutrihub CEO Dr B Dayakar Rao has written that millets are climate and nutri-smart crops, hailed as superfoods, good for the farmers, good for the planet, good for humans, and good for businesses as well.

Commending Chef Vikas Chawla for carefully crafting this book, which not only creates insights about millets in the culinary world but also kindles a passion for millets in kitchens globally.

“It features a wide range of dishes that not only highlight the distinct tastes and textures of millets but also illustrate how versatile these are in modern cooking,” he shared.

Amaranth millet
Barnyard millet
Browntop millet
Buckwheat millet
Finger millet
Foxtail millet
Kodo millet
Little millet
Pearl millet
Proso millet
Sorghum millet

Delhi Assembly Polls On 5th Feb, Results On 8th, Announces CEC Rajiv Kumar

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Delhi Assembly Polls On 5th Feb, Results On 8th, Announces CEC Rajiv Kumar
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal striving to become CM for 4th time
Main challenger BJP looking to end its more than two-and-a-half decades of ‘sanyas’, banking on its increasing vote share election after election, and cashing in on its anti-corruption narrative
Once the dominant party in the National Capital Territory, having ruled it from 1998 to 2013, Congress trying to resurrect itself from scratch

More than two lakh first-time voters and another 25.89 lakh younger voters are among the total 1.55 crore voters eligible to cast their ballot in the elections to the Delhi state assembly to be held in a single phase on February 5. The votes will be counted on February 8, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced today.

The electoral mix among the 1.55 crore voters is 83.49 lakh male voters and 71.74 lakh female voters.
The CEC sought to counter the allegations of the election process in the country being rigged, and while underscoring its integrity, asserted that not a single discrepancy has been found in votes counted through electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.

“Let me tell the nation today. After the Supreme Court mandated in 2019 that five VVPATs must be counted from each Assembly constituency, over 67,000 VVPATs have been checked.

“This translates to more than 4.5 crore (VVPAT) slips being verified. And let me assure you that not even the difference of one vote has been found with the new machines since 2019,” he said.

The term of the 70-member Assembly ends on February 23, and elections are to be concluded before that to constitute a new House.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is striving to become chief minister for a fourth consecutive time (his first term in 2013 had proved short-lived, as the minority government he was heading in a hung House, supported from outside by the Congress, fell).

The main challenger, the BJP is desperately trying to return to power after over two-and-a-half decades.
The Congress, once the dominant player in the national capital, but blown away by the AAP wave more than a decade ago, is trying to resurrect itself from scratch.

Congress, which was AAP’s ally for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is going alone in this election as the experiment failed and BJP made a hattrick of clean sweeps of all seven Lok Sabha seats in NCT of Delhi.

With Kejriwal himself and other top leaders of the party, which had rocketed to power largely on the anti-corruption, themselves mired in corruption cases in which they are out on bail, AAP may be facing its strongest challenge in this election, especially from the BJP, which election after election has been substantially increasing its vote share.

Congress too is seeking to resurrect itself in Delhi and seeking revenge on the same anti-corruption plank on which AAP had largely been instrumental in dethroning it from power in 2013.

However, AAP leaders appear to exude confidence that the populist/welfare policies pursued by its successive governments, and their narrative that the Centre, through the office of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G), is blocking many schemes, will help it fend off the BJP’s onslaught.

The outcome will largely be dependent on how much inroads the two rival parties can make into the vote share of the ruling party by continuing to hammer it, and its leader Kejriwal, on issues of corruption and non-performance.

Electoral history of Delhi Assembly since 1993

BJP has tasted power just once in the National Capital Territory, winning the first assembly elections in 1993, when Delhi’s Legislative Assembly was established (till then it was governed by a Metropolitan Council).

The Congress ruled Delhi for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013 with Sheila Dikshit leading the government in all three terms.

Born out of the Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement, then one-year-old AAP made a stunning debut in the Delhi assembly elections in 2013, emerging as the second largest party by winning 28 of the 70 seats, just four short of the largest single party, the BJP, and the incumbent party Congress being reduced to less than 10 seats.

Riding on the popularity of the movement, especially among the youth, AAP’s rookie leader Arvind Kejriwal had proved a giant killer, defeating three-time Congress chief minister Sheila Dikshit in her constituency of New Delhi by some 22,000 votes.

Due to a hung assembly, the BJP declined to form the government, and lucky Kejriwal was crowned Chief Minister in a minority government with outside support from the Congress, which was the principal loser of the AAP’s meteoric rise. His chief ministership, however, proved short-lived.

Two years later, when the government fell, and elections were called, AAP won a landslide victory, winning all but 3 of the 70 seats. The remaining 3 seats went to the BJP, and Congress drew a blank.
In 2000, AAP again swept the polls, surrendering just 5 more seats to the BJP, with the Congress maintaining its status quo.

Bumrah Breather Hands Australia 6-Wkt Win At SCG & BG Trophy After A Decade

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Bumrah Breather Hands Australia 6-Wkt Win At SCG & BG Trophy After A Decade
The jubilation by the Aussie players was not only about the 3-1 series win, which off course went a long way in restoring their pride after four consecutive BGT series losses to India (two at home and two away), but also for getting to defend their title in the WTC final 2025 against South Africa
On the other hand, India’s dream of making a historic hattrick of BGT series wins on Aussie soil and securing a slot in the third of all three WTC finals since 2021 lay shattered
Australia now hold every bilateral Test prize for which their men’s team competes – WTC mace 2023, the Ashes urn and the Border Gavaskar trophy (BGT)
Not taking the field in the hosts’ second innings, apparently on medical advice for potentially running the risk of aggravating his back spasm, his 32-wkt haul still won Jasprit Bumrah the Player of the Series award
That could potentially act as a balm on the bruised morale of the Indian team, which tumbled to its second successive humbling Test series loss, after suffering a whitewash in their own backyard against New Zealand earlier in the season
India’s wrecker-in-chief in the match, Scott Boland’s maiden 10-wkt match haul (4 in the first and 6 in the second), not only in Test cricket but also in his entire first-class career stretching back to 2011, won him the Player of the Match award

Though Australia looked the dominant side on admittedly as challenging wickets as any in all times Down Under, after their shocking Test series opening loss to India at Perth, it remained a hard-fought contest largely on account of the constant pressure put back on them by the most destructive bowler of the times, Jasprit Bumrah.

Once that constant thorn in their flesh was out of the way for their second outing of the
series-defining 5th and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the Aussie batsmen clearly breathed easy, and, despite a few hiccups along the way, played with complete freedom to wrap up the match rather quickly, overhauling the 162-run target set by India in just 27 overs at an average of 6 runs per over with six wickets in hand.

In doing so, they were visibly jubilant at wrapping up the series 3-1 and winning back the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) after 10 long years, while at the same time getting to defend their WTC title, which they won against India in 2023, in the final of the third edition of the championship against South Africa at Lord’s in June this year.

Australia now hold every iconic bilateral Test prize for which their men’s team competes – WTC mace 2023, the Ashes urn and the BGT. A photograph of the Aussie team posing with all three trophies, apparently reminding the cricketing world why they are such a force to be reckoned with, has gone viral.

Australian team posing with all three iconic Test series trophies after the BG Trophy win. PHOTO Credit: X/@cricketcomau

Aussies previously won the BGT in 2014-15

The previous time Aussies won the BGT, for the bilateral Test series, was way back in 2014-15. Since then, India have turned the tables on them by winning four consecutive series starting 2016-17 (two on Australian soil and two at home).

In the 2024-25 series therefore, Australia were playing for their pride, as much as India were vying for glory of making it a hattrick of Test series wins on Aussie soil and finding consecutive berths in all three editions of the WTC final since 2021.

The record spectator attendances seen on most days at each of the five venues – Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney – was a testament to the immense interest generated by the rivalry between the two cricketing giants, which, in modern times has grown bigger in proportions to even the historically bitter Ashes rivalry between Australia and England.

In his post-match press conference, Australian captain Pat Cummins, who was brilliant both as a player and captain in the series win, acknowledged that Player of the Series Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in their second innings made it easier for them to wrap up the match.

On the other hand, in the Indian team’s post-match press conference, the team’s chief coach Gautam Gambhir was left with the difficult task of defending the indefensible. While acknowledging that Australia obviously played better cricket overall, because of which India lost the series, he defended his team’s performance during the series, maintaining that they fought hard. “We had our chances (right through the series),” he said implying that all were not capitalised upon.

Earlier, overnight 141 for six (powered by a blistering 33-ball 61 by entertaining unorthodox wicketkeeper batsman Rishab Pant), with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar unbeaten on 8 and 6, respectively, the Indian second innings quickly folded up on the third day on Sunday with the addition of just 16 runs, a good 40-odd short of what the team might have wished for.

Cummins got rid of both the allrounders, before Boland did short work of the Indian tail.

When Bumrah came out to bat at No. 10, behind Mohd. Siraj, and departed as India’s last wicket to fall without troubling the scorers, all eyes were glued to the Indian team taking to the field after the break, looking for signs of the one and only.

The sinking feeling

Player of the Series Jasprit Bumrah. PHOTO Credit: X/cricketcomau

The hearts of Indian fans sank when they could not locate Bumrah in the Indian eleven that took to the field, marshalled by Virat Kohli in the absence of the stand-in captain, the regular captain Rohit Sharma having stood down in the match because of woefully poor form.

With one pacer less, that too the devastating strike bowler who had the Aussies batting lineup in disarray right through the series, and a paltry total to defend, the writing was clearly on the wall.

And wayward bowling upfront by the pace duo of Siraj and the less experienced Prasidh Krishna, apparently due to the additional pressure of shouldering the responsibility of bowling out the opposition without the pace spearhead of the side, did not help the Indian cause either, as it appeared that Australia would run away with the match.

The Indian bowlers gave away 16 extras, including 5 byes, 8 wides, and a no-ball, in the 27 overs bowled with the two opening bowlers accounting for 12 overs each and Nitish Reddy chipping in with two and Sundar just one.

Striking the Bumrah-less Indian opening bowling attack with abundant freedom, Sam Konstas, and even Usman Khwaja, who till then had just an odd time survived the Indian pace spearhead’s opening spell right through the series, raced to 39 in just the 4th over.

Australia lose three quick wickets

Prasidh Krishna celebrates one of the three wickets he claimed in quick succession before lunch in Australia’s 2nd innings at SCG on Sunday (05.01.2025).

It was at this stage that Krishna gained his rhythm, hitting the right line and length. He first dismissed Konstas (22 off 17 balls, 3x4s), and then accounted for the wickets of both Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Steve Smith (4) in quick succession, leaving the hosts vulnerable at 58-3.

But then the highest run-scorer of the series, Travis Head joined Khwaja and the two saw through the rest of the first session of play without any further loss, with Australia going into the lunch break at 71-3, still needing a good 91 runs to win, on a wicket which still had enough in it for the bowlers to exploit and spring a few surprises for the batters.

When, 13 runs later Khwaja too departed, falling to Siraj for a well made 41 off 45 balls (4x4s), India would still have fancied their chances. A couple of more quick wickets and the match would have turned on its head.

But that was not to be as the 6’ 7” tall debutant allrounder and the only batter with a half century in the first innings from both sides, Beau Webster strode in, and combing with a well-set Head, they together decisively took the match away from India with their effortless stroke-making.

The duo put up an unbeaten partnership of 58 runs in 53 balls (Travis Head 34 off 38 balls, 4x4s; Beau Webster 39 off 34 balls, 6x4s) to take the Aussies over the line and into celebratory hugging and jumping.

Pat Cummins first to 200 WTC wickets

MUTUAL RESPECT – Player of the Series and India’s stand-in Captain Jasprit Bumrah and winning captain Pat Cummins congratulating one another with a warm handshake at SCG on Sunday (05.01.2025). PHOTO Credit: X/@cricketcomau

Australian captain and star fast bowler Pat Cummins created history on Sunday, January 5, by becoming the first bowler in the world to take 200 wickets in the World Test Championship, initiated in 2021. The 31-year-old pacer, who led the Aussies to the WTC title win in 2023 by getting the better of India in the final played at The Oval, achieved the feat by dismissing Washington Sundar during India’s second innings of the fifth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground.

In the list of bowlers with the most wickets in WTC, Cummins is followed by countryman Nathan Lyon (196 wickets) and former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (195 wickets).

• Pat Cummins (Australia) – 200*
• Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 196
• Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 195
• Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 165
• Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 156

Cummins, who is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the five-match Test series against India, has 73 wickets to his name in 17 matches played so far in the 2023-25 edition of WTC. In the list of bowlers with the most wickets in a single edition of WTC, Cummins sits at No. 3 position.

Lyon (88 wickets in 2021-2023) and Jasprit Bumrah (77 wickets in 2023-25) are the only two players who have managed to take more wickets in one edition of WTC than him.

Most wickets in a single edition of WTC

• Nathan Lyon – 88 (2021-23)
• Jasprit Bumrah – 77 (2023-25)
• Pat Cummins – 73* (2023-25)
• Ravichandran Ashwin – 71 (2019-21)
• Pat Cummins – 70 (2019-21)

Player of the Match at SCG Scott Boland

India Take Psychological Lead; Rohit ‘Not Going Anywhere’; Bumrah’s Injury Concerns

Sanjeev Kochhar
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India Take Psychological Lead; Rohit ‘Not Going Anywhere’; Bumrah’s Injury Concerns
Australia bowled out for 181 in reply to India’s first innings total of 185 (Beau Webster 57, Bumrah 2-33, Mohd Siraj 3-51, Prasidh Krishna 3/42, Nitish Reddy 2-32)
After a blazing start, India slumped again to 78-4 in their second outing in 16 overs
India’s regular Test captain Rohit Sharma affirms ‘he is not going anywhere’, just opted out of Sydney Test in the interests of the team for remaining woefully out of form despite best efforts
Bumrah has injury concerns; bowled just one over after lunch before leaving field; has had a scan at a hospital; no official update on injury yet

Under pressure following a frustrating failure with the bat, and as captain of the side, Rohit Sharma finally chose to rest himself for the all-important 5th and final Test of the 2024-25 series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), allowing Shubman Gill to return to the side and KL Rahul to climb back into the opening slot.

But that did not change the script for India – the forgettable top order failures continued into the must-win Test for India, to retain the BGT, in the face of relentless and hostile Aussie pace attack led by Scott Boland (with amazing figures of 20-08-31-4), leaving Rishab Pant (40), Ravindra Jadeja (26), Washington Sundar (14) and Jasprit Bumrah (22) to put some respectability to the innings total.

With the team bundled out for a paltry 185 runs, less than half-an-hour before close, the visitors could take heart in that man Bumrah, leading the side for the second match during the series in the absence of Rohit, bowling with equal hostility and prising out the wicket of Usman Khwaja off the last ball of the day (Aus 9-1 in 3 overs).

SCG witnessed a record spectator attendance of 47,988 at the SCG on Friday for the biggest day-1 crowd since 1975-76.

Had allrounder Ravindra Jadeja been dismissed from either of the chances he offered, when in single figures, Australia’s day one dominance would have even more pronounced.

India’s 185 represented the lowest first-innings score by a touring team at the SCG since they were rolled for 150 in the first Test of the current millennium, a match they went on to lose by an innings and 141 runs as Australia piled on 5-552 in reply.

Boland misses hattrick

The sharp seam movement and uneven bounce offered by the SCG wicket was exploited to the hilt by Boland with his immaculate line and length, narrowly missing a hattrick on the way, coming within a whisker of finding the edge of Washington Sundar’s bat with his unsuccessful hattrick ball.

If a somewhat resurgent Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, who replaced an injured Akash Deep, in tandem with the awesome Bumrah, can exploit the wicket and come hard at the Aussies, India’s humble total could prove sizable.

Nasty body blows because of uneven bounce

The hostility in the wicket caused a few nasty blows to the batsmen on both sides and medical teams had to rush in to provide first aid. Rishab Pant took the most body blows.

Washington Sundar took one right in the ‘box’, and Bumrah in the lower stomach. In return, Usman Khwaja got hit on his upper glove by a nasty rising back-of-alength delivery from Bumrah, before eventually capitulating to the Indian pacer for the sixth time in the series.

After Bumrah won the toss and elected to bat first, KL Rahul, who opened the innings with Yashavi Jaiswal, was the first to depart on 4 (innings total 11) in the fifth over of the match, flicking an easy half volley from Mitchell Starc off the pads straight into the hands of Sam Konstas at square leg.

Jaiswal (10) departed six runs later, edging the fourth ball of Boland’s first over, which pitched on a good length and seamed away, to debutant allrounder Beau Webster in the third slip. Webster replaced an out-of-form Mitchell Marsh.

Kohli’s escape first ball

Virat Kohli was lucky to survive first ball off Boland, for the umpteenth time fishing outside the off stump and offering a sharp low chance to Steve Smith in the third slip. Smith appeared to scoop the ball after taking it single-handedly on the fingers of his right hand at almost turf level for Marnus Labuschagne to complete the ‘catch’ at gully.

The on-field umpire made a referral to the third umpire, who, after repeatedly looking at closeups, ruled in favour of the batsman maintaining that the ball momentarily touched the grass between leaving Smith’s fingers and scooping up to Labuschagne.

Later, interviewed by Fox Cricket at lunch time, Smith was unequivocal in his belief his right hand was wholly beneath the edge from Kohli when he flicked it skywards for Marnus Labuschagne to complete the ‘catch’ at gully.

“Hundred per cent, no denying it whatsoever,” Smith said when asked if it was a legitimate catch.

“But umpire’s made the decision, we’ll move on.”

Washington Sundar unlucky to be given out

Later in the game Washington Sundar during a similar referral was adjudged caught down the leg side from a disputable brush of the glove. It was based on evidence decidedly less conclusive than that which saved Kohli. Clearly bewildered by the decision, Sundar defiantly stood his ground well after the third umpire’s verdict was broadcast, but eventually trudged out of the ground.

Meanwhile, after Kohli survived the first ball scare, during his third wicket partnership with Shubman Gill, both batsmen struggled to find any kind of fluency. Gill also employed some glaringly unsubtle methods to stall proceedings in Lyon’s last over before lunch to ensure Australia could not sneak in another before the break, sparking a sharp exchange with slip fielder Steve Smith.

The by-play seemed to snap Gill’s concentration and, from what proved the final ball before the adjournment, he charged down the pitch at Lyon for a block and edged a simple catch from the shoulder of the blade into the hands of a delighted Smith for a 64-ball 20.

Kohli’s occupation ended at 17 half an hour after lunch in the most predictable fashion. For the seventh time in as many completed knocks in this series, he was caught behind the wicket fending outside the off stump.

The recurring glitch in Kohli’s once formidable game is underscored by the fact it’s now 22 times since the start of 2021 he’s been dismissed by a rival seamer in that fashion.

And his struggle today was evident from the fact that it was his longest Test innings (in terms of balls faced) during which he did not manage a boundary, with the 69 he endured easily eclipsing the previous benchmark of 48 against England in Chennai also in 2021.

Rishab Pant once again showed resilience

Rishab Pant showed remarkable patience, enduring blow after blow on his body. His only flash of intent came the ball after Jadeja was dropped at gully, when he charged debutant Beau Webster and deposited him beyond the sightscreen.

Uncharacteristically, Pant today copped more blows than he landed, including a thunderous hit on his left bicep from Starc that instantly caused a huge bruise, and a stinging crack high on his right shoulder near the base of his helmet that caused the Australia quick to show immediate concern.

Eventually, after also receiving treatment for a resounding thud in the groin off Cummins and another painful whack to the inside thigh, Pant chose to fight back and toe-ended an attempted pull shot of Boland to Cummins at mid-on. His 40 came off 98 balls (3x4s, 1×6).

Collapse triggered

Just as happened on that eventful last session at the MCG, his dismissal triggered a batting collapse with fourth-Test century maker Nitish Kumar Reddy guiding a regulation catch to Smith from the first ball he faced. On his hattrick ball, Boland missed the edge of left-handed Sundar’s extended bat by a whisker outside the off stump.

When Starc pinned Jadeja (26 off 98 balls, 2x4s) in front of middle stump, India had surrendered 3 wickets for 14 runs in the space of seven overs after Pant’s wicket.
The collapse became 4 for 28 when Washington Sundar departed from the controversial decision.

Bumrah’s cameo

Towards the end, Bumrah played a cameo (22 off 19 balls, 3x4s, 1×6), hitting two consecutive fours straight down bowler Beau Webster’s throat, and a towering six off Pat Commins in the next over, only to sky the very next ball, ending India’s innings.

The Aussie innings began with a bang, with dashing young opener Sam Konstas charging Bumrah first ball and smacked it to the mid-wicket fence. That was the opener’s only big hit in three overs that were bowled before close as the wily Bumrah, with his variations, was able to curtail his stroke-making.

Usman Khwaja, however, continued to be intimidated by the Indian pacer, so much so that after being hit on the glove by a nasty delivery, the opener employed Shubman Gill like tactics by taking his sweet time to settle down to ensure that Bumrah’s second over was the last over of the day.

Hot exchange

With only two balls of his over left to bowl, Bumrah, apparently annoyed with Khwaja for not heeding his urge to settled down quickly, even took a few challenging steps towards the batter from his runup.
Following this Konstas, at the non-striker end, also engaged Bumrah in a hot verbal exchange, which the on-field umpire was able to end with his quick intervention.

Khwaja managed to survive the fifth ball, but Bumrah had the last laugh on the last ball of the day, when Khawaja’s edge was snapped up by KL Rahul at second slip, much to the jubilation of the entire team which rushed to congratulate their captain for the match, while Bumrah ran a long stare at Konstas, who had by then started to walk away apparently unwilling to precipitate matters.

Maritime Industry Beckons Women: DG-Shipping Event For Seafarers At Chandigarh

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Maritime Industry Beckons Women: DG-Shipping Event For Seafarers At Chandigarh
In historically male-dominated sector, women’s participation miniscule
Policy framework in works to ensure safety and inclusivity; scholarships and other incentives being offered
DDG-Shipping Capt (Dr) Daniel Joseph shares open house with seafarers from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh in Chandigarh to address their concerns

The maritime industry is not about seafarers alone. It offers rewarding employment opportunities in a wide range of shore-based and sea-going roles, including shipbuilding, seafaring, logistics, port operations, marine engineering, and more. Historically, the marine sector has been heavily male dominated, with very few opportunities for women and girls.

All that is set to change as part of implementation of one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.

Talking about seafarers, India has set a target to increase the strength of active women seafarers threefold by 2026, from the current 10,284 active women seafarers, which makes for a miniscule percentage of the total seafarers’ strength of 3.2 lakh in the country.

Sharing this information with your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com on the sidelines of a largely attended session on “Seafarers’ Rights and Employment” organised by the Director General of Shipping in India recently, on the initiative of Capt Sanjay Prashar, a campaigner for seafarers’ welfare, at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh recently, Deputy Director General of Shipping Capt (Dr) Daniel Joseph said among the active women seafarers, 50 hold the position of Captain (of a ship).

The session was an effort at outreach by the DG of Shipping in India to address rights and welfare issues involving seafarers and enlist local support in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh for propagating various government initiatives. On behalf of the government, the DDG-Shipping vowed stricter action on a range of issues raised by the seafarers, including fraud, better safety, healthcare and training.

Report on gender equality

A recent report, titled the “Survey on Gender Equality in Indian Maritime Industry (2024)”, developed by Maritime SheEO, with funding from the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Mumbai, has shed light on the significant strides and ongoing challenges for women in the Indian maritime sector over the past five years.

The report highlighted that since the first Maritime SheEO survey in 2019, female participation in the sector has significantly increased and maintains an upward trajectory.

The representation of women CEOs has risen impressively from 3.9% in 2019 to 21.4% in 2024, while the adoption of gender-neutral practices has grown from 80% to 92.7%.

These achievements, the report said, underscore the success of various initiatives, with women’s participation in the sector poised for even greater growth in the coming years.

The report, however, emphasised the importance of specific actions to improve working conditions and career opportunities for women in maritime roles, particularly in seafaring, where participation has seen only a slight increase from 89% in 2019 to 89.5% in 2024.

According to the report, recent data underscores a significant gender gap persisting in top leadership roles within maritime organizations. Male CEOs and Managing Directors outnumber their female counterparts by a ratio of approximately 4:1, with 78.6% being male and 21.4% being female. This disparity highlights systemic issues hindering women’s advancement to executive positions.

Balbir Singh Mangat (82), Ex-Chief Engineer, receiving the Life Time Achievement Award, for his 43 years of service to sailing, from DDG-Shipping Capt (Dr) Daniel Joseph during a session for seafarers organised in Chandigarh on 27.12.2024

94% women seafarers on passenger ships

Addressing THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2024 in Chennai in November this year, JP Irene Cynthia, managing director, Kamarajar Port, has been quoted as saying during a panel discussion: “The number of women [in the maritime sector] is extremely low,” adding that about 94 per cent of India’s women seafarers are employed on passenger ships. “So, can we really consider them core crew?” she asked.

However, noting a shifting trend, she said the increasing number of women cadets enrolling at the Indian Maritime University (IMU) and other institutes, about 6 to 7 per cent in India, compared to 8 per cent worldwide, means that the current 2 per cent representation will likely grow to around 6 to 7 per cent in the near future, and is bound to increase further over time.

Cynthia’s optimism was based on the growth of women in registered ratings and officer roles. “In 2021, we had around 3,000 registered ratings and officers,” she said. “By 2023, this number rose to about 4,500 to 4,700. So, in just two years, we have seen a 50 per cent growth in women crew in the sector.”

The conclave stressed that a safe and supportive ecosystem is essential to attract more women into maritime roles. “Imagine ‘pink ships’ – vessels with at least 40 to 50 per cent female crew members,” said Cynthia. “This could be a powerful entry point. While we do not necessarily need women-only initiatives, such steps could help women enter the sector with greater confidence, knowing they are part of a safe, supportive environment.”

She stressed the necessity of robust anti-harassment policies that are both practical and strictly enforced. “Equal pay is another crucial factor,” she said. “While the government mandates equal pay, this must extend across all areas of the industry to achieve true equity.”

Maritime Task Force for Women Seafarers

Addressing this issue, Capt Joseph informed that in November this year a ‘Maritime Task Force for Women Seafarers’, headed by Harjeet Kaur Joshi, a former first ever woman Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) of India’s largest and most diversified shipping company, the Shipping Corporation of India, has been constituted under the ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ initiative.

The task force, with members from various stakeholders, has been mandated to prepare a comprehensive policy document aimed at protecting and enhancing the career path, safety and well-being of women seafarers.

In support of this effort, the Maritime India Vision 2030 is expected to employ a multi-faceted approach, including career counselling, scholarships, and initiatives to combat gender discrimination.

Among the incentives already being extended to women and girls is a Rs 1 lakh scholarship to them in their training courses and introduction of all-women special training batches.

The initiative has drawn inspiration from successful global examples, such as the one adopted in Taiwan, which has effectively increased the number of women seafarers through targeted policies and promotion. Taiwan is a heavyweight in shipping development, three container shipping companies of which are ranked as top 11 globally.

A section of the participating seafarers in a session organised by the Director General of Shipping at Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh

‘Sagar Mein Yog’ initiative

Pointing out that seafaring is a profession that demands utmost physical and mental resilience, Capt Joseph shared that under another initiative ‘Sagar Mein Yog’ in collaboration with various yoga institutes, a structured curriculum is being designed to integrate yoga practices into maritime training institutes, as well as onboard ships and at onshore facilities.

The programme aims to promote the overall well-being of seafarers by addressing physical health, mental health, and stress management through the incorporation of yoga into their daily routines.

Crisis Management Group

According to a white paper on firm commitment to wellbeing of seafarers and to maritime industry, published by the DG Shipping in August this year, a Crisis Management Group has been constituted under the chairmanship of DG-Shipping, which undertakes weekly reviews of urgent cases involving distressed seafarers.

Claiming successes in live cases involving stranded and abandoned seafarers, the white paper said the Crisis Management Group has ensured safety of seafarers and their repatriation back to India, including the case of safe return of 23 seafarers who had been stranded on the ‘MT Advantage Sweet’ in Iran for nearly six months.

Call Centre for Grievances Redressal

The white paper also talks about a Comprehensive Grievances Redressal Mechanism in the works. which will include an integrated call centre to address seafarers’ issues in a timely and transparent manner.
Examination Reform

A significant examination reform is also being implemented to eliminate human intervention and reduce ambiguities in the certification process for seafarers, in line with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) requirements.

Capt Sanjay Prashar’s initiative

The session, during which seafarers largely from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh participated in an open house with the Deputy Director General Shipping, was initiated by Capt Sanjay Prashar, ex-member of National Shipping Board of India, and CEO, VR Maritime, Mumbai, with a branch office in Mohali.

Prashar said seafarers from these landlocked states have been demanding that the DG Shipping open an office in Chandigarh for faster disposal of their concerns and complaints. But in the interim, the session provided a useful platform to them to share their individual or larger issues and have them addressed on the spot.

About Director General of Shipping

The Directorate General of Shipping, India deals with implementation of shipping policy and legislation to ensure the safety of life and ships at sea, prevention of marine pollution, promotion of maritime education and training in co-ordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), regulation of employment and welfare of seamen, development of coastal shipping, augmentation of shipping tonnage, examination and certification of Merchant Navy Officers, Supervision and Control of the allied offices under its administrative jurisdiction.

On Remarkable Day Of Cricket, Aussies End India’s 13 Years Unbeaten Run At MCG

Sanjeev Kochhar
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On Remarkable Day Of Cricket, Aussies End India’s 13 Years Unbeaten Run At MCG
Register emphatic 184-run win, after another top order failure, and a dramatic lower order collapse, with only a defiant 4th wicket stand of 88-runs between Jaiswal and Pant frustrating the fiery Aussie bowlers for a full 2nd session of play
India can still hope for a win at Sydney to draw the series 2-2 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, though a hattrick of berths in the WTC final is no longer in their hands irrespective of the outcome
With his innings of 82 and 84 at the MCG, Jaiswal has finished 2024 as Test cricket’s second-highest scorer behind England’s Joe Root
The highest wicket-taker in the series so far, with 30 victims at the extraordinary average of 12.83, Jasprit Bumrah stands a chance to overtake the record for most wickets in a series by a visiting bowler, which remains the 38 claimed by England’s Maurice Tate way back in 1924-25

The Australian players, and fans in the record last day crowd of 74,362 at the MCG, erupted in wild jubilation as Nathan Lyon trapped Mohammed Siraj lbw in the last hour of play to end India’s 13-year-old unbeaten run in the Boxing Day Tests at the venue by registering an emphatic 184-run victory on Monday.

Chasing a challenging but achievable target on a somewhat tricky wicket, all India needed was a solid start for the proven lower order to do the rest. But once again the big guns failed to fire.
Though the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma managed to weather the Aussie storm in the first 16 overs, when the Aussie pace battery generated pace, bounce, and movement, both in the air and off the pitch, and kept beating the blade, but without luck.

Returning from the first break of the day, the horribly out of form Rohit Sharma made the same mistake as he did in the first innings, trying to force a Pat Cummins delivery from outside the off stump towards the leg side and handing a sharp catch to Mitchell Marsh at gulley when he had made just 9 runs (40 balls). Five balls later, in the same over, when in-form KL Rahul indecisively edged one to be caught in the slips for a duck, the thought of a chase all but evaporated.

Virat Kohli also set into a defensive mode, hanging around for 28 balls before on the 29th his long-standing vulnerability outside the off stump brought about his downfall off a Mitchell Starc angled delivery for 5 runs just before lunch. This was the sixth time in as many dismissals this series the once-great batter has been snared behind the wicket.

In strode Rishab Pant to join Jaiswal, and together the duo sensibly played out the entire second session frustrating the Aussie bowlers. They stitched together an 88-run partnership off 195 balls for the fourth wicket, raising the prospects of the visitors being able to salvage a draw.

But as happens impulsively with Pant, he could not hold himself back when part-time off spinner Travis Head was brought on and he dragged one short. An all-mighty swing of the bat by Pant, rocking on to the back foot, intended towards deep mid-wicket, found Mitchell March running quite a distance from long on to make the catch on his second attempt close to the boundary rope. The 114-ball 30 was the slowest innings of his Test career (min 30 balls).

Entire Aussie team couching around Mohammed Siraj in anticipation of completing the Indian second innings collapse, and successfully appealing for an lbw.

That triggered an Indian lower order collapse, not witnessed in recent years on Australian soil. Including Pant’s, seven wickets fell for 34 runs, the Indian second innings effort ending at 155 runs, which was a far cry from the heroics of Sydney 2021 when they batted out an entire day to save a Test match.

Mullagh Medal for Pat Cummins

Australian captain Pat Cummins, with his stunning match-winning display with the ball (6 wickets) and bat (90 runs), claimed the Mullagh Medal after being declared the player of the match in the Boxing Test for the second consecutive year.

Jaiswal’s dismissal for 84 courted quite a controversy when bowler and captain Pat Cummins, confident that the batsman had gloved the ball into the hands of wicketkeeper Alex Carey while attempting a hook shot to a rising delivery down the leg side, reviewed the not-out decision of on-field umpire Joel Wilson.

The third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat had to have conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field umpire’s decision. Though the snickometer did not show any significant noise spike as the ball went past the batter’s glove, the third umpire went by close-up visual evidence, which apparently, in his view, showed the ball deflecting a bit after touching the batter’s glove, and declared him out.

While commentating, Indian great Sunil Gavaskar criticised the third umpire’s verdict arguing that when you employ technology the third umpire is bound by it. He felt that the deviation of the ball, basis which the third umpire took his decision, could have been a result of an optical illusion.

Jaiswal 2nd highest run-getter in Tests this year

Yashasvi Jaiswal argues with on-field umpires about his not out decision being overturned by the third umpire

But Jaiswal’s 84, following his first innings’ 82, that too ended in similarly ignominious circumstances (run out in a calamitous mix-up with Virat Kohli), ensured he finished 2024 as Test cricket’s second highest scorer behind England’s Joe Root.

The left-handed dashing opener has scored 1,478 runs at an average of 54.74, including three centuries and nine fifties in 15 matches this year, his highest score being 214 not out against England. Joe Root has 1556 from 31 innings, with two of his English compatriots Ben Duckett (1149 in 32 innings) and Harry Brook (1100 from 20 innings) finishing third and fourth highest run-getters this year.

Jaiswal also surpassed Virender Sehwag’s record of 1,462 runs in 2008 to achieve the best calendar year by an Indian opener. He is now fourth in the overall list of openers, led by Graeme Smith’s 1,656, also in 2008.

He is also now second on the list of most Test runs scored by an Indian in a calendar year, behind only Sachin Tendulkar’s 1,562 runs in 2010.

Bumrah has chance to surpass 70-year-old record

Among other positives for India from the match, by quickly claiming the lone Aussie wicket standing in Australia’s second innings, that of Nathan Lyon on Monday, speed king Jasprit Bumrah completed his 13th five-for in 44 Tests, though he is yet to claim a 10-wicket haul in a match.

This was his 30th victim of the series (at the extraordinary average of 12.83) having completed his third five-wicket haul in four matches.

With the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign beginning at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday, Bumrah remains with a chance to overtake the record for most wickets in a series by a visiting bowler which remains the 38 claimed by England’s Maurice Tate way back in 1924-25.

Rohit Sharma at the nadir of his Test career

Having missed the first Test due to paternity leave, Rohit has not passed 10 in any of his five innings this series with his rival skipper having claimed his wicket on four of those occasions (from just 44 deliveries sent at him).

With 31 runs at a dismal average of 6.20, Rohit’s return is the worst by any visiting captain in Australia (two Tests or more) since Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal managed just 24 runs at an average of 6.00 from his four innings in 2019.

To further place those numbers in context, even renowned West Indies batting bunny Courtney Walsh averaged 7.75 from seven hits at the bottom of his team’s batting order in 1996-97.

Record crowd at MCG
It was a record aggregate crowd for a Test match in Australia with today’s 74,362 pushing it to 373,691 across five days, eclipsing the previous benchmark which was 350,534 across six days of the 1937 Ashes Test against England.

Aussies are edging closer to making the WTC final

Haryana Startup Smartcircuits Innovation’s Module Finds Place In India’s First AI Space Lab

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Haryana Startup Smartcircuits Innovation’s Module Finds Place In India’s First AI Space Lab
Company also unveils its Small Satellite Programme for schools, universities and researchers

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is India’s third generation launch vehicle that, besides numerous Indian and foreign satellites, has launched two spacecraft -Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft in 2013 – which later travelled to the Moon and Mars, respectively.

The country’s warhorse launch vehicle will tonight blast off into space to launch two specially designed satellites as part of ISRO PSLV-C60 SpaDeX mission to demonstrate the country’s recently developed space docking technology, on successful completion of which India will join as the fourth member of a select club of three nations possessing this technology.

The space docking technology is key to India’s planned human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions in the future.

In addition to its primary space docking technology goals, SpaDEX mission will also utilise the PSLV’s spent fourth stage, which is responsible for the correct injection of payloads into their desired orbits, as an experimental platform, known as POEM-4, allowing for various microgravity experiments. A total of 24 payloads will be flown during this mission, including contributions from academia and startups.
One of these experimental private payloads will be Hyderabad-based company TakeMe2Space’s (TM2Space) MOI-TD (My Orbital Infrastructure – Technology Demonstrator), India’s first artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory in space.

The company, specializing in advanced satellite solutions and orbital infrastructure, aims to revolutionize space research by enabling real-time data processing in orbit. Its AI laboratory will allow for the processing of data directly in space, eliminating the need for extensive ground-based data transmission and significantly reducing costs associated with space research.

Haryana startup Smartcircuits Innovation’s contribution

As part of TM2Space’s AI lab in space, a Haryana-based space tech startup and ISRO-certified space tutor, Smartcircuits Innovation, claims to have developed an experimental module that will measure the temperature profile of a rolling satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at various orbital stages using an external sensor.

Space tech researchers and Smartcircuits Innovation co-founders Sourabh Kaushal, Raghav Sharma, and Sachin Sharma, who have helped establish AI and Space Labs in many Chandigarh tricity schools, are confident that the data collected from the experimental module will be helpful to space agencies for the future space missions as temperature management is a crucial part of any space mission.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh recently two of Smartcircuits Innovation’s co-founders – Sourabh Kaushal and Raghav Sharma – asserted that their experimental module is an important achievement as it marks the first time a Haryana-based startup is sending such an experiment into orbit. School students actively participated in coding for the experiment, highlighting the project’s emphasis on inclusivity and education, they added.

Small Satellite Programme

Smartcircuits Innovation also unveiled its Small Satellite Programme, also known as the Near-Space Satellite Launch Project, to empower students from schools, universities, and researchers to develop low-cost satellites and launch them to an altitude of approximately 50 km, reaching the stratosphere. Participants can receive live data on Earth and later send their experiments into orbit using POEM (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module).

Bumrah’s Top Order Blitz, Aussie Lower Order Revival, A Thrilling Finish In Prospect

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Bumrah’s Top Order Blitz, Aussie Lower Order Revival, A Thrilling Finish In Prospect
With Australia 333 in lead, and last man standing, India can fancy their chances on final day
May be required to score at four runs per over, which, on paper, is doable
If only the top order can stand up, NOW!

Who says the days of Test cricket are over! The home of the longest format of the game, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), has seen record crowds throng the massive stadium to watch the Boxing Day 4th Test match for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which has sprung new surprises every single of the four days which have gone by, with a thrilling finish in prospect on the final day on Monday.

After the fluctuating fortunes, brilliant bowling performances, and remarkable resilience shown by the lower order batsmen from both sides, it’s anybody’s game at stumps on the fourth day.

The home team’s tail wagged and wagged, after another top order batting collapse, triggered once again by the wizardry of Jasprit Bumrah, this time ably supported by an inspired bowling effort by Mohammed Siraj. From attempting to make quick runs, their focus shifted to saving the match.

(LATEST UPDATE: However, the hard work of the Indian bowlers was negated by yet another top order collapse, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc sending back the top three batters – Rohit Sharma (9), KL Rahul (duck) and Virat Kohli (5) – with just 33 runs on the board in 26.1 overs, leaving the young Yashasvi Jaiwal and Rishab Pant to hold the fort.)

From 91/6 at one stage, the Aussies held on to dear life, with No. 3 batsman Marnus Labuschagne managing to survive long enough to get to 70, and captain Pat Cummins again making a solid contribution of 41 runs. The unbeaten 55-run last wicket stand between Nathan Lyon and local hero Scott Boland further solidified the Aussie position by taking their total to 228/9. They lead by 333 runs by virtue of their 105 run first innings advantage.

The Aussies may not have reached this far had young Indian batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal not had his worst nightmare in the field. The usually safe hands floored as many as three catches at crucial moments of the innings.

Considering what the Indian batting line-up, especially the lower order, is demonstrably capable of, and should top guns Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fire too, the Aussie team management would want the last wicket pair to occupy the crease for a little longer on the final day and add a few more valuable runs, thereby obviating the possibility of an Indian win while trying to force a win.

For India, it would take the biggest successful fourth innings run chase at the MCG, but the famous Gabba Test of the 2020-21 tour should act as a reminder to the Aussies that nothing is beyond the Indian team’s potential abilities.

However, Marnus Labuschagne believes the conditions at the MCG are trickier. “The seam movement’s probably been the same, but just the amount of bounce is significantly lower. So, that makes for pretty tricky batting,” he is reported to have commented on the prospects for the final day’s play.

As things stand, Australia will have around 90 overs to capture 10 Indian wickets, while the visitors will need to score at around four runs per over to decide who heads into the final NRMA Insurance Test at Sydney starting Friday with a decisive lead.

The second slot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be played at the Lord’s in June 2025, is also at stake for both sides. Australia is currently ahead of India in the race to clinch the second slot, and a win at MCG would make their passage easier. South Africa have already made it to the WTC final with a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test match which ended at the Centurion on Sunday.

India still fancy their chances of making it a hattrick of WTC final berths if they win both Tests in Melbourne and in Sydney and take the series 3-1, leaving the rest to other outcomes.

Earlier in the day on Sunday, India’s overnight hero Nitish Reddy’s innings, and with him India’s, ended with the addition of only 11 runs, reducing India’s deficit to105.

As expected, Nitish Kumar’s inspiring knock appeared to infuse fresh confidence and determination in the Indian team, and both Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, who shared the new ball, came hard at the Aussie openers, who had little answer to their seaming deliveries. Bumrah tasted first blood, taking sweet revenge for his first innings hammering by teenage debutant Sam Konstas, castling him through the gate for just 8.

Though Akash Deep equally troubled the top order batsmen no end, he was not so lucky with wickets.

First change Mohammed Siraj looked a different bowler altogether. His inspired spell saw off the other shaky opener Usman Khwaja (21), whom he clean-bowled, and Steve Smith (13), who edged an almighty heave at a widish ball to Rishab Pant behind the stumps.

Then came Bumrah’s blitz in his three-over second spell when he got rid of the dangerous Travis Head (1), for the second time in the match, Mitchell Marsh (duck), and Alex Carey (2). Australia lost 4-11 in 21 balls to crash from 2-80 to 6-91, and Jasprit Bumrah took 3-3 in 11 balls.

With Maiden Test Ton In Melbourne, Nitish Is ‘Ready’ For The Big League

Sanjeev Kochhar
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With Maiden Test Ton In Melbourne, Nitish Is ‘Ready’ For The Big League
His 127-run partnership with fellow allrounder Washington Sundar not only rescues India from follow-on but also shifted it to competitive mode
Still unbeaten, Nitin Reddy has now become the second highest run-getter in the series from both sides, though far behind Travis Head in terms of runs scored

The challenging tours Down Under have one big upside for India. Young blood is proving itself equal to the challenge, and stepping up to claim its rightful place in the Sun. So, if young wicketkeeper-batsman Rishab Pant was the standout performer during the previous Test series there for the Border-Gavaskar trophy back in 2020-21, rookie allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has claimed that space in the underway 2024-25 series.

With his massive rescue effort in partnership with fellow allrounder Washington Sundar on one of the biggest and highest stages of world cricket – the Melbourne Cricket Ground – before 83,073 spectators, the 21-year-old, making only his fourth Test appearance, has etched his name in the cricket history books in glowing letters.

Reddy’s 105* and Sundar’s patient 50, and their 127-run 8th-wicket partnership in a pressure cooker situation, not only saved the visitors from the ignominy of a follow-on but also placed them in a competitive position.

India, with 358/9 at stumps on the third day of the Boxing Day Test, though still in arrears of the massive Aussie first innings total by 116 runs, are in a much stronger position to make a match of it.

A natural stroke-maker, Reddy displayed remarkable composure, technique, and situational awareness by deftly picking the balls and gaps in the field to unleash his array of shots, unlike Rishab Pant earlier, who was roasted by commentators, especially the great Sunil Gavaskar, for throwing away his wicket attempting reckless shots, at a time when India needed him to occupy the crease and make a big score.

On reaching his maiden international hundred in copybook style, with a picture-perfect lofted straight on-drive off Scott Boland, an elated Reddy expressed his gratitude to the Indian dugout and the crowd also in style. He balanced his helmet on his grounded bat and took a knee, apparently enacting the famous ‘Shourangya’ style from Prabhas-starrer ‘Salaar’. He received a standing ovation for his extraordinary feat.

Earlier, on reaching his half century too, he had apparently enacted the famous ‘Pushpa’ gesture from the Allu Arjun-starrer.

Mutyala, Reddy’s father, and his staunchest supporter through the challenges of a family with humble means in making his cricket career, was seen tensely watching and praying for his son nearing the 100-mark in the front row of one of the spectators’ stands. And, when the son hit the final runs, he was overwhelmed with emotions, unable to hold back the tears of joy, with equally overjoyed family members and other Indian fans flocking around him in congratulation.

Coming under the circumstances it did, Nitish Reddy’s innings could be considered more significant than the sensational batting on the opening day of the Test match by debutant teenage opener Sam Konstas (60 off 67 balls) to break Indian speed sensation Jasprit Bumrah’s shackles on the Aussie top order right through the previous three Tests, and Steve Smith’s innings of 140.

Nitish Reddy appears to mimic the famous ‘Pushpa’ gesture from the Allu Arjun-starrer on reaching his half century at the MCG on Saturday (28.12.2024)

In the process, Reddy also rewrote several entries in the record records.

He became the third youngest player from India to score his maiden Test century in Australia, and the first Indian cricketer to score a century Down Under at No. 8. With Washington Sundar, he also posted the highest partnership for India for the 8th wicket in Australia.

There are many more, which we’ll share later in this write-up.

Congratulatory messages

Congratulatory posts from former cricketers, film stars, politicians and fans flooded social media soon after Nitish crossed the triple-digit mark.

“What an innings, dear Nitish. To become the third youngest Indian to score a [maiden] Test hundred in Aus and what an occasion to do it with the team in trouble. I am sure this will be first of many. Enjoyed your positivity and fearless stroke play. Keep it up. God bless you always,” former cricketer VVS. Laxman posted on X.

Sachin Tendulkar too chipped in, congratulating Nitish on his achievement. “A knock to remember by Nitish. He has impressed me right from the 1st Test and his composure and temperament have been on display right through. Today he took it a notch higher to play a crucial innings in this series. Wonderfully and ably supported by @Sundarwashi5 (Washington Sundar) as well. Well played!”

“Congratulations to Visakhapatnam youth K. Nitish Kumar Reddy for scoring a century in the fourth Test match of the Border Gavaskar Test Trophy 2024 against Australia in Melbourne. I sincerely wish him to achieve more such victories and to be part of the Indian cricket team and strengthen the country’s reputation,” Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on X.

Fans and denizens flocked to Nitish’s residence to celebrate the century. While the family was in Australia for the match, scenes of jubilation were witnessed at the cricketer’s house in PM Palem, Visakhapatnam, with fans bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.

Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) and Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) heaped praise on Nitish. ACA president Kesineni Sivanadh (Chinni), who also represents Vijayawada in the Lok Sanbha, announced a cash prize of ₹25 lakh for Nitish. He said that the Chief Minister will hand over the prize money to Nitish on his return from the Aussie tour.

Brickbats for Rishab Pant

Publicly branded as irresponsible under the critical circumstances for India: Rishab Pant playing his trademark falling scoop shot. A skied edge off a Scott Boland delivery landed straight in the hands of Nathan Lyon at deep third man.

Taking the field on Saturday in the company of Ravinder Jadeja, with India precariously placed at 164/5 chasing a daunting Aussie total, Rishab Pant quite expectedly came out blazing, hitting proper cricketing shots.

But soon overconfidence got the better of him, and after missing his trademark falling scoop shot off Scott Boland, and taking an apparently painful blow on the stomach, he attempted it again the next ball, intending to clear the deep fine leg fielder, only to sky a thickish edge straight to Nathon Lyon on the other side of the wickets at deep third man.

Rishab was roasted on social media for the irresponsible manner he literally gifted his wicket to the opposition at a critical moment in the match.

Indian great Sunil Gavaskar was particularly severe in his comments while commentating on ABC Sport. “STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! You’ve got two fielders there and you still got for that [shot]. You’ve missed the previous shot and look where you’ve been caught, you’ve been caught at deep third man. That is throwing away your wicket. Not in the situation that India was. You have to understand the situation as well. You cannot say that it is your natural game. I am sorry it is not your natural game.”

Nitish Reddy’s MCG century – in numbers

Nitish Reddy has been by far India’s most consistent batter in the series, and the maiden Test century couldn’t have come at a more opportune time and that too at an iconic venue.

He is now the second highest run-getter in the series so far from both sides. In six innings he has played, the right hander has amassed 284 runs so far, posting scores of 41, 38 n.o., 42, 42, 16 and now 105 n.o. Though he is way behind the top scorer Travis Head in terms of runs scored (The Aussie left hander has a tally of 409 runs, with two centuries, from as the same number of innings), Reddy with two unbeaten knocks has a better average of 71.00 against Head’s 68.16.

That represents the best average of any India batter making his maiden Test tour of Australia, and the best of any visiting batter (minimum two Tests) since Pakistan’s Azhar Ali returned 81.2 from his three matches in 2016-17.

His 105* at the MCG is the highest for a batter from No. 8 or lower in Tests at the venue. Australian Reggie Duff’s 104 at No. 10 in 1902 was the previous highest.

He is among five visiting batters to score Test hundreds batting at No. 8 or lower in Australia. It is also the first century by a No. 8 (or lower) batter for India in Australia, with Anil Kumble’s 87 in 2008 at Adelaide the previous highest.

Reddy is only the second Indian to reach a century while batting at No. 8 or lower against Australia, after Wriddhiman Saha’s 117 in Ranchi in 2017.

The 127-run partnership runs between Reddy and Washington Sundar for the eighth wicket is the joint-third highest for India against Australia, behind the 140 between MS Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the ninth wicket in the 2013 Chennai Test and 129 by Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh for the eighth wicket in the 2008 Sydney Test.

The 127-run stand is also the fourth highest for India in away Tests for the eighth (or lower) wicket in Tests.

At 21y 214d going into the Test, Reddy is the third-youngest Indian player to score a Test hundred in Australia, after Tendulkar (18y 253d) and Rishabh Pant (21y 91d). Reddy is the also the third-youngest visiting batter to score a Test hundred in Melbourne.

Nitish Reddy is the second Indian batter to score his maiden Test hundred at MCG after Vinoo Mankad in 1948. He is the first visiting batter to score his maiden Test hundred at the venue since JP Duminy in 2008.

The 8 sixes he has hit so far in the series are the joint highest by a visiting batter in a Test series in Australia. Michael Vaughan in the 2002-03 Ashes and Chris Gayle in 2009 also hit eight sixes each.

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