India's Bittersweet MCG Connection: On Verge of Rare Hat-trick in 4th Test, Unattainable Even by Kohli and Sachin

Despite all the accomplishments of the two iconic Indian batsmen, they do not have on their record what KL Rahul can achieve starting Thursday – a hat-trick of Test centuries in Boxing Day Tests. Rahul has scored hundreds in his previous two Boxing Day Tests – 123 against South Africa in Centurion in 2021, and 101 at the same venue against the same opponent two years later. Another century at the iconic MCG, and Rahul will achieve a feat no other Indian batter has accomplished. Rahul has a mixed history with the MCG, making his Test debut for India at the venue in 2014 but failing to make an impact with scores of just 3 and 1 in his first two innings. Despite not playing a Test in Melbourne since then, Rahul has been a standout performer for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 235 runs at an average of 47 with two half-centuries. The upcoming Test match at the MCG presents a golden opportunity for Rahul to shine once again.

A cursory glance at Tendulkar and Kohli's record in Boxing Day Tests presents a fine story. Tendulkar has played 10 Boxing Day Tests in his career and scored 636 runs, including back-to-back centuries – 113 against New Zealand at Hamilton in 1998 and 116 against Australia exactly a year later. Tendulkar's tryst with Boxing Day Tests began over three decades ago, in 1991 when he scored 15 and 40 against Australia. A year later, he endured another couple of low scores against South Africa, getting out for 0 and 6. Tendulkar had to wait another four years for his next crack at a Boxing Day Test, but when he did, it ended in disappointment as the Proteas dismissed him for 14 and 4.

Tendulkar finally cracked the code of December 26 against New Zealand, and then again versus the Aussies. In 2003, Tendulkar, battling a slump in form, hit a solid 44 before getting out. In 2006, Sachin scored an entertaining 63 in Durban, but India lost by 174 runs. Things didn't improve much in 2007 against Australia, with Sachin getting out for 62 and 15, leading to India losing another one to the Aussies. In 2010, when India toured South Africa for a three-Test series, Sachin scored a hundred each in Centurion and Cape Town, but could only score 13 and 6 in the Durban Boxing Day Test. In his final BD Test a year later, Sachin looked like a million bucks, scoring 73 and 32, but that again came in a losing cause.

As for Kohli, he has been part of six Boxing Day Test matches, amassing 540 runs. Making his MCG debut in 2011, Kohli registered a duck and 11 and followed it with 57 runs against South Africa in Durban. In 2014, Kohli hit his batting peak, blasting 169 and 54 against the Aussies in a losing effort. Kohli would have to wait 4 years for his next Boxing Day, as he returned against Australia with 82 and a duck. In his last series as India's Test captain, Kohli scored 53 runs against the Proteas in Centurion. Just earlier year, Kohli was in action again at the Boxing Day Test as he scored 32 and 76 – both extremely solid knocks.