India has a new batting hero after 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy showed the poise of a veteran to score his maiden century, leading his team’s comeback against Australia on day three of the fourth test.

Nitish Kumar Reddy scored a defiant maiden century on Saturday as India fought back to reach 358-9 on a rain-hit third day of the fourth Test against Australia.

Destructive Indian seamer Jasprit Bumrah scythed through Australia's middle order Sunday, leaving the hosts 135-6 in their second innings, a lead of 240 runs in the fourth Test. Australia remain in the stronger position at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after leading by 105 runs on the first innings,

The body of Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose death has sparked outpourings of grief at home and accolades from abroad, was cremated on Sunday on the banks of the Yamuna River in New Delhi with full state honours.

India’s former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has died at the age of 92, according to statement from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

A Marnus Labuschagne half-century and stubborn tail-end batting drove Australia to a 333-run lead at the end of day four in the fourth test in Melbourne on Sunday, leaving India facing a record chase to steal victory.

Australia took control of the fourth Test against India in Melbourne despite a sensational spell from Jasprit Bumrah on Sunday. The hosts were staring down the barrel at 91-6 and the lead not even past 200 before some sloppy fielding by India and remarkable determination from Australia's lower order took them to 228-9 by stumps on day four.

Teenage debutant Sam Konstas will bat for the second time in the Boxing Day Test after India were out for 369, giving Australia a lead of 105 at the MCG.