SYDNEY — On the opening day of the fifth and final test match against Australia, India’s batting lineup faltered once again, finishing the day at a mere 185 all out. This performance came in the absence of captain Rohit Sharma, who was replaced by Jasprit Bumrah, marking a significant change in leadership. Bumrah’s decision to bat first on a green SCG pitch proved challenging, as Australian bowlers exploited the conditions, effectively dismantling India’s batting order.
Scott Boland was particularly effective, claiming 4 wickets for just 31 runs in 20 overs, while Mitchell Starc chipped in with 3 wickets for 49 runs. This marked the fifth instance in the series where India was dismissed for less than 200 runs. As the day drew to a close, Australia was at 9 for 1, with Bumrah taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja, who managed only 2 runs.
During a heated moment in the game, Bumrah celebrated with intensity after his wicket, especially following a verbal exchange with Australian batter Sam Konstas. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant noted that Konstas seemed to be trying to delay the proceedings, hinting at a tactical timeout.
The commencement of the fifth test mirrored the pattern of previous matches, with bowlers once again establishing their dominance early on. Starc’s persistence eventually paid off as he managed to catch Rahul off guard, leading to an easy catch at square leg by Konstas. Boland then required just four deliveries to dismiss Jaiswal, who edged a ball into the waiting hands of debutant Beau Webster.
Kohli, who has been a polarizing figure this series, faced a hostile reception from the crowd due to prior tensions, specifically a controversial incident involving Konstas during an earlier test. His first delivery resulted in a dramatic moment when Boland managed to entice an edge that appeared to have been caught by Steve Smith. However, after reviewing the catch, TV umpire Joel Wilson confirmed that the ball had touched the ground before it could be secured, allowing Kohli to remain at the crease.
As the lunch break approached, Nathan Lyon caught Gill off guard with a delivery that saw the young player edged to Smith for 20 runs. Kohli’s luck soon ran out in the afternoon session as he again edged behind from Boland’s bowling, becoming the sole wicket to fall in what was a sluggish period for the batting side.
Pant, who faced criticism for previous dismissals, fell short yet again, succumbing to the pressure and hitting a soft dismissal off Boland’s bowling for 40. This triggered a capitulation, resulting in a dismal total of 65 runs lost for India, leading to their quick end of innings.
“The conditions were obviously favorable for seam bowling, which was our strategy—to bowl fuller and entice mistakes,” Webster commented on his bowling performance.
Australia currently leads the series 2-1 and is in a position where avoiding defeat is crucial to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy, which they last held in the 2014-15 series. A victory for India would mean a drawn series, allowing them to retain the trophy for the fifth consecutive time.
Furthermore, securing a win at the SCG would also earn Australia a place in the World Test Championship final for the second consecutive year, following their victory against India in the previous year’s decider. South Africa has already claimed a place in the final by defeating Pakistan in a dramatic match last weekend.
The decision to drop Sharma was confirmed just before the match began, stirring speculation throughout cricket circles. With a disappointing series average of 6.2, having scored just 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9 in five innings, Sharma’s future in the test arena may now appear precarious, despite Bumrah’s assertion that he was merely rested for this final test.
