SYDNEY — The second day of the fifth and final Test between Australia and India was nothing short of explosive, with Rishabh Pant’s aggressive batting punctuating a day where 15 wickets fell on Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. With the match still hanging in the balance, India concluded the day at 141-6, leading by 145 runs as three days remain in the contest.
In terms of team performance, Australia concluded their first innings at 181, providing India a slim four-run lead. Despite the absence of Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah for part of the match due to back spasms, the home side was unable to capitalize on his temporary departure. Though Bumrah returned after undergoing medical scans, his availability for the remainder of the Test, including his batting capabilities, remains uncertain.
Beau Webster had an impressive debut as he top-scored for Australia with 57 runs and claimed a wicket, while Steve Smith narrowly missed making history by notching 10,000 career Test runs in front of a home crowd. After Australia’s innings, Pant electrified the SCG, smashing an exceptional 61 runs off just 33 balls, with six boundaries and four sixes, creating an exciting scenario as the day closed.
Prasidh Krishna expressed his excitement, stating that the game’s intensity was thrilling to watch. “If I was sitting at home and watching it, I would have loved it, and to witness it live was unmatched,” he remarked. Despite the challenges and risks associated with the match’s flow, he acknowledged that this is the nature of modern cricket.
By the end of the day, Ravindra Jadeja was not out on eight runs, while Washington Sundar remained unbeaten at six. Scott Boland continued to impress with his bowling, securing four wickets, which followed his four-wicket haul in India’s first innings. He bowled exceptional deliveries to dismiss the opening duo of KL Rahul (13) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) before once again tempting Virat Kohli to edge a ball to Smith at slip.
“To do his job effectively every time he plays speaks volumes about Boland,” said Australia coach Andrew McDonald, praising Boland’s relentless precision and ability to move the ball. Additionally, Webster secured his inaugural Test wicket by dismissing Shubman Gill (13) in a striking debut performance.
Australia ended their innings just before tea, facing a slight deficit. While Steve Smith (33) and Webster tried to stabilize the innings following the top order’s collapse due to Bumrah (2-33) and Mohammad Siraj (3-51), they left the hosts in a precarious position to recover.
Bumrah’s bowling performance cemented his place in history, as he reached 32 wickets for the series, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi during the 1977-78 series. Currently leading the series 2-1, Australia must avoid a defeat to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy, which has eluded them since the 2014-15 season. A victory would secure their position in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.
In related news, former Indian player Rohit Sharma has addressed rumors of being dropped from the side, clarifying that he chose to step down due to lackluster form. He shared that he privately spoke to the coach and selectors about his performance and the need for an in-form player in this critical match. “The consensus was clear; I was not scoring runs and we needed someone who was performing well,” Sharma explained.
