India’s decision to rest skipper Rohit Sharma did not bring the desired turnaround as the team struggled to a disappointing total of 185 on the first day of the fifth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Despite a change in leadership, with Jasprit Bumrah stepping in as captain, the visiting side’s batting lineup faltered once again under challenging conditions.
Australia’s Bowlers Shine on Seam-Friendly Pitch
Scott Boland led Australia’s charge, delivering an impressive spell and claiming four wickets for just 31 runs. Supported by Mitchell Starc (3-49) and Pat Cummins, the Australian attack exploited the seam-friendly surface, consistently breaking India’s momentum.
A sellout crowd of 48,000 witnessed Australia’s bowlers dominate the day, celebrating every breakthrough as India’s scoring stagnated. Boland’s critical strikes, including back-to-back wickets of Rishabh Pant (40) and Nitish Kumar Reddy, cemented his impact on the day’s proceedings.
India’s Fragile Batting Order
The innings started with high hopes but soon crumbled under pressure. Washington Sundar (14) and Ravindra Jadeja (26) attempted to stabilize the innings but were undone by Australia’s relentless bowling. Sundar fell victim to a TV review confirming a glove brush on a Cummins delivery, while Jadeja was trapped plumb by Starc.
Despite India’s struggles, Bumrah made a spirited contribution with a quick 22 off 17 balls, wagging the tail before Cummins dismissed him to end the innings.
Bumrah Strikes Back
India had a glimmer of hope when Bumrah struck in the final moments of play, dismissing Usman Khawaja for two. Australia closed the day at nine for one, with teenager Sam Konstas unbeaten on seven after a brief exchange with Bumrah.
Series on the Line
Leading the series 2-1, Australia stands on the brink of securing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and sealing a spot in the World Test Championship final against South Africa. Debutant all-rounder Beau Webster acknowledged the challenging nature of the pitch, suggesting that scoring may remain difficult throughout the Test.
“To bowl them out for under 200 was an excellent day,” Webster said. “I’m not really sure what a good score is just yet, until both teams bat on it.”
India’s Resilience Will Be Tested
Despite the modest total, Pant expressed cautious optimism. “It’s still a very competitive score because of the way the ball is moving,” he noted. “There’s a lot of help for the bowlers, and hopefully, we can capitalize on that.”
As Day Two looms, India will need a strong bowling performance to keep their hopes alive and turn the game in their favor. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if Bumrah’s leadership can inspire a comeback.
