NEW DELHI: India’s hopes of clinching the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy seem to be slipping away. After dropping regular captain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, leading the side for the SCG Test, opted to bat first—a decision that backfired on a green pitch under overcast skies.
Despite Rohit Sharma being dropped due to poor form, India’s batting frailties were once again exposed, with the top order collapsing under pressure.
The returning opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal faltered within the first hour of play. Rahul (4) appeared composed until Mitchell Starc delivered a half-volley on the pads. Rahul’s attempted flick failed to stay down, and Sam Konstas took a sharp catch at square leg. Jaiswal (10) started promisingly with a crisp on-drive but fell to a rising delivery from Scott Boland, which squared him up with slight movement. Debutant Beau Webster made no mistake with a regulation catch in the slips.
Virat Kohli walked in to a chorus of boos from the Australian crowd and almost departed early. Boland, maintaining his probing line, got one to hit the edge of Kohli’s bat, and a diving Steve Smith believed he had completed the catch. However, replays showed the ball grazed the ground, allowing Kohli to survive.
Shubman Gill (20) added some resistance but made a poor decision on the final ball before lunch, stepping out to Nathan Lyon only to edge it to first slip, leaving India at 57/3 in 25 overs.
The post-lunch session brought more misery for India. Boland produced a sharp delivery outside off that Kohli edged to Webster in the slips, departing after a labored 17 off 69 balls.
Rishabh Pant showed grit in the middle, weathering blows from the Australian quicks, but a short ball from Boland ended his fighting knock. Attempting a pull, Pant mistimed the shot, and Pat Cummins took a well-judged catch at mid-on.
Nitish Reddy, the hero of the MCG Test, lasted just one delivery as Boland sent him packing with a 135 kph delivery. Reddy’s edge found Steve Smith at second slip, leaving India reeling.
Cummins brought Mitchell Starc back into the attack with immediate success. After conceding a boundary, Starc trapped Ravindra Jadeja lbw with a full delivery.
The tail offered little resistance. Cummins angled a delivery down the leg side, tempting Washington Sundar into a pull shot, which Alex Carey comfortably caught behind.
Skipper Jasprit Bumrah tried to add valuable runs with a few boundaries off Boland, but the damage had already been done. Bumrah scored 22 off 17 balls, including three fours and a six before being dismissed by Cummins.
India were all out for 185 in 72.2 overs. For Australia, Boland picked four wickets, while Starc took two scalps.
