India Drop Rohit, Collapse to 185 All Out on Day One in Sydney
India’s batting struggles continued despite dropping captain Rohit Sharma for the fifth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On Friday, the visitors were bowled out for a meager 185 runs, leaving them in a precarious position as Australia, leading the series 2-1, aim to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and secure a spot in the World Test Championship final.
Australia’s bowlers thrived in seam-friendly conditions, with Scott Boland leading the charge, claiming 4 for 31 and dismantling India’s lineup with clinical precision. The home side’s bowlers capitalized on the green-tinged pitch and overcast skies, backed by a raucous sellout crowd of 48,000.
India’s stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, taking over for the resting Rohit, provided a glimmer of hope by dismissing Usman Khawaja for two with the final ball of the day. Australia ended on 9 for 1, with teenager Sam Konstas (7*) at the crease, setting the stage for a gripping Day Two.
Boland Leads Australian Onslaught
India’s innings unraveled early, with KL Rahul falling for four and Yashasvi Jaiswal managing just 10 before being caught in the slips off Boland. Shubman Gill, promoted to replace Rohit at the top, looked steady with 20 runs but edged Nathan Lyon to the slip cordon just before lunch.
After lunch, Virat Kohli (17 off 69 balls) battled hard but was dismissed with a brilliant diving catch by debutant Beau Webster off Boland. The collapse intensified as Rishabh Pant, India’s top scorer with 40, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, Melbourne’s centurion, fell off consecutive deliveries to Boland. Washington Sundar (14) and Ravindra Jadeja (26) added brief resistance, but Mitchell Starc (3-49) and Pat Cummins cleaned up the tail. Bumrah’s spirited 22 off 17 balls ended when he was caught at mid-wicket by Cummins to close the innings.
Pant admitted India’s total was below par but remained optimistic. “It’s still a competitive score, given the way the ball is moving,” Pant said post-match. “There’s a lot of help for the bowlers, and we hope to capitalize on that.”
Tough Call on Rohit
India’s decision to rest Rohit was confirmed by Bumrah at the toss. “Our captain has shown leadership by opting to rest in this game,” he said. The absence of the 37-year-old skipper comes amid questions about his Test future, with India preparing to rebuild their lineup.
Australia Eye Trophy and WTC Final
Australia’s debutant all-rounder Beau Webster lauded the team’s bowling performance but held reservations about assessing the pitch. “To bowl them out for under 200 was excellent, but I’m not sure what a good score is yet,” Webster said.
With Australia leading 2-1, victory in Sydney would secure the series and their place in the World Test Championship final against South Africa. However, with the pitch offering plenty for the bowlers, the match remains finely poised, promising another thrilling chapter in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
