Sydney, Jan 3 (UNI) India’s batting lineup struggled against a disciplined Australian bowling attack on a cloudy morning with a grassy wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.
At lunch on Day 1 of the fifth Test, India were 57/3 after 25 overs, with Shubman Gill (20) and Virat Kohli (12) being the only notable contributors so far.
The decision to bat first by stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, in conditions favouring bowlers, came under scrutiny as the Australian pacers exploited the green surface and overcast conditions effectively.
Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc set the tone, dismissing KL Rahul (4) in the fifth over. Rahul misjudged a full delivery and flicked it straight to Sam Konstas at square leg. Scott Boland continued the momentum, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) with his first ball. Jaiswal, trying to counter the bounce, edged to the slip cordon, leaving India reeling at 17/2.
Shubman Gill showed glimpses of intent with a few streaky boundaries but struggled against Australia’s consistent bowling. On the final ball before lunch, Nathan Lyon trapped him into charging down the wicket, resulting in an edge to Steven Smith at slip. Gill’s 64-ball stay ended at a crucial juncture, deepening India’s woes.
Kohli had a scare early in his innings when a catch claimed in the slip cordon was ruled not out due to insufficient evidence. Kohli batted cautiously thereafter, surviving a challenging spell from the Australian quicks.
The SCG pitch, with 7mm of grass and inconsistent bounce, combined with overcast skies, offered significant assistance to the bowlers. Australia’s bowlers, led by Starc and Boland, maintained tight lines and forced the batters to play at deliveries.
India’s decision to bat first appeared audacious but has left them under pressure early. With Kohli and Rishabh Pant at the crease, the visitors will hope for a strong recovery in the second session. Australia, on the other hand, will aim to capitalise on their early success and push for a commanding position.
Teams:
India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
Australia XI: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
