🏏Australia vs India, 5th Test: Sydney, 03 - 07 Jan 2025: Day 3🏏 - Page 2

Thank you Raji for the thread and for tagging me.

Let us hope for the good result.

India's defeat to Australia at the MCG has been followed by some chaotic reports coming out of the dressing room. While head coach Gautam Gambhir said in the pre-match press conference that everything is under control, him refusing to confirm whether captain Rohit Sharma will play in Sydney or not added further fuel to the fire. India have to win at the SCG to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia, on the other hand, need only a draw to win it for the first time in a decade.

As the Indian team battles a series of challenges both on and off the field, all eyes will be on head coach Gautam Gambhir's handling of the situation

Pant’s questionable form in the series, combined with his inability to capitalize on crucial moments, has seen him become a target for Gambhir’s wrath. Reports suggest that Gambhir had an “honest conversation” with the players post-India’s heavy loss in Melbourne.

Gill is going to replace Rohit in this math.

You may delay, time will not. This rhetorical statement must have mimicked Rohit Sharma's state of mind. His numbers in red ball cricket have dripped drastically and more so on this tour that in all likelihood the captain would be dropping himself for this Test at the SCG. The coach of the Indian team - Gautam Gambhir - had considered doing the same for KKR and did so while playing for Delhi in the IPL. Thus, it won't come as a complete shock to the cricketing fraternity that Rohit might well be RESTED for the final Test. A captain sitting out because of bad form is a rarity in cricket and more so in Indian cricket. But tough times call for tough measures. Jasprit Bumrah has been the lone wolf in the bowling department and will take on the mantle of captaincy as well. India have a barrage of other problems but need a Test win to stay just about afloat in the WTC. Though it seems the ship has sailed...

Australia follow the same pattern, Smith shines again and Indian fans are left forlorn. Reddy tries to be an unlikely saviour. But Australia on a roll are a tough side to endure. India try to take it deep but the batting comes a cropper in the final essay and are left with dismay.

Brisbane is all about rain. Aussies amass 445 as Smith and Head shine. India's 10 and Jack show some courage, avoid follow-on and buy India time. It is 1-1 still but India were timid and Australia sniff a kill. Ashwin calls it a day. India live for another day.

Bumrah declared as GOAT but Adelaide draped in pink is the unbreachable fort. Starc leads with a 6-fer as Indian batters falter. Head plies his trade and Indian batters once again face the tirade. Cummins stars with five. The Aussies regain some vibe.

A little recap - Smith goes back to four. 'Buddha' McSweeney at the fore. Sharma misses Perth and India shunted for 150. Bumrah picks five, India have a slender lead of 46 and then Rahul and Jaiswal arrive. Kohli claims a ton, India thrive and win by 295!

"Well Rohit's at least made it to the ground. The India team bus swung by into the basement level entrance for the players dressing rooms at 9am and he was maybe the sixth or seventh man down, with a gleaming orange cup of coffee (might be the brightest thing in the ground given the grey day). Bumrah's made his entry. Went straight up to the pitch which is still currently cordoned off and taking some treatment with the heavy roller and did some spot bowling. Once he was happy with that he and Monte Morkel had a nice long look at the pitch. Then it's off for a chat with Gautam Gambhir. They were pretty buddy buddy at training too. Almost like captain and coach. At 9.15am Rohit walks out to the middle. Hands in his pockets. Gambhir comes over to meet him. And now he's off to see the pitch. He crosses the cordon to go right onto the pitch and presses his hands down on it, on the short of a good length area at both ends. Then he heads off for what looks like a think tank meeting. Him, Gambhir and Bumrah involved."

Hello and welcome to Sydney for day 1 of the 5th and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia lead the series 2-1 after a remarkable win in Melbourne. India can still retain the trophy though with a win in Sydney. If Australia win in Sydney, they claim the trophy and will book a spot in the WTC final to play South Africa. Here are all the WTC final scenarios.

Toss India won the toss and elected to bat.

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah(c), Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

India have won the toss and have opted to bat

Pat Cummins: We were looking to bat as well. But it is overcast and hopefully we will swing the ball early. Sell out in the first few days. Just kept replaying in our heads the last session. Feels like every summer gets bigger and bigger here in Australia. This week is always special. Just one change. Beau Webster is debuting in place of Mitchell Marsh.

Jasprit Bumrah: We are looking to bat first. We have played some good cricket. The last match was exciting. The grass doesn't look spicy. We always have learnt to digest defeats. We will look forward to this. Our skipper has opted to rest. It shows the unity we have. We have two changes. Rohit has opted out and Prasidh comes in for the injured Akashdeep.