Australia were the better team throughout the series except for the Perth Test. Indian batters struggled to win the early battle and as a whole team failed to win the minor battles in crunch situations. Be it letting Lyon and Boland play nearly 100 balls for 11th wicket in MCG or those rash shots from middle order batters throughout the series, Indian team failed in important times.

Rohit Sharma as a leader failed as well, both with the bat and with game plan as well. Meantime, Pat Cummins was just on point every time and with the backing of bowlers like Starc, and Boland, had had the options to play around.

Jasprit Bumrah was the lone hero and needed support from another end, which he did not get most of the times. India, did try to fight back many times, but Australia deserved to reach the World Test Championship Final. They will face South Africa in the final on June 11 at Lord's. 

Heartbreak for Team India as they suffer back-to-back Test series losses for the first time in 10 years 🇮🇳🥲

A tough phase, but every setback is a setup for a stronger comeback! 💪#TeamIndia #TestCricket #Cricket #rohitsharma #rohitsharma #GautamGambhir #jaspritbumrah #BGT2024 pic.twitter.com/ETdlTBLzP0

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) January 5, 2025

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir opens up about the future of senior players in Test cricket 🇮🇳🗣️.#IndianCricket #GautamGambhir #TestCricket #TeamIndia #BGT2024 #RohitSharma𓃵 pic.twitter.com/fDxhb6w0HQ

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) January 5, 2025

32 wickets in the series at an outstanding average of 13.06 and a wicket in every 28.37 ball, Jasprit Bumrah rightfully won the Player of the Series Award. 

He has now became the first Asian player to win the Player of the Series award in Tests across three different SENA countries. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Scott Boland, who claimed his first-ever 10-wicket haul in test matches, was awarded the Player of the Match award. He took 31/4 and 45/6 in the test match.

India could only add 15 runs to their overnight total. Pat Cummins removed Washington Sundar's (12) stumps while Siraj (4) and Bumrah (0) were cleaned up in two balls gap. Scott Boland returned with 45/6. 

Though Jasprit Bumrah came out to bat, he did not come out to bowl with a back injury and with the ICC Champions Trophy coming in a few months time, this was probably the correct decision. 

With only 162 needed to win and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Sam Konstas gave Australia a flying start. Konstas went back to dressing room after a quick 22 from17 balls. Australia till then had already added 39 runs in 3.5 overs.

Prasidh Krishna then followed up with two quick wickets. He first removed Marnus Labuschagne on 6 from 20 balls. A short of a length and Labuschagne could not ride on the bounce as he tried to play it towards the point. Jaiswal took a sharp catch to remove him.

Smith then on 9999 test runs, faced a vicious short ball from Krishna. Around off-stump and at the chest area, Smith could not control the ball and got and edge. Jaiswal took a diving catch at gully to make things interesting. Australia 58/3 and things were getting interesting. 

But, the 46 runs partnership between Travis Head and Usman Khawaja threw India out of the contest. Khawaja, on 41 from 45 balls, tried to pull a short of a length ball from Siraj. But, he could only manage an inside edge straight to Pant. They still needed 58 runs to win.

Post that, it was all about the debutant Beau Webster and Travis Head. Both played at nearly a run-a-ball strike rate and Indian bowlers could not find a solution to get him out. Stand-in captain Virat Kohli kept on bowling Siraj and Krishna but eventually it was an easy win for the Aussies.

They won the test match by 6 wickets and reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years. 

Day 3 of the test match starts and this can be the final day of the test match as well 

Another great day of test cricket comes to an end. India produced another fight with the ball. Though the openers tried their best, Scott Boland's four wickets helped Australia come back in the match.

Rishabh Pant tried his best with a 33-ball from 61 runs and India now lead by 145 runs. Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are at the crease for India now. 

Round the wicket from Beau Webster. He hits the right area and produces the edge from Jadeja. The catch was going straight to Usman at first slip. But. Steve Smth from the second slip dived to his right to take the catch and missed it. 

Jadeja gets a life. Can he take advantage of that?

India 138/6. 

No strike rotation, no boundaries and we knew a shot would come. From nowhere, Nitish Kumar Reddy (4) looked to go over mid-off and only managed to get the toe of the bat. Cummins at mid-off takes a good catch. 

India are 129/6 and lead by 133 runs. 

• 28 Rishabh Pant vs SL Bengaluru 2022
• 29 Rishabh Pant vs Aus Sydney 2025 *
• 30 Kapil Dev vs Pak Karachi 1982
• 31 Shardul Thakur vs Eng The Oval 2021
• 31 Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Ban Kanpur 2024

The Aussie captain brought him into action and got the big fish.

Short, outside off stump and it was leaving Pant. Pant went for a big cut shot and the bounce got the better of him. Carey with the catch and Pant goes after 61 from 31 balls. He gave the injection the Indian team were looking for.

India 124/5, lead by 128. 

Rishabh Pant nearly broke his own record of fastest fifty in test cricket by an Indian. He gets this in 29 balls and the previous record was 28 balls. 

He smashed Boland and Beau Webster for fun from the first ball and now took the game against Mitchell Starc. Two huge sixes over mid-wicket and he was everyone on their feet. Do not know who had stopped him from not playing his natural game. 

India 124/4.

It was quite evident with the amount of help seamers were getting, that the Indian top order would struggle against the Aussie pacers. However, Rahul and Jaiswal gave India a good start with a 42-run opening partnership. Rahul, batting on 13, wanted to play the inswinger from Boland towards mid-wicket. But, he could not touch the ball. 

Five runs later, Boland cleaned up Jaiswal's stumps with a peach of a delivery. From round the wicket, the ball pitched on the middle and off-stump and left Jaiswal just enough to clip his pad and then hit the off-stump. There is nothing Jaiswal could have done with that. He went after a good-looking 22 from 35 balls.

Post Jaiswal's wicket, Virat Kohli came in running and looked positive from the first ball. An aggressive pull shot went for four and looked better defending the ball as well. But, it was Boland again who had the better of him. Around the off-stump, and Kohli (6) pushed at it again. Smith took a good catch to dismiss him as well. Kohli was livid with himself. 

Pant then came down the crease and hit Boland for a six, over long-on to clear his intentions. The southpaw batter did not hold himself up and wanted to disturb Boland's length. But, it was the slow medium pace of Beau Webster that enticed Shubman Gill to do a Pant. However, he only managed to get an inside edge and Carey took a brilliant catch to remove him.  

India struggling at 78/4 and lead by 82. 

Bumrah left the stadium in his training kit and probably went for a scan. He had bowled more than he thought he would have to throughout the series. And, if he has pulled up something, India will struggle in the second inning. 

Jasprit Bumrah has left the SCG: https://t.co/0nmjl6Qp2a pic.twitter.com/oQaygWRMyc

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2025

India were at best from the word go on Day 2. Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian captain started the fight for India as he nicked behind Marnus Labuschagne. Marnus was squared up and the snicko said he had touched the ball. DRS worked for India and Australia were 15/2.

Full and on the money. A perfect enticing outswinger from Mohammed Siraj and he had Sam Konstas caught out at gully. Jaiswal held on to the catch and Australia lost their third for 35.

Siraj was on a roll as he dismissed Travis Head early in his inning. Siraj cramped Head up with an inswinger and just wanted to on the on side of the ball. However, he just managed to produce a nick and Rahul took a good catch at second slip. Australia 39/4. 

Prasidh Krishna then joined the party as he broke the partnership between Steven Smith and Beau Webster. Around off-stump and a bit fuller from Krishna and the ball just moved enough to get the edge as Smith wanted to drive the ball. Rahul with another catch at second slip. Australia 96/5.

Krishna then cleared Alex Carey's stumps post lunch with an inswinger and the gap between Carey's bat and ball helped Krishna to use that inswinger well. Second wicket for him. Australia lost their sixth for 137.

The debutant Beau Webster then completed his fifty and he kept on fighting a lone battle for the home side. A fifty of 92 balls for the youngster. But soon, he lost his other partner Pat Cummins. This time it was Nitish Kumar Reddy who pitched a bit short around off-stump and Cummins just pushed at it to get the edge. Australia 162/7. 

Reddy struck again in his next over. A short ball from around the wicket and Starc threw his hands at the ball. A good diving catch from KL Rahul and it is at this time it looked like India will get the lead. 

Krishna then got the better of the debutant. A bit shorter in length and Beau Webster did not expect the ball to bounce that much. He only managed to produce the nick for Jaiswal to latch on at gully. 

Boland again added 9 runs batting at No. 11, while Australia added 15 for the last wicket. Siraj created an angle from over the wicket and Boland could not judge the inswinger. It went straight through him and India earned a lead of 4 runs. 

Siraj returned with 4 wickets for 51/3 while Krishna took three for 42. Burmah and Reddy took two wickets each for India. 

Here we go! Day 2 starts! 

Sam Konstas, playing only his second match, wanted to slow down the game from the bowler's end as India wanted to have an extra over at the end of the day. Konstas' behaviour made angry someone like Jasprit Bumrah, who is mostly cool with his actions. 

Bumrah returned the treatment with a wicket in the last ball of Day 1.

Round the wicket, Bumrah pitched the ball a bit up and made Usman Khawaja play the ball. The ball took the outside edge and KL Rahul took a low catch to give the momentum India needed at the end of the day. 

Australia 9/1. Konstats 7* (8), Khawaja 2 (10).

Rishabh Pant's dismissal made sure India will have another collapse in the middle. Pant, who was looking good on 40, went for a big pull shot against Boland but only managed to get a top edge. Cummins did the rest to grab the catch. India at that time were 120/5. 

Boland got rid of Nitish Kumar Reddy, the centurion from the last match in the next ball. On and around the off-stump, from a length the ball bounced a bit high and Nitish tried to follow the the ball and got the edge. India 120/6 and in trouble.

A few overs later, Ravindra Jadeja (26) also fell prey to an inswinger from Mitchell Starc. It was full and coming in and Jadeja wanted to play around his front pad. He had his head falling already and could not manage to get a touch to the ball. Jadeja went for the review but the ball was hitting the middle of the middle stump. India were 134/7 after that.

After that, a terrific DRS from Pat Cummins off his own bowling dismissed Washington Sundar on 14. A short ball from the Australian captain and Sundar wanted to hook the ball and got a faint edge while doing that. On-filed decision was not out but Australia went upstairs and got the wicket.

Bumrah then added a valuable 22 from 17 balls to take India to something honourable. For the last two wickets, India added 37 runs, which helped India to get to 185. Prasidh Krishna and Siraj added 3 each. 

For Australia, Boland was the pick of the bowlers, returning with 31/4. Starc took three wickets for 49.

Wait, what? 

Steve Smith, who is just three short of Ricky Ponting's record for most catches as a non-wicket-keeper, drops a straight one. 

Boland, round the wicket, bowled a bit fuller and Jadeja wanted to play towards the midwicket and got a thick edge. But, Smith could not judge the ball and missed it completely. 

Jadeja gets a life. 

India 76/4. 

Scott Boland gets the big fish. Pant had denied a single in the last ball and Kohli now poked one to the third slip. 

After showing a lot of discipline, Kohli now goes for the ball and gets a big edge. The debutant Webster moved to his left sharply to take a good catch. Kohli is back in the dressing room after a defensive 17 from 69 balls.

India 72/4. Can Pant and Jadeja rescue India?

Virat Kohli's stance in MCG vs SCG

Notes: In MCG, Kohli had an extensive open stance. The front foot is nearly the fifth stump down the leg side. That stance did not allow him to cover the off-stump, going across the stump.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/NKLDcmQ2eG

— Koushik Biswas (@kbofficial25) January 3, 2025

India started the inining just like the most of the test matches, losing the openers early.

KL Rahul was dimissed on 4 off 14 balls while trying to flick a half-volley. A soft dismissal and Sam Konstas with the catch. Mitchell Starc struck early. 

Post Rahul's dismissal, Yashasvi Jaiswal recieveda peach of a delivery from Scott Boland. Just around the off-stump, leaving him, and he edged that to the debutant Beau Webster. Jaiswal went for 10 from 26 balls. 

Virat Kohli was nearly gone on duck. But, Steve Smith despite making a great effort, could not hold on to the catch in slips. Post that, Kohli showed discipline, leaving the ball and playing odd shots against half-volleys. Shubman Gill on the other end also looked solid, except for one time when he nicked an inswinger from Pat Cummins. 

But, against the run-of-play, he tried to come out against Nathan Lyon and only managed to nick the ball to first slip at the stroke of lunch. Gill went after another good looking 20 from 64 balls. India 57/3 at lunch. 

India win the toss and decided to bat first.

In a shocking report, Sportz Point got to know that, Rishabh Pant might have to leave his place to young Dhurv Jurel who played in the first test at Perth, which India won. 

Gautam Gambhir and management were not happy with the way Pant got dismissed in the last two test matches, especially in the MCG test and he might lose his place despite being one of the best batters for India in the last two seasons. 

Shubman Gill will come back to the team. Gill was the first batter to enter the nets while Jurel was the last one to leave. 

Mitchell Marsh, who has not got going with bat and ball, will be replaced by Tasmanian Beau Webster. 

From many reports, we can hear that Indian captain Rohit Sharma has "opted out" from the Sydney test match and Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team. 

However, India's head coach Gautam Gambhir, who attended the press conference today, said that India will decide their playing XI after watching the pitch.

As is a tradition at the SCG, the away changeroom features the original calico rolls from the SCG scoreboard that stood at the back of the hill from 1924 to 1984.

Bedi and Yadav are the two names on display in the Indian dressing room for the New Year’s Test 🏏 pic.twitter.com/HucIujDcpn

— Sydney Cricket Ground (@scg) January 2, 2025

#PinkTest... officially launched 💗

It's the 17th Pink Test at the SCG, and it's made even more special this year with the news that the @McGrathFdn is taking their care to all cancers.

Buy a Virtual Pink Seat today: https://t.co/lly8d1fSOp pic.twitter.com/rSrfhEfGhy

— Sydney Cricket Ground (@scg) January 1, 2025

India have only won a lone test match at Sydney Cricket Ground. Bishan Singh Bedi was the captain of the India team as India managed a victory by an innings and 2 runs in 1978. 

Erapalli Prasanna took eight wickets in that match for India.

The Sydney Cricket Ground, which now hosts Cricket and Rugby. was established in 1851. One of the most iconic stadiums in cricketing history, SCG is known for its history and atmosphere. The ground now has a capacity of 48,000 people. 

Every year, this ground hosts the Pink-Test to create awareness about Brest Cancer, supported by the McGrath foundation. 

Fans from India can watch the match LIVE on Sony Sports Network Channel. Moreover, they can also stream the match LIVE on Disney+Hotstar with a paid subscription. 

Match: Australia vs India, 5th Test, India tour of Australia 2024-24

Date: 3rd January 2025- 7th January 2025

Time: 10.30 start, Lunch 12.30-13.10, Tea 15.10-15.30, Close 17.30 (Local time)

Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia