Sydney: India seized control of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on a thrilling second day, dismissing Australia for 181 and reaching 141 for six, thereby establishing a lead of 145 runs.
The absence of captain Jasprit Bumrah due to an undisclosed injury provided a backdrop for an intense day of cricket.
Bumrah started strongly, claiming the initial wicket of Marnus Labuschagne, but his day took a turn after lunch when he left the field accompanied by the team doctor for medical scans. In his absence, Prasidh Krishna (3-42), Mohammed Siraj (3-51) and Nitish Kumar Reddy stepped up to fill the void left by Bumrah’s departure, picking up key wickets to rout Australia.
India managed to secure a slender first-innings lead of four runs by tea, though the pitch posed challenges for the batsmen. Scott Boland stood out with 4-42, adding to his impressive bowling stats from the previous day and playing a key role in dismissing India’s top order.
Rishabh Pant provided a burst of energy for the Indian supporters, showcasing his flair with a breathtaking 28-ball half-century that shifted momentum back towards India. He eventually fell for 61, as Australia’s captain Pat Cummins claimed his wicket, marking the day’s 14th dismissal.
Despite Pant’s heroics, Boland wasn’t finished, quickly adding the wicket of Nitish Kumar Reddy to his tally, leaving Ravindra Jadeja (8*) and Washington Sundar (6*) at the crease as play concluded for the day.
The match, witnessed by a vibrant crowd of 47,257 under the Sydney sun, was a spectacle of fluctuating fortunes. With Australia leading the series 2-1, India faced a must-win situation to level the contest and retain the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
On the Australian side, debutant all-rounder Beau Webster shone with the bat, scoring a resolute 57—making him the top scorer for Australia in the innings. His maiden Test wicket, that of India’s Shubman Gill for 13, sent the crowd into raptures as he celebrated his success on debut.
Virat Kohli stepped into the leadership role in Bumrah’s absence but faced a hostile reception, drawing boos as he approached the crease for what might be his final innings in Australia. Unfortunately for him, he fell for a mere six runs, caught in the slips after a stunning delivery by Boland.
Boland’s performance was the talk of the town, with his peach of a delivery to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) being greeted with one of the loudest roars of the day. His spell continues to make him a cult hero in Australia.
Earlier in the day, Bumrah had dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, taking his series tally to 32 wickets at an average of 13.06.
Krishna also impressed, claiming the key wicket of Steve Smith (33) to break a promising partnership with Webster and leave Smith five runs short of 10,000 Test runs.
India, who had dropped captain Rohit Sharma for the match, now face the challenge of winning in Sydney to level the series and retain the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
