A packed Sydney Cricket Ground set the stage for the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with hosts taking on India. Indian skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and chose to bat on a green-top wicket that immediately offered assistance to the Australian pacers. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal started cautiously but struggled against the seam-friendly conditions. The partnership was broken in the fifth over when Mitchell Starc dismissed Rahul, followed by Jaiswal’s departure in the eighth over, leaving India at 17/2. However, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill stabilised the innings with a composed partnership, guiding the score to 42/2 by the 17th over. With Kohli and Gill growing in confidence, India seemed to be steadying the ship as the pair put together a crucial 40-run stand. However, disaster struck for India just before lunch when Nathan Lyon dismissed Gill, leaving India at 57/3 after 25 overs as they headed into the break.
After lunch, Rishabh Pant joined Virat Kohli at the crease, with India hoping to gain some momentum. However, in the 32nd over, Kohli’s ongoing struggle with deliveries outside off stump continued as he was dismissed by Scott Boland. The Australian pacers quickly seized control, exploiting the extra bounce the pitch offered. Starc and Boland sent down a series of fiery bouncers, leaving Pant visibly uncomfortable. Despite the challenges, Pant and Ravindra Jadeja steadied the innings, guiding India to 95/4 after 47 overs. The pair added 35 runs, bringing the score to 107/4 at the 50-over mark, as tea was called.
In the last session, Pant and Jadeja adopted a defensive strategy, pushing the score to 119/4. Just as the partnership seemed settled, Boland dismissed Pant and broke the stand. India’s troubles deepened when Boland removed Nitish Kumar Reddy, leaving the team struggling at 125/6 in 61 overs. The lower order faltered against the pitch’s unpredictable bounce, with Australia’s pacers maintaining their dominance and reducing India to 153/8 in 67 overs. Jasprit Bumrah’s brisk 22 off 17 provided a late boost, taking India to 185 before they were bowled out in the 73rd over. In response, Australia tallied at 9/1 in three overs and trailing by 176 runs.
Absolute cinema!
🤣🤣 Fancy a 19yo getting inside the Indian captains head as easy as Sam Konstas has with Bumrah. 🤣🤣🤣#AUSvsIND
— Mark Robinson (@mrobinson73) January 3, 2025
Bumrah, Kohli and Jaiswal giving fierce stare to Sam Konstas.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#INDvsAUSTest #indvsaus #BGT2024 pic.twitter.com/12ICQRkoRr— भारतीय (@Praven152) January 3, 2025
Yesss!!!
Massive moment!
This is absolutely Cinema 🔥 The atmosphere under captain Bumrah is something else 🥶
Sam Konstas must have learnt a lesson today ☠️🔥#INDvsAUS #Bumrah pic.twitter.com/MxaX9M5iWn— 𝐀𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐚 🩷✨ (@mickey_alizeh) January 3, 2025
This Sam Konstas guy is overconfident. He made a mistake by messsing with Captain Bumraaah.
— CoverDriveKing (@funnycric) January 3, 2025
Yessss!
Rohit will bounce back hard!
Yes I agree. With Rohit sitting out, even Bumrah has scored more runs than him in this series and has also equalled runs tally with his wickets. Feel bad for Rohit 😢🤣
— Dev back up 🚩🚩 (@Jaanedoyaar2203) January 3, 2025
Nahi time waste karwa rha tha day khatam karwane ke liye
Usiy baat pe umpire se bkchodi hui bumrah ki— AnsHU🌋 (@Almost_AnsHU) January 3, 2025
True that!
Not only Bumrah , It looks like everyone taken Wicket in XI. What a scene.#INDvsAUS
— CA Mrityunjay Mishra (@hellomjmishra) January 3, 2025
