Fri Jan 03 09:37:47 UTC 2025: ## India’s Batting Crumbles on Day 1 of Sydney Test as Australia Dominates
**Sydney, Australia** – India’s batting order suffered a dramatic collapse on the opening day of the fifth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Despite winning the toss and electing to bat, India ended the day on a precarious 185/10, struggling against a relentless Australian pace attack.
The Indian innings was marked by early setbacks, with openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed within the first ten overs. Shubman Gill, returning to the side after being dropped for the fourth Test, managed only 20 runs before falling to Nathan Lyon just before lunch. His dismissal, after a prolonged period of defensive play, underscored India’s struggles.
Virat Kohli, who has been consistently dismissed playing outside off-stump throughout the series, continued this trend, falling for 17 runs. Rishabh Pant showed resilience, scoring 40 runs before being bowled by Scott Boland, who then dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy for a golden duck with the very next ball. This marked a turning point in the innings, as India’s run rate plummeted.
The partnership between Pant and Ravindra Jadeja was a highlight of India’s resistance, adding 35 runs from 111 balls. However, the pair could not stem the tide, with Jadeja eventually dismissed by Mitchell Starc. The Indian tail offered little resistance, with the final wickets falling quickly to the Australian pace attack. Boland, Starc, and Pat Cummins shared the wickets, highlighting the overall dominance of the Australian bowling.
Adding to the drama, a heated exchange between Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s all-rounder, Beau Webster, occurred before Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja, providing an exciting end to a challenging day for India. Despite brief moments of resistance, India’s batting frailties were exposed, leaving Australia in a commanding position heading into Day 2. The pitch, described as greener than usual for the SCG, clearly favoured the Australian pace attack. The match is crucial for India’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final.
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