Fri Jan 03 05:31:22 UTC 2025: ## India Stumbles in Sydney Test Opener Against Australia

**Sydney, Australia –** India’s hopes of salvaging the Border-Gavaskar Trophy suffered an early setback on the opening day of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. Winning the toss and electing to bat, India ended the day struggling at 120/6 after 56.5 overs.

The Indian innings was marked by inconsistent batting, with several early wickets hindering their progress. While Rishabh Pant showed some fight with a 40-run knock before falling to Scott Boland, the rest of the batting line-up failed to provide substantial support. Boland claimed two crucial wickets, while Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon each took one.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), KL Rahul (4), and Shubman Gill (20) all fell relatively cheaply. Virat Kohli’s 17 runs also didn’t provide the stability the team desperately needed. The lower middle-order, including Nitish Kumar Reddy, also failed to contribute significantly.

Several changes to both sides marked the beginning of the match. For India, Shubman Gill replaced Rohit Sharma, and Prasidh Krishna replaced Akash Deep. Australia brought in Beau Webster for Mitchell Marsh.

This match is crucial for India’s hopes of making the World Test Championship final. A loss or draw would eliminate them from contention, as Australia currently leads the series 2-1. The Indian team faces a tough challenge to turn the tide in the remaining days of the match.

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