Fri Jan 03 10:52:48 UTC 2025: ## India’s Top Order Falters, Leaving Bumrah to Salvage a Competitive Total in Sydney Test
**Sydney, Australia –** India’s hopes of victory in the third Test against Australia hinge on their bowlers after a shaky batting performance left them with a below-par 185 on day one at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). A tricky, spicy pitch, predicted to remain challenging for several days, proved too much for India’s top order, who gifted their wickets cheaply.
Opener KL Rahul was dismissed softly, flicking a ball to square leg, while Yashasvi Jaiswal was undone by Scott Boland (4-31), who exploited the conditions effectively. Shubman Gill also fell to questionable shot selection, prompting accusations of time-wasting from behind the stumps. Even Virat Kohli, despite a battling 68-ball innings punctuated by a few moments of frustration and brilliance, ultimately fell to a straightening delivery from Boland.
Rishabh Pant, who absorbed eight blows to his body en route to a gritty 40, admitted that 185 was short of a par score, estimating 220-250 to be more realistic. However, he maintained the total was still competitive, a sentiment supported by the last-ball dismissal of Usman Khawaja, bowled by a superb delivery from Jasprit Bumrah that seamed across the left-hander.
The day was not without its heated moments. A verbal spat between Bumrah and Australian batsman Sam Konstas escalated near the end of the day’s play, with the Indian bowler clearly expressing his displeasure over what he perceived as time-wasting. However, tempers cooled quickly after Bumrah’s dismissal of Khawaja.
While India’s top order underperformed, Bumrah’s impressive 22 runs with the bat and his crucial late wicket provided a late boost, pushing the team to 185. The challenge for India now rests squarely on their bowlers to replicate their Perth-like performance and leverage the SCG conditions to make 185 a formidable total. The team will be hoping for more disciplined batting and passionate fielding on day two.
First Piper 