India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1: Kohli Falls Early, Pant Struck on Helmet Amid Batting Struggles

Virat Kohli departs in familiar fashion while Rishabh Pant survives a helmet blow as Australia dominate on Day 1 of the final Test in Sydney.

Sydney: India faced early setbacks on Day 1 of the 5th Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as key batters, including Virat Kohli, failed to anchor the innings. Skipper Jasprit Bumrah, stepping in for Rohit Sharma, chose to bat first after winning the toss. However, India’s batting line-up struggled against Australia’s disciplined bowling attack.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah Praises Rohit Sharma’s Leadership for Opting to Rest in Sydney Test

Key Moments from Day 1:

• Virat Kohli’s Familiar Dismissal: Kohli once again fell to a fifth-stump delivery from Scott Boland, nicking one to the slip cordon.
• Rishabh Pant’s Injury Scare: Mitchell Starc’s sharp bouncer struck Pant on the helmet, causing a brief stoppage as the physio attended to him. Fortunately, Pant resumed batting after treatment.
• Shubman Gill’s Early Exit: Shubman Gill was dismissed just before lunch, adding to India’s woes.
• Australia’s Bowling Domination: Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon kept the Indian batters in check with tight lines and consistent pressure.

Score Update:

Also Read: Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Rohit Sharma’s Decision to Rest for Sydney Test

At 81/4 (39 overs), India was reeling under pressure with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja battling it out in the middle. Australia, despite falling behind on the over-rate, remained clinical in their bowling execution.

Also Read: India vs Australia 5th Test: Must-Win Clash for India to Retain Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Ravi Shastri’s Bold Prediction:

Former India coach Ravi Shastri speculated that Rohit Sharma might consider retiring from Test cricket after the Sydney Test. “He might pull the plug at the end of this Test. It’s time for India to build with youngsters,” Shastri said.

Australia’s Strategy:

Captain Pat Cummins might turn to Nathan Lyon and Travis Head to recover the over-rate while maintaining attacking fields against India’s middle order.

As the day unfolds, India will hope for a stable partnership between Pant and Jadeja to salvage their innings and set a respectable total.

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