AUS vs IND: 5th Test, Day 1, Talking Points – New year, same batting woes for India

The opening day of the New Year’s Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney went in Australia’s favor after 75.2 overs of play in the day.

Rohit Sharma made headlines by dropping himself from the playing XI, with Jasprit Bumrah taking the captaincy duties. After winning the toss the visitors chose to bat first on a green-top and the decision went against them, as they lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul early.

The remaining Indian batters also struggled against a formidable Australian side as Virat Kohli, Nitish Kumar, and Shubman Gill all walked back after making small contributions. Rishabh Pant was the lone batter to score over 30, as the southpaw eventually was dismissed for 40 runs.

Meanwhile, for the hosts, Scott Boland was the pick of the bowlers as he took a four-wicket haul, and helped his side contain India for 185 runs. In reply, the Baggy Green got three overs in which they lost Usman Khawaja thanks to Bumrah’s brilliance, as the score stood at 9/1.

Here are the talking points from Day 1:

3. India’s struggle to find runs

India had a tough day with the bat, managing just 185 runs across three sessions, with a poor start. The first two sessions could fetch them only 108 runs as the Australian bowlers kept bowling tight lines. India reached 50 in 115 balls and managed to score 107 by Tea. In the last session, they got the most runs, with 77 runs due to some intent-fuelled batting from the tail, especially Bumrah, who struck 22 off 17.

2. Virat Kohli’s outside off-stump agony continues

Virat Kohli’s struggles outside the off-stump continued again on Day 1. Batting at No.4, Kohli entered a tricky situation with India at 17/2. Facing his first delivery, he edged Scott Boland to second slip, where Steve Smith’s contentious catch was ruled as not out by the third umpire as Kohli survived. However, he eventually fell in the 32nd over for just 17 runs, marking his sixth dismissal via an outside edge this series.

1. Last ball drama between Konstas and Bumrah

In a dramatic conclusion to the first day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, tensions flared between India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s young opener Sam Konstas. The incident began when Usman Khawaja, on strike, delayed Bumrah’s delivery, prompting Konstas at the non-striker’s end to intervene with remarks that escalated the situation. Umpires had to step in to diffuse the heated exchange. Undeterred, Bumrah channeled his aggression into his bowling, dismissing Khawaja with the final ball of the day. Instead of a traditional celebration, Bumrah turned his attention towards Konstas, signaling that he had the last word in their confrontation.