Australia's relentless bowling attack dismantled the Indian batting line-up on January 3, 2023, as the visitors were bowled out for just 185 runs on the opening day of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Without captain Rohit Sharma, a strategic decision was taken as Jasprit Bumrah led the team. This absence proved pivotal, as India continued to struggle with their batting, which has been under intense scrutiny throughout the series.
Scott Boland was the standout bowler for Australia, claiming impressive figures of 4 for 31, with Mitchell Starc providing solid support by taking 3 for 49. The Australian bowlers exploited the green pitch effectively, securing nine Indian wickets with their aggressive and accurate seam bowling.
Rohit Sharma's resting could spell trouble for the future of his career, especially as he has been unable to score over 10 runs across five innings played during this series. The move raised eyebrows, considering his experience and status within the team. Virat Kohli, also under pressure for his fluctuated form, fell for just 17 runs, adding to the woes of the Indian side.
The Indian innings started with high hopes but quickly descended as star opener KL Rahul was dismissed for just 4 runs. Young batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal followed shortly after, scoring only 10 runs before being caught by Australian debutant Beau Webster off Boland’s bowling.
Boland's performance was highlighted by his very first over, where he dismissed Jaiswal and could have claimed Kohli too, had it not been for the third umpire's controversial no-ball call. Kohli's form is under close watch, especially after failing to convert starts, and with his captaincy seeming uncertain, the spotlight is directly on him.
Rishabh Pant, trying to make sense of the chaos, fought valiantly, top-scoring with 40 runs. He endured several blows but maintained his focus. After the day's play, he commented, "I think this is the first time I’ve got hit so much but you know... in cricket, you can’t plan anything." His spirit was commendable amid the team’s disarray.
Following Pant’s dismissal, Nitish Kumar Reddy's dismal run continued as he went out for another golden duck, leading to speculations about his place in the squad. By the end of the innings, the highest Indian score was only 26 runs from Ravindra Jadeja, contributing as the lower order collapsed to Australia's charged bowling attack.
After including Pant, dismissed after scoring 40, India found themselves unable to reach competitive scores, having now failed to cross the 200-run mark five times during this series, raising serious concerns over their batting line-up.
The innings concluded with India at 185, their lowest first-innings total at the SCG since 2000 when they were bowled out for 150. With this latest performance, the Indian team faces increasing pressure to regroup and strategize effectively moving forward.
Australia ended day one at 9 for 1 after losing Usman Khawaja right at the close, leaving them trailing on the scoreboard but well-positioned to make significant progress on day two. Boland remained optimistic, saying, "It was disappointing losing a wicket on the last ball of the day, but it's a pretty good position after they won the toss. Hopefully, the sun's out, and we can bat all day tomorrow," which speaks volumes of Australia’s strong position.
The fifth Test holds immense significance as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is at stake, and India needs to rebound quickly to stay alive and contest the series effectively. With the current state of affairs within the team, especially post this batting collapse, significant changes may be necessary if they wish to reclaim some dignity against the formidable Australian side.