India made two changes to their playing XI for the fifth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Shubman Gill replacing Rohit Sharma and Prasidh Krishna coming in for Akash Deep. On a dramatic opening day, Jasprit Bumrah, leading the side in Rohit’s absence, won the toss and opted to bat first under overcast conditions. Rohit Sharma was dropped from the playing XI—a first in Indian cricket history for a regular captain.
The decision stirred discussions, with Bumrah emphasising team strategy at the toss. Meanwhile, the match saw early dismissals, including Virat Kohli for 17, caught off Scott Boland and Shubman Gill for 20, falling to Nathan Lyon just before lunch.
The Indian innings started shakily, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul falling early. However, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied the ship with a crucial 40-run partnership for the third wicket. Just before lunch, Gill lost focus and was dismissed by Nathan Lyon, caught by Steve Smith at slips. Smith exchanged words with Gill before delivering a sharp reminder of his presence in the game.
This match is pivotal for both sides. India began the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) with strong performances but faltered in Adelaide and Melbourne, with the Brisbane Test ending in a draw. A win in Sydney is crucial for India to stay in the race for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and to retain the BGT. Meanwhile, Australia only needed a draw to reclaim the trophy after a decade. Their only change in the lineup is the inclusion of Beau Webster.
Playing XIs for the 5th Test
Australia:
Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj