The first innings of the fifth Test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground witnessed an extraordinary contribution from an unlikely hero. Jasprit Bumrah, renowned for his bowling prowess, outscored India’s top-order batsmen with a brisk 22 runs off 17 balls. His spirited knock, laced with three boundaries and a six, came at an impressive strike rate of 129.41.
Top-Order Collapse
India’s top four batsmen—Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli—struggled against a disciplined Australian bowling attack, managing only 51 runs collectively:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 10 off 26 balls
- KL Rahul: 4 off 14 balls
- Shubman Gill: 20 off 64 balls
- Virat Kohli: 17 off 69 balls
The Indian top order faltered against Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, who exploited the conditions effectively.
Bumrah’s Vital Contribution
Batting at No. 10, Bumrah’s counterattacking innings provided a much-needed boost to India’s total. His entertaining knock not only added crucial runs but also highlighted his growing confidence with the bat.
Australian Bowling Domination
The Australian bowlers were relentless, wrapping up India for just 185 in 72.2 overs:
- Mitchell Starc: 4 wickets for 49 runs
- Scott Boland: 3 wickets for 31 runs
- Pat Cummins: 2 wickets for 37 runs
- Nathan Lyon: 1 wicket for 19 runs
The disciplined attack consistently troubled the Indian batsmen, leaving India in a precarious position.
Fall of Wickets
India lost wickets at regular intervals:
- 11-1 (KL Rahul)
- 17-2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal)
- 57-3 (Shubman Gill)
- 72-4 (Virat Kohli)
- 120-5 (Rishabh Pant)
- 134-7 (Ravindra Jadeja)
- 148-8 (Washington Sundar)
- 168-9 (Prasidh Krishna)
- 185-10 (Jasprit Bumrah)
What Lies Ahead
India’s dismal batting performance places significant pressure on their bowlers to mount a comeback. Bumrah’s late surge with the bat underscores the importance of lower-order contributions, but the road ahead is challenging as India looks to counter a strong Australian batting lineup.
