India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Kohli-Smith substitution

Steve Smith shakes his head as he walks past Virat Kohli at the end of the over. Kohli also says a few words to the Australian star about the third umpire’s decision on the catch. Virat is also next to it!

Phew. Kohli Saab’s Test career is safe for now. pic.twitter.com/B5ijLS8zON

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 3, 2025

IND 22/2 (9 overs)

Pink Test Live: A stroke of luck for Virat Kohli

Scott Boland seemed to have almost put Virat Kohli behind, but the ball seemed to have slipped a little from Steve Smith’s hand and hit the ground. A huge stroke of luck for Virat Kohli and India while Australia is in full swing.

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 live: Yashasvi Jaiswal also leaves

WICKET! Drama in the middle as Yashasvi Jaiswal also leaves early. Scott Boland comes in as the first change of bowler in the attack and doesn’t waste much time before sending off Yashasvi Jaiswal. An easy catch at slip and the left-hander has to go back to the locker room.

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 live: Cummins-Starc continues to test Indians

The 7mm turf pitch posed some challenges for the Indian batsmen at the Sydney Cricket Ground this morning. KL Rahul has already fallen victim to Starc’s clever challenges, while Cummins has also bowled some challenging lines. India needs to be cautious for at least another hour.

IND 16/1 (7 overs)

IND vs AUS 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Soft Dismissal, KL Rahul departs

WICKET! Mitchell Starc continually tested KL Rahul with a 5th stump line but it is a delivery on the pads that takes out the India opener. A big blow for Rahul as he departs after scoring just 4 runs off 14 balls. Not the kind of start India wanted.

IND vs AUS 5th Test live: India starts off alert at SCG

KL Rahul hit Mitchell Starc with a drive through cover for three runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal is tested again by Pat Cummins at the 5th stump line. Irfan Pathan warns the opener against the temptation to play these drives.

IND 11/0 (4 overs)

India vs Australia 5th Test live: Cummins tests Jaiswal early

After Mitchell Starc conceded five runs from the first over, Pat Cummins bowled a very clean and tight line and only allowed one run. Jaiswal was tested several times in the over. But no damage was done.

IND 6/0 (2 overs)

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 live: Sanjay Manjrekar on how Rohit Sharma is doing ‘the right thing’

As Rohit Sharma decides to opt out of the 5th Test, Sanjay Manjrekar says the skipper did the right thing once again.

So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing the right thing for the team. But I couldn’t understand the “cloak and dagger” around the topic. It wasn’t even discussed at the throw.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 2, 2025

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: First boundary of the day

First boundary of the day for India and it comes from the bat of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Mitchell Starc appeared to be scoring an outswinger for Jaiswal off leg stump, but India’s opener managed very well to flick the ball towards the middle line of the wicket. Good first half for India.

IND 4/0 (1 over)

India vs Australia 5th Test live: We are on the move!

Yashasvi Jaiswal takes the guard as live action begins in the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Mitchell Starc has the new ball in his hand. The year 2025 could be the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket, with Jasprit Bumrah at the helm of the team. We’re on the way!

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 live: National anthems are ready

The national anthems of India and Australia have ended and it’s time for the action on the field. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul would love to recreate the magic of Perth, perhaps even take it a step further, when they open together again. For Australia, the task remains simple: get the most out of the 7mm grass currently on the pitch.

India vs Australia 5th Test Day 1: Why no Harshit Rana?

Harshit Rana played the first two Tests for India in Perth and Adelaide and was quite impressive in the series opener, which India won. But it is Prasidh Krishna who is not given the team captaincy for the Pink Test in Sydney. The selection decisions currently highlight the lack of clarity in the Indian team.

India vs Australia 5th Test live: A look at the pitch

This is what the pitch at SCG looks like this morning:

It’s fun to watch the pitch at the SCG. Let’s have some fun #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/rAEpndTajR

—Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 2, 2025

IND vs AUS 5th Test Live: Nitish Kumar Reddy on his father’s special hug after MCG clay

Nitish Kumar Reddy shares his feelings after the special MCG hundred.

“For 30 seconds I felt a warm hug, it was a great moment for me. As a son, I always wanted my father to hug me.”

Nitish Kumar Reddy shares a special moment he shared with his father after scoring his first Test hundred. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/600kTsEHGW

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2025

India vs Australia 5th Test live: The Pitch Report

There is a lot of grass on the pitch, unlike what we saw in the four Tests today. Sunil Gavaskar believes Pat Cummins would like to start first given the field and overcast conditions. Things will be quite difficult for India openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul today. Shubman Gill, back at No. 3, also faces a tough challenge to retain his place in the Indian XI.

Pink Test Live: What the playing eleven look like

A look at both of the team’s XIs as Australia also make some changes to the playing XI:

India vs Australia, 5th Test live: Rohit Sharma out as India bats first

As expected, Jasprit Bumrah comes in as stand-in captain after Rohit Sharma opted “for a rest”. India wins the toss and decides to bat first. Two changes for the Indian team: Prasidh Krishna and Shubman Gill join the Indian team. Pat Cummins won’t be disappointed as it’s currently cloudy at the SCG.

India vs Australia, 5th Test live: Bumrah’s captaincy faces another test

With Rohit Sharma pushed to the bench, Jasprit Bumrah will have another opportunity to showcase his qualities as a captain today. Rumors about Virat Kohli wanting to become the ‘interim captain’ of Team India are also doing the rounds on the internet, but the team management will have a big task ahead if Rohit decides to call it a day in the Tests.

IND vs AUS, 5th Test, Day 1 live: Did Gambhir reject the request to keep Rohit in the XI?

PTI also reported that Gautam Gambhir was asked if Rohit Sharma could be part of the Indian XI in Sydney and withdraw from Tests after the match. But the head coach rejected the request. Gambhir’s priority remains to win the final BGT Test at SCG and retain the trophy by drawing the series 2-2.

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 live: Is it a farewell to Rohit Sharma?

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day one of the 5th Test between India and Australia from Sydney. The news of India captain Rohit Sharma being ruled out of the 5th Test against Australia has already made rounds on the internet. Although head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm whether Rohit will be part of the XI today, Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the side as the Hitman warms up the bench. Shubman Gill is expected to be back in the starting XI while the injured Akash Deep is out. Will there also be other changes?