India vs Australia SCG Test Match, Day 1 – Happy New Year 2025, But No Happy Scenes for Team India

The start of 2025 could not have been any worse for Team India as the alleged dressing room fight between the coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Rohit Sharma following the embarrassing 184-run defeat to Australia at MCG led to the latter sitting out of the SCG Test match, which began today i.e Jan 3. 

Jasprit Bumrah led the side in Rohit’s absence. When the coin went for a toss, Bumrah called it right. However, he elected to bat first on a surprisingly green surface at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which usually remains devoid of grass.

The courageous decision to bat first didn’t pay India any dividend as KL Rahul departed soon for four. A poor dismissal really, clipping it straight to Sam Konstas at square leg. Mitchell Starc was away and so were Australia with that early wicket. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul’s opening partner, followed suit, scoring a mere 10. Not the start India wanted as they slipped to 17 for 2. But as they say, when things don’t go your way, they simply don’t! 

A Hope Before a Brain Fade on the Stroke of Lunch on Day 1 of the SCG Test Match

The assurance came from Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, who shared a useful 40-run stand for the third wicket. Both looked assured on the crease, except for once when Kohli fended a rising delivery off Boland that went to Steve Smith who in a bid to get the ball off the ground flipped it to Marnus Labuschagne, who caught it. The dismissal brought about a wild celebration from Marnus and his fellow Aussie cricketers. However, the replays showed that the ball touched the ground while Smith flipped it to the fellow slip fielder. Relief for India and the Indian contingent gathered for the SCG Test match. 

However, on the last ball before Lunch, Shubman Gill stepped out of the crease to Nathan Lyon, who saw him coming and bowled a touch wider on off. The ball bounced, took the outside edge and went to Steve Smith at slip. He made no mistake this time around. India were 3 down for 57 at Lunch.

Virat Back in the Hut Soon in the Post-lunch Session of the SCG Test Match

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant came out to bat in the second session of the SCG Test match on Day 1. However, the pair was dislodged quickly as Virat edged to newcomer Beau Webster at third slip off Scott Boland. He scored a mere 17. Virat never fails to disappoint these days! 

It Was the Turn of Pant, Jadeja to Receive Body Blows Against Aussie Quicks

Australian fast bowlers became aggressive with the ball by dishing out bouncers that hit both Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja on their bodies. A catch was dropped too off Jadeja as Steve Smith failed to cling on to an outside edge induced by Boland. The duo, however, showed fight and character to take India to 107 for 4 at Tea.

Procession of Wickets in the Final Session on Day 1 of SCG Test Match

Similar to what happened in the last session of the MCG Test match, India lost their remaining six wickets in the post-tea session at SCG. Some poor shots, some good bowling and some destiny rules weighed in. Rishabh who showed enormous patience early on went for a release shot off Boland but was snapped brilliantly by Pat Cummins at mid-wicket. Rishabh hit 40 off 98 balls. Nitish Reddy came in and walked out as he edged the very first delivery he faced to Alex Carey. Suddenly, India were reduced to 120 for 6. 

Soon, Jadeja fell LBW to Mitchell Starc to make matters worse for India. Washington Sundar who cracked two back-to-back boundaries off Pat Cummins was adjudged out caught behind by the third umpire Joel Wilson. 148 for 8 was India’s score before Jasprit Bumrah’s two small but crucial partnerships of 21 and 16 with Prasidh Krishna and Mohd. Siraj, respectively, took India to a respectable 185.

Bumrah Knocks Over Khwaja Before Stumps on Day 1

Sam Konstas, the new sensation of the Australian team, went bang first ball off Jasprit Bumrah to hit a boundary. He tangled with Bumrah on a couple of occasions before the India skipper knocked over Usman Khwaja on the last ball of the day. Australia ended at 9 for 1.

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