On this day in 2021, January 19, 2021, the Indian cricket team made a miracle with one of the greatest Test wins in history by breaching the Gabba fortress to win the historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. It was Australia’s first Test defeat at the Gabba in 32 years. 

It was the fourth and final Test of the four-match Test series in Australia. While the series was standing at 1-1 before the Gabba Test in Brisbane, the Ajinkya Rahane-led Indian team had some new and irregular faces, which made the hosts undoubted favourites before the beginning of the Test. 

2021 Gabba Test: Injury-marred India were clueless

While the Indian team was already missing their regular captain Virat Kohli after the first Test of the series due to paternity leave, the team missed out on the injured players Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Hanuma Vihari for the Gabba Test. 

The right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj was leading the Indian bowling line-up in the Gabba Test with only two Test experiences, while Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur were playing their second Test. The left-arm pacer T Natarajan and spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar made their Test debuts. Meanwhile, the opener Shubman Gill was playing his third Test.

See Also: Reason behind dropping Mohammed Siraj from ODI squad revealed

2021 Gabba Test (1st innings): Marnus Labuschagne scored century

Australian captain Tim Paine chose to bat first after winning the toss. Although Aussie openers lost their wickets in single digits, Marnus Labuschagne’s (108) century and key middle-order support with a couple of the 40s and the skipper’s 50 runs helped the hosts to score 369 runs. 

Indian pacers T Natarajan (3/78) and Shardul Thakur (3/94) took three wickets each along with the off-spinner Washington Sundar (3/89). 

2021 Gabba Test (2nd innings): Sundar and Thakur scored valuable 60s

India were struggling at 186/6, where the opener Rohit Sharma (44) was the only batter to reach the 40-run mark. However, Washington Sundar (62) and Shardul Thakur (67) rescued the visitors with their 60s as they had a partnership of 123 runs for the seventh wicket. While Josh Hazlewood claimed a fifer (5/57), India ended their first innings with 336 runs. 

2021 Gabba Test (3rd innings): Siraj's fifer and Thakur's 4-fer restricted the hosts

Starting their second innings with a 33-run lead, Australia were bowled out for 294 runs. Opener David Warner (48) and former captain Steven Smith (55) had the key roles for the baggy greens in setting up the fourth innings target of challenging 328 runs for the visitors. While the Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj picked up a fifer (5/73), Shardul Thakur had a four-fer (4/61).

2021 Gabba Test (1st innings): Fearless Pant guided to history after Gill's 91 and Pujara's long batting 

India started the fifth day of the series finale Test at 4/0. Although the opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed for seven runs, the new opener Shubman Gill impressed with his batting, and solid Cheteshwar Pujara frustrated Aussie bowlers with his patient batting. Gill and Pujara set up a 114-run partnership for the second wicket to make the game on for the visitors, where Gill scored 91 off 146 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes. 

After the skipper Rahane scored 24 off 22 balls (four fours and one six), Pujara and Rishabh Pant had a 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Pujara scored 56 off 211 balls (seven fours) before Pat Cummins dismissed him. 

Although Mayank Agarwal was out for nine runs, Pant was sensational with his bat, and Washington Sundar once again produced a valuable partnership. They had a 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Nathan Lyon bowled Sundar for 22 off 29 balls (two fours and one six). 

However, fearless Pant controlled the chasing without any tension, and even though Shardul Thakur was out for two runs, India chased the target with three wickets in hand. Pant scored 89 not out off 138 balls with the help of nine fours and one six, and the excited Indian players jumped with joy for winning the series by 2-1.

2021 Gabba Test: Australia lost at the Test venue after 32 years

It was Australia’s first Test defeat at the Gabba after 32 years. Previously, they lost a Gabba Test in November 1988 against West Indies (9 wickets). It was their first Gabba Test defeat after 31 Tests, which also broke their seven-match winning streak in the Test venue.

After a shockingly poor performance in the three-match home Test series against New Zealand, where the hosts suffered a 3-0 series defeat, India lost their decade-long Border-Gavaskar Trophy after losing the five-match Test series against the hosts Australia by 3-1, despite winning the Test series opener at Perth Stadium under the stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah.

At the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, we are talking about three names who can take retirement for Test cricket. 

See Also: Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer and Arshdeep Singh IN as India announce their ODI squad against England before CT 2025

Rohit Sharma

Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s place in the Test team is completely doubtful. In the last South Africa and Australia tour, Rohit scored 5, 0, 39, 16 not out, 3, 6, 10, 3, and 9. During the last England tour of India in 2024, Rohit scored two centuries and one half-century in the last three Tests, but his next home Tests scores against Bangladesh and New Zealand were 6, 5, 23, 8, 2, 52, 0, 8, 18, and 11. In the last 15 Test innings, the right-handed batter has managed an average of just less than 11.

Moreover, Rohit is also under pressure as a Test captain as his defensive strategies aren’t working, rather than these are backfiring for the Indian team. 

While Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are returning to their familiar batting form, their valuable experiences are required in the forthcoming England tour, which will be played after the IPL 2025. 

As Jasprit Bumrah has impressed as a captain, under pressure Kohli has better captaincy experiences outside India, and a lot of Indian talented cricketers are on the line for future leadership roles, India aren’t going to miss Rohit Sharma in Test cricket. 

Virat Kohli 

To remove his name from this list, Virat Kohli has to prove himself faster. The former Indian captain knows his issue very well and is desperate to resolve it, but somehow, he is failing again and again. Apart from one century, Kohli scored 90 runs in the other eight innings in the recently concluded Australia tour with only three double-digit scores, including only one 20+ score. Most importantly, the right-handed batter can’t avoid his long-term issue of failing to handle the fourth or fifth stump deliveries. 

Before the Australia tour, Kohli was also disappointed in the home Test season, where the right-handed batter scored 20+ runs only thrice out of 10 innings, including the knock of one 70 runs and another 47. Also, his recent running between the wickets is another major concern for the team.

Well, Kohli is now getting a much-needed break from his bad form. While he is still important in the Test team, he has to work hard to bring his familiar form. Although Indian cricket fans are still hopeful, Kohli surely has very limited time.  

Ishant Sharma

Although the tall right-arm fast bowler Ishant Sharma is active in all formats of domestic cricket, he last served for the Indian Test team in November 2021 during the New Zealand tour of India.

While the Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj are dominating in all formats, Mukesh Kumar, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Navdeep Saini, etc. have impressed in their early international career, the 36-year-old Ishant Sharma is unlikely to return to Test cricket. 

Hosts Australia finally end their decade-long wait to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, as they lifted the 2024-25 trophy after beating the visitors by six wickets in the Sydney Test. The baggy greens have won the five-match home Test series by 3-1.

Starting day three at 142/6, the visitors India were bundled out for only 157 runs, setting the target of 162 runs. Overnight batters Ravindra Jadeja (13) and Washington Sundar (12) were dismissed cheaply. Although the stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah batted and scored a duck, he wasn't available for bowling.  

See Also: Rishabh Pant shatters fastest Test fifty record by visitors in Australia

Scott Boland recorded his first 10-wicket haul

Scott Boland and Pat Cummins both picked two wickets each on the third day to bundle out the visitors for a cheap third innings total. Boland recorded his second Test fifer and finished with bowling figures of 16.5-5-45-6. By claiming six wickets in the third innings, Boland recorded his maiden Test ten-wicket haul, as the right-arm fast bowler also took four wickets in the first innings. Meanwhile, the Aussie skipper Cummins completed the innings with the bowling figures of 15-4-44-3, as he became the first bowler to record 200 wickets in the ICC World Test Championship history. 

Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled hard but the situation became tougher without Bumrah. Initially, Australia were struggling at 58/3, where Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Steven Smith (4) were dismissed cheaply after the opener Sam Konstas (22), as Krishna took all those three wickets. 

Usman Khawaja played important role before Head-Webster's safe guidence

Experienced opener Usman Khawaja, who struggled in the entire series, controlled the hosts innings in the tricky period and guided to the safe zone with Travis Head. Khawaja scored 41 off 45 balls with the help of four fours before Mohammed Siraj dismissed him to complete his 100th Test wicket. While the experienced opener was out, the hosts were still 58 runs away from the target. 

Once again the Test debutant Beau Webster impressed with the bat as he had an unbroken 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket to secure the match as well as the series. While Head was not out for 34 runs, Webster scored 39 not out. 

Scott Boland won the Player of the Match award, while the leading wicket-taker of the series, Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah won the Player of the Series award for picking up 32 wickets. After winning all the previous four Border-Gavaskar Trophies, India ultimately lost the trophy. Australia previously won the trophy in the 2014-15 season at home.  

While India won the five-match Test series opener by 295 runs in Perth under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma started his leadership in the Test series from the second Test. Australia won the only day-night pink-ball Test match of the series at Adelaide Oval by 10 wickets, while the Brisbane Test had a draw result due to massive rain disturbance. Australia won the fourth Test in Melbourne by 184 runs and won the Test series after a six-wicket win against Bumrah-led India in Sydney. 

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia is set for an exciting finale. The iconic Sydney Cricket Ground is hosting the last game of the five-match Test series, where we are experiencing a low-scoring contest with a pace-bowling dominance.

The hosts Australia are leading the Test series by 2-1, as they can win the series and the trophy by only avoiding a defeat in the Test series finale. Australia last time won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the 2014-15 season at home. 

Meanwhile, it is the must-win game for India to end this overseas tour with a 2-2 scoreline and retain the trophy, which they won the previous four times (twice in Australia and twice in India). 

2025 Sydney Test, Australia vs India: 26 wickets in first two days

The first two days of the 2025 Sydney Test experienced very unusual scenes as the pace bowlers from both sides completely dominated. While the opening day of the Test match experienced 11 wickets falling, the second day experienced another 15 dismissals. 

See Also: Rishabh Pant shatters fastest Test fifty record by visitors in Australia

2025 Sydney Test, Australia vs India: Both teams scored 180+ totals in first innings

After the Indian stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah chose to bat first in the ongoing Sydney Test, the visitors scored 185 runs, while the hosts Australia replied with 181 runs. 

Starting their second innings with a four-run lead, India scored 141/6 at the stumps on the second day of the Test match with a lead of 145 runs. Surely, we are going to see a possible low-scoring thriller chase or defense in the unforgettable Test series finale. 

Here are some historic fourth innings stats in the Sydney Test history. 

Highest fourth innings target set: 735 by Australia vs West Indies in 1969 (Australia won by 382 runs)

Highest fourth innings target set with a draw result: 460 by Australia vs England in 1983 (England scored 314/7)

Highest fourth innings target successfully chased: 287 by Australia vs South Africa in 2006 (Australia won by eight wickets)

Lowest fourth innings target successfully defended: 111 by England vs Australia in 1887 (England won by 13 runs)

Fourth innings target successfully chases:

200 or more runs: 6 out of 49 times (11 draws)

175-199 runs: 3 out of 5 times (0 draws)

150-174 runs: 4 out of 8 times (2 draws)

149 or lesser runs: 20 out of 22 times (0 draws)

Since the 2000s

Lowest fourth innings target successfully defended: 176 by Australia vs Pakistan in 2010 (Australia won by 36 runs)

Highest fourth innings target successfully chased: 287 by Australia vs South Africa in 2006 (Australia won by eight wickets)

Fourth innings target successfully chases:

200 or more runs: 1 out of 12 times (4 draws)

199 or lesser runs: 7 out of 8 times (0 draws)

Since 2010s

Lowest fourth innings target successfully defended: 176 by Australia vs Pakistan in 2010 (Australia won by 36 runs)

Highest fourth innings target successfully chased: 141 by Australia vs Sri Lanka in 2013 (Australia won by five wickets)

Fourth innings target chases successfully:

200 or more runs: 0 out of 6 times (3 draws)

199 or lesser runs: 2 out of 3 times (0 draws)

The second day of the Sydney Test was dramatic for both Australia and India, as the Indian pacers and Rishabh Pant's fiery batting set up a great opportunity for the visitors to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the ongoing Test to end the series with a 2-2 result. 

Australia started the second day of the Sydney Test at 9/1 as India ended the previous day with a final ball wicket of the opener Usman Khawaja (2) after the visitors were all out for 185 runs. 

Australia were fighting at 39/4

The hosts were under tremendous pressure from the first hour of the second day as they were battling at 39/4. Skipper Jasprit Bumrah set the tone of the day by taking the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (2), where they confidently took the review after the not out decision, and the third umpire ultimately brought the decision in the favour of the visitors. 

Mohammed Siraj was strong enough on the second day as he dismissed the opener Sam Konstas (23) and Travis Head (4) in the same over, and Australia were in trouble at 39/4.

Steven Smith lost his wicket just before lunch

Steven Smith got good support from the debutant Beau Webster, who seemed strong with the bat. They strongly built up a 57-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Prasidh Krishna took the wicket of Smith (33) just before lunch in his new spell. At lunch, Australia were batting at 101/5. 

During the lunch break, Indian regular Test captain Rohit Sharma clarified that he just dropped himself from the ongoing Sydney Test as per key requirement, which rubbished all his retirement speculation. 

Watch: Rohit Sharma says "Ye koi retirement ka decision nahi hai"

Debutant Webster scored half-century, Australia were all out for 181 runs

Webster and Alex Carey were also batting well while the visiting team got a blow as the skipper of the match, Jasprit Bumrah, left the venue for a scan. Despite Bumrah's absence, the Indian pacer showed their spirit in the game while the Indian slip fielders were outstanding. 

Webster and Carey had a 41-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Prasidh Krishna bowled Carey for 21 runs. While Webster continued his strong batting, the Indian pacers were desperate for the Aussie tails soon. 

Skipper Cummins (10) and Mitchell Starc (1) were dismissed by Nitish Kumar Reddy on his back-to-back deliveries stretching to his next over, while the debutant Webster shined with a half-century. Finally, Prasidh Krishna dismissed Webster for 57 runs. The tenth wicket partnership added 15 runs as Australia were all out for 181 runs. 

While the skipper Bumrah picked up two wickets (2/33), Mohammed Siraj (3/51) and Prasidh Krishna (3/42) claimed three wickets each, and Nitish Kumar Reddy got two crucial wickets (2/32). 

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit four 4s in the first over

Starting their second innings with a four-run lead, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal started the innings with four fours to the Aussie left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc in the first over of the innings. Openers Jaiswal and KL Rahul set up a 42-run partnership before the batting order faced a collapse.

Scott Boland bowled both the Indian openers as Rahul was out for 13 runs and Jaiswal scored 22 runs. Once again the former Indian captain Virat Kohli (6) fell into the fourth stump delivery against Boland, while debutant Beau Webster took his first Test wicket after Shubman Gill's (13) inside edge was caught by the wicketkeeper Alex Carey. 

Rishabh Pant scored a fiery half-century

While India were struggling at 78/4, Rishabh Pant showed his popular fiery knock to change the momentum. The left-handed batter completed his half-century in 29 balls and scored 61 off 33 balls before he was dismissed by the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins. Pant recorded the second-fastest Test half-century by an Indian and the fastest Test 50 by a visiting batter in Australia.  

At the stumps of the second day of the Test match, India were batting at 141/6. The visitors have earned a lead of 145 runs, and the match is set for an exciting finish. While Ravindra Jadeja (8) and Washington Sundar (6) were the unbeaten batters, Scott Boland picked up four wickets (4/42).

Finally, the popular Rishabh Pant show came, and that too at the most important time. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter’s fiery batting put the visitors in a good challenging position in the Sydney Test. 

The Sydney Test is the series decider of the thrilling five-match Test series Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where the visitors India are trailing by 2-1. It is a must-win game for India to retain the Trophy by ending the Test series 2-2 and staying in contention for the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship Final. 

Under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah in the Sydney Test, India won the toss and chose to bat first. While India scored 185 runs in the first innings, Australia were all out for 181 runs in their first innings. 

Leading by four runs before the beginning of their second innings, Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul provided a positive start, especially Jaiswal who hit four fours to the Aussie left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc in the first over of the innings. After the 42-run opening partnership was broken, India were struggling at 59/3 when Virat Kohli was caught out again at the slip and Rishabh Pant joined the crease.

Also Watch: Rohit Sharma says "Ye koi retirement ka decision nahi hai"

Rishabh Pant started with an over-boundary

Fearless Pant started his innings with a sixer against the dangerous-looking Aussie fast bowler Scott Boland. It was just a start as the left-handed batter completed a 29-ball half-century, the second fastest Test fifty by an Indian, and the fastest Test half-century by a visiting batter in Australia.

Pant also holds the record for the fastest Test fifty by an Indian with a 28-ball half-century against Sri Lanka during the 2022 Bengaluru Test. 

Pant broke an almost 50-year-old record

Meanwhile, West Indies cricketer Roy Fredericks was the previous record holder for the fastest Test half-century by a visiting batter in Australia. During the 1975 Perth Test, the Caribbean cricketer recorded a 33-ball fifty against the hosts. 

Pant scored 61 off just 33 balls to shift the Indian total quickly toward setting a challenging and uncomfortable fourth innings target for the hosts. After playing a powerful knock, where the left-handed batter smashed six fours and four sixes, the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins dismissed him. India ended the second day of the Test match at 141/6 with a lead of 145 runs. 

Two back-to-back sixes to Starc

During the latest innings, which is one of his memorable batting performances in Test cricket, Pant smashed three consecutive fours to the Test debutant Beau Webster (18th over of the innings) and two successive sixes to Starc (22nd over of the innings).

The 31-year-old Indian right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is leading the Indian team in the ongoing five-match Test series decider in Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, brought bad news to the Indian cricket dressing room on the second day of the Sydney Test as he went for the scan. Here, we are coming with all of Jasprit Bumrah's updates on his injury.  

Although Jasprit Bumrah delivered eight overs on the second day of the ongoing Sydney Test, including an over in the second session of the day, he went sideline multiple times. During the second session, he was seen to go to the hospital in a car for a scan. 

See Also: Rohit Sharma clears his present status in Test cricket

Jasprit Bumrah had a back spasms

During the third session of the day, Bumrah returned to the dressing room. After the end of the second day in the Sydney Test, Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna, who is playing in the ongoing Sydney Test, said that Bumrah had back spasms.

Prasidh Krishna said, “He (Jasprit Bumrah) had a back spasms. The medical team is monitoring him. He had a scan. The medical team will update."

Update: Jasprit Bumrah is back in the dressing room. Would have rushed back after seeing India four down. Hope nothing serious and he puts the pads on for some wild swings

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) January 4, 2025

Nothing serious at the moment

Later, a Times of India report claimed that a well-placed source in the Team India dressing room clarified the present situation of the injured Bumrah. The Sydney Test captain hasn't had any serious injury yet, as he was taken for a precautionary scan after a back spasm. The source further added that Bumrah would be okay to bat while his bowling would be totally dependent on how he would feel on the third day morning. 

The TOI report claimed, “Bumrah was taken for a precautionary scan after a back spasm, but nothing serious at the moment. He should be okay to bat, but a final call on bowling will be taken on basis of how he feels in the morning.” 

Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that his decision to drop himself from the Sydney Test isn't going to change anything in the Indian Test team soon. He is ready to take next challenges as an Indian Test captain. 

During the lunch break of the second day of the Sydney Test, the regular Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma clarified his decision to not play the Sydney Test. Due to his poor form with the bat, he chose to drop himself for the Sydney Test. The visitors India are trailing this five-match Test series, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, by 2-1 before the beginning of the last Test at the Syndey Cricket Ground. 

So, the Sydney Test is a must-win game for India to not only end the Test series by retaining the trophy with a 2-2 scoreline but also to stay in contention for the ICC World Test Championship Final of the ongoing cycle (2023-2025). In the absence of the regular Test captain Rohit Sharma, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is leading the Indian team in the Sydney Test.  

In the last 15 Test innings, captain Rohit Sharma scored only 164 runs with an average of 10.93, including one half-century and another 20+ innings. In the ongoing Australia tour, the right-handed batter scored 6, 3, 10, 9, and 3 runs. 

See Also: Jasprit Bumrah goes hospital for scan

Mein itne dur se aaya hoon yahaan pe mein bahar baithe mein thodi aaya hoon: Rohit Sharma

Rohit said to the broadcaster during the lunch break of the Sydney Test, "Mein itne dur se aaya hoon yahaan pe mein bahar baithe mein thodi aaya hoon ya match nahi khelane thodi aaya hoon mere ko match khelana hai yaar aur mere ko jitana hai team ko… aur jo pahle din jab aaya tha dressing room mein 2007 mein tab se leke yahi hai match jitana hai match team ko jitana hai. (I have come from so far away here not to have come a little bit of sitting outside or not playing the match, I have to play the match, man, and I have to win for the team... Since I joined the dressing room on the first day in 2007, we need to win the match, team has to win)" 

Ye decision lena difficult that: Rohit Sharma

The Indian Test captain continued, "Kabhi kabhi aapko samajhana padega ki team ki zarurat kya hai. Agar team ko agar aap aage nahi rakhte toh koi fayada nahi… ki mere bat se run nahi ho rahe, form nahi hai. Out of form players zyada carry nahi kar sakte team mein. Ye decision lena difficult tha, iss time pe team ko kya chaahiye tha bas. Ye thought ki paanch mahine ke baad kya hone vaala hai, chhe mahine ke baad kya kya hone vaala hai, I don't believe in that. (Sometimes you have to understand what the team needs. If you don't keep the team ahead, it's no use. I am not scoring, there is no form. Out-of-form players can't be carried much in the team. It was difficult to take this decision, but did what the team required at this time? The thought of what will happen after five months, after six months, I don't believe in that.) 

"Ki ye Jo decision hai, ye koi retirement ka decision nahi hai, naa koi mein hatane vaala hoon games se aisa koi decision nahi hai. (This decision isn’t for retirement, I am not stepping down from the game, nothing like this kind of decision)."

Team first, always! 🇮🇳

📹 EXCLUSIVE: @ImRo45 sets the record straight on his selfless gesture during the SCG Test. Watch his full interview at 12:30 PM only on Cricket Live! #AUSvINDOnStar 👉 5th Test, Day 2 | LIVE NOW | #BorderGavaskarTrophy #ToughestRivalry #RohitSharma pic.twitter.com/uyQjHftg8u

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 4, 2025

In the crucial five-match Test series finale of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the Indian team has received a massive blow as Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian captain of the ongoing Sydney Test, is injured and has been taken to the hospital for a scan on the second day of the Test match. Former Indian captain Virat Kohli is the stand-in skipper of the team at the present moment in the Sydney Test. 

See Also: Rohit Sharma clears his present status in Test cricket

Captain Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets before going to hospital

After the regular captain Rohit Sharma chose to drop himself for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 finale, where the visitors are trailing by 2-1, Jasprit Bumrah has taken the leadership role. 

Jasprit Bumrah has continued his solid form with the ball in hand in the ongoing Sydney Test. After dismissing the opener Usman Khawaja for only two runs on the last ball of the first day, Bumrah took the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne (2) on the early morning of the second day. The skipper confidently reviewed the not out decision to earn that wicket. His bowling led the Indian team to crack the Aussie top-order while they were struggling at 39/4.  

Although Bumrah tried his best on the second day of the Test match, he seemed uncomfortable and went sideline multiple times. The right-arm fast bowler even delivered one over in the second session but soon realised uncomfortable and moved to the hospital in a car. Before leaving for the scan, Bumrah had the bowling figures of 10-1-33-2. 

Jasprit Bumrah off to injury scans but seem comfortable and looks like he it won’t be anything serious.#AUSvIND #INDvsAUS

pic.twitter.com/Ji8tvbCcvZ

— Ameer Hamza Asif (@AmeerHamzaAsif) January 4, 2025

ग्राउंड के बाहर बुमराह को कार से लेकर जाता सपोर्ट स्टाफ।#INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/qrhFwBMMa0

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) January 4, 2025

India earned a four-run lead

While India were all out for 185 runs in the first innings of the Sydney Test after choosing to bat first, Australia were bowled out for only 181 runs as the visitors have earned a crucial four-run lead before the beginning of their second innings. 

Among the Aussie batters, only Steven Smith (33) and the debutant Beau Webster (57) reached the 25-run mark. After Bumrah's two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj (3/51) and Prasidh Krishna (3/42) bagged three wickets each, Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/32) bagged two wickets. 

After a day of many speculations around the Indian team leadership and senior cricketers' Test cricket future, Indian Test skipper Rohit Sharma has openly clarified his present status in Test cricket.

Trailing the series by 2-1, the five-match Test series finale at Sydney Cricket Ground experienced a surprise as the skipper Rohit Sharma chose to drop himself due to his recent poor form. Jasprit Bumrah, who also led the team in the Test series opener at Perth Stadium and India won that Test by 295 runs, has returned to the leadership role for the Sydney Test. 

I have stood down from this Test: Rohit Sharma

At the lunch break of the second day of the Sydney Test, the Indian Test captain Rohit Sharma cleared that he just stood down from the leadership role only in the ongoing Test match. 

Sharma started with, "I have stood down from this Test but I am not going anywhere."

The Indian Test captain added, “Like I told you this decision is not a retirement decision nor am I going to step aside from the game, there is no such decision. I am out of the game because my batting isn't working. There is no guarantee that the bat will not work after five months, there is no guarantee that the bat will not work after two months. We have seen a lot in cricket, every minute. every second, everyday life changes. So I have this belief in myself that things will change but at the same time you know I have to be realistic as well.”

Indian Test captain slammed for misinformation

Sharma also slammed the journalists for spreading rumors without any official information. He said, “Someone is sitting inside with a mic or a laptop or a pen, what he writes, what he says, our life does not change because of that. We have played this game for so many years, so they cannot decide when we should go or when we should not play or when we have to sit out or when we should captain. I am a sensible man, I am a mature man, I am a father of two kids, so I have a little bit of brain.”

This is Classic Rohit Sharma finish 😂pic.twitter.com/vkrgBnUFqB

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) January 4, 2025

Rohit Sharma - "Arey bhai kahi nahi ja raha main idhar hi hu" 🥹❤️ #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/e7lcY593Pz

— TEJASH 🚩 (@LoyleRohitFan) January 4, 2025