Another batting collapse for India! Team all out on 185 in 5th Test

India's struggles with the bat continued as they were bowled out for 185 on a challenging green-top wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Day 1 of the ongoing Test against Australia. Opting to bat first in Rohit Sharma's absence, Jasprit Bumrah led the team but the decision to bat backfired as Scott Boland's disciplined bowling dismantled India's batting lineup.

KL Rahul, back as an opener, started cautiously alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, both openers succumbed to Australia’s relentless pace attack. Rahul flicked a leg-stump delivery straight to square leg, while Jaiswal nicked Boland to the slip cordon while attempting to counter the movement by walking towards the bowler.

Despite surviving an early scare, Virat Kohli fell for a modest 20 after edging one to the slips. Shubman Gill, who showed some grit in his 40-run stand with Kohli, failed to convert his start, falling to Nathan Lyon just before Lunch. The story of India’s middle order was no different from that of Rishabh Pant, who displayed a rare, cautious approach, top-scored with 39 but eventually perished trying to accelerate.

The Australian bowlers, led by Boland’s 4-31, combined beautifully with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon to consistently apply pressure. India’s lower order offered brief resistance with Jasprit Bumrah scoring a spirited 22, but their innings ended within 79 overs. This marked India’s seventh sub-200 first-innings score in their last eight Test matches.

The highlight of the day came when Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja, continuing his dominance over the left-hander this series. A brief verbal exchange with non-striker Sam Konstas added drama to an otherwise difficult day for India. Australia ended the day with momentum, putting India on the back foot early in this crucial Test.