India vs Australia LIVE Score, 5th Test, Day 1: Kohli-Gill Fight Back After India Suffered Twin Blows Early

Indai vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Debutant Beau Webster Joins Attack

The 6ft 6 inches tall Beau Webster has been introduced into attack by Australia. The debutant started his career as an off-spinner but gradually evolved into a medium pacer. After replacing Mitchell Marsh, Webster has been given the responsibility of an all-rounder in the team.

IND 43/2 (18 overs)

Pink Test, Day 1 Live: Cummins Bowls His 7th Over

No break for Australia skipper Pat Cummins who bowls his 7th over of the first spell. While Boland had replaced Mitchell Starc, Cummins has gone full steam early in the match on Day 1.  Both Kohli and Gill remain watchful early on. 

IND 42/2 (17 overs)

IND vs AUS 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Sanjay Bangar On Rohit Sharma’s Decision

Former India batter Sanjay Bangar on Rohit Sharma’s selfless decision:

“My respect for Rohit Sharma has only increased with this decision. It is very difficult for a captain to drop himself. What Rohit has done as the captain of the team, sets a precedent for others to follow,” Sanjay Bangar in commentary.

IND 42/2 (16 overs)

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Boland Testing Kohli

Scott Boland has emerged as quite a threatening bowler this morning. He didn’t just get rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal but also missed Virat Kohli’s wicket by the narrowest of margins. Kohli has handled him well since nearly getting caught in the slips. We still have about 45 minutes left before the first session ends.

IND 33/2 (14 overs)

IND vs AUS 5th Test, Day 1 Live: First Review Lost By Australia

A loud LBW shout by Australia turned down by the umpire but no bat involve either as a catch was taken after the ball hit the pad. DRS taken but the ball was going over the stumps. Shubman Gill survives. 

IND 32/2 (12 overs)

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Onus On Gill-Kohli

The King and the Prince of Indian cricket are together in the middle after Australia struck early to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. It’s going to be tough for India from here on and the team needs this partnership to stick. 

IND 25/2 (11 overs)

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

Steve Smith shaking his head as he walks past Virat Kohli after the end of the over. Kohli also says a few words to the Australia star over the decision from the third umpire on that catch. Virat is also off the mark!

Phew. Kohli saab’s test career safe for now. pic.twitter.com/B5ijLS8zON

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) January 3, 2025

IND 22/2 (9 overs)

Pink Test Live: Lucky Break For Virat Kohli

Scott Boland almost seems to have got Virat Kohli caught behind but the ball seemed to have slipped out of Steve Smith’s hand just a little and touched the ground. A huge lucky break for Virat Kohli and India as Australia turn on heat.

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Yashasvi Jaiswal Departs Too

WICKET! Drama in the middle as Yashasvi Jaiswal departs early too. Scott Boland comes in as the first-change bowler in attack and doesn’t waste much time before sending Yashasvi Jaiswal packing. An easy catch in the slips and the left-hander has to head back to the dressing room.

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Cummins-Starc Continue To Test Indians

The 7mm grass pitch has posed quite a few challenges in front of Indian batters at the Sydney Cricket Ground this morning. KL Rahul has already become the victim of Starc’s clever challenges while Cummins has also bowled quite a testing lines. India need to be cautious for another hour at least.

IND 16/1 (7 overs)

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

WICKET! Mitchell Starc continuously tested KL Rahul with a 5th stump line but it’s a delivery on the pads that gets rid of the India opener. A big blow to Rahul as he departs after making just 4 runs off 14 balls. Not the kind of start India wanted. 

IND vs AUS 5th Test Live: India Off To Watchful Start At SCG

KL Rahul off the mark with a drive through the covers for three runs against Mitchell Starc. Yashasvi Jaiswal once again gets tested by Pat Cummins on the 5th stump line. Irfan Pathan warns the opener against being tempted to play those drives.

IND 11/0 (4 overs)

India vs Australia 5th Test Live: Cummins Testing Jaiswal Early

After Mitchell Starc conceded 5 runs from the first over, Pat Cummins bowls a much tidy and tight line to give away just one run. Jaiswal tested multiple time in the over. But, no damage done.

IND 6/0 (2 overs)

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Sanjay Manjrekar On Rohit Sharma Doing “Right Thing”

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

So typical of Rohit Sharma. Doing the right thing, doing what’s right for the team. But could not understand the ‘cloak & dagger’ around the issue. Wasn’t even talked about at the toss.

— 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 looked o produce an outswinger for Jaiswal from the leg-stump but the India opener did very well to flick the ball towards the mid-wicket boundary. Fine first over for India.

IND 4/0 (1 over)

India vs Australia 5th Test Live: We Are Underway!

Yashasvi Jaiswal takes 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 start of a new era for Indian cricket, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the team. We are underway!

India vs Australia 5th Test, Day 1 Live: The National Anthems Are Done

The national anthems of both India and Australia are over and it is time for the on-field action to begin. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul would be keen to reproduce the Perth magic, maybe even go a step further, as they open together again. For Australia, the task remains simple, get the most out of the 7mm grass that’s there on the pitch at present. 

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 he was pretty impressive in the series opener which India won. But, it is Prasidh Krishna who gets the team management’s not for the Pink Test in Sydney. The selection decisions do highlight lack of clarity in the Indian team at the moment. 

India vs Australia 5th Test Live: A Look At The Pitch

Here’s how the pitch at SCG looks like this morning:

Fun watching 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 Ton

Nitish Kumar Reddy goes shares his emotions 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 maiden Test hundred. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/600kTsEHGW

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

India vs Australia 5th Test Live: The Pitch Report

There’s plenty of grass on the pitch, unlike we have seen in any of the 4 Tests today. Sunil Gavaskar feels Pat Cummins would be happy to field first considering the field, as well as the overcast conditions. It’s going to be quite tricky for India’s openers — Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul — today. Shubman Gill, back at No. 3, also faces a big Test to keep his place in India’s XI. 

Pink Test Live: How The Playing XIs Look Like

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

India vs Australia 5th Test Live: Rohit Sharma Opts Out As India Bat First

Jasprit Bumrah, as expected, comes out for toss as the stand-in skipper after Rohit Sharma ‘opted to rest’. India win toss and decide to bat first. Two changes for the Indian team as Prasidh Krishna and Shubman Gill come into India’s XI. Pat Cummins not to disappointed as SCG has overcast conditions at the moment. 

India vs Australia, 5th Test Live: Bumrah’s Captaincy Faces Another Test

With Rohit Sharma being dropped to the bench, Jasprit Bumrah will have another opportunity to showcase his captaincy credentials today. Rumours of Virat Kohli wanting to be Team India’s ‘interim captain’ have also been doing rounds on the internet but the team management faces a big task ahead of them if Rohit decides to call it a day in Tests. 

IND vs AUS, 5th Test, Day 1 Live: Did Gambhir Turn Down Request To Keep Rohit In XI?

It has also been reported by PTI that Gautam Gambhir was asked if Rohit Sharma can be a part of India’s XI in Sydney and bow out from Tests after the match. But the head coach turned down the request. For Gambhir, the priority remains winning 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 Farewell Rohit Sharma?

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Day 1 of the 5th Test between India and Australia from Sydney. The news of India captain Rohit Sharma being dropped from the 5th Test against Australia has already been doing rounds in the internet. Though head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm if Rohit will be a part of the XI today, it is understood that Jasprit Bumrah will leading the side as the Hitman warms the bench. Shubman Gill is said to be a part of the playing XI again while the injured Akash Deep is out. Will there be other changes too?