Australia and India are set for the one last dance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, as they take on each other in the 5th and final Test starting from Friday at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.
🗣️ We’ve got players who can achieve unbelievable things#TeamIndia Head Coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the Sydney Test#AUSvIND | @GautamGambhir pic.twitter.com/eqJaMOujfe
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 2, 2025
Match Details:
Australia vs India, 5th Test
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Date & Time: January 03-07 at 5:00 AM IST and at 10:30 AM Local Time
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+hotstar
What is the Pitch Report for AUS vs IND, 5th Test?
It’s one of the better batting surfaces in the country, that often produced stalemates over the last few years. Out of the last 10 Tests played at the SCG, 6 have ended in a draw. Slow bowlers are quite effective on this surface, due to it’s slowness. Wicket offers purchase throughout all 5 days, making batting first the preferred option.
Recent form:
Australia: Won, Draw, Won, Lost, Won
India: Lost, Draw, Lost, Won, Lost
AUS vs IND, 5th Test Probable Winners:
India are expected to win this match.
What is the Expected, Probable Playing XIs for AUS vs IND, 5th Test?
Australia
Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
India
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill / Rohit Sharma / Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Tanush Kotian / Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
#TeamIndia were hosted at the Kirribilli House by Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia @AlboMP on 1st January.
Visuals from the team’s visit 👌👌@HCICanberra pic.twitter.com/jx5ivBEOKs
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 2, 2025
Injury Updates:
Akash Deep has been ruled out of the 5th Test due to a back niggle.
What are the Fantasy Cricket Top Picks, Players for AUS vs IND, 5th Test?
Top Pick – Batter
Australia is looking more dangerous and the reason behind is Steven Smith’s return to form. The 35-year-old batter, who struggled to score runs in the first 2 Tests, piled up 2 centuries in the next 2 matches. Overall in the series, he made 277 runs at an average of 39.57.
Top Pick – All-Rounder:
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s proved he is going to be the next big thing in Indian cricket. The knock (114) he produced at the iconic MCG in the 4th Test is a testament to his incredible batting skill. He is the 3rd leading run-scorer in the series with a tally of 294 runs in 7 innings. He has 3 wickets to his name as well.
Australia’s latest Test debutant Beau Webster amassed 938 runs and 30 wickets in a mammoth Shield season last year #AUSvIND
More: https://t.co/LZiO6Pht1T pic.twitter.com/lm7SE7nMfa
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2025
Top Pick – Bowler
Jasprit Bumrah continues to shine bright with the ball in the series, as he already scalped 30 wickets in 4 matches with the best figures of 6 for 76.
Top Pick – Wicketkeeper
Rishabh Pant might not had a good run in front of the wickets (154 runs) in the series but has done a great job behind, affecting 23 dismissals. He needs better execution with the bat.
X-Factor:
Pat Cummins is a champion cricketer, his performances, either with the bat or ball in the series have come when the side required him the most. In 4 matches in the series, he has picked up 20 wickets and added 149 runs with the bat.
What are the Fantasy Suggested teams for AUS vs IND, 5th Test?
1. KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Steven Smith (c), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins (vc), Jasprit Bumrah.
2. KL Rahul, Alex Carey, Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Travis Head (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sam Konstas, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Scott Boland.
⭐️Konstas’ first international outing in front of home crowd
⭐️Smith’s major milestone
⭐️Chance to win back the Border-Gavaskar TrophyThere’s plenty in store for the Aussies in the Pink Test at the SCG #AUSvIND #RunwayReport | @Qantas pic.twitter.com/VvZXkyEH8q
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 2, 2025
Pre-Match Analysis:
Australia are one win away from cementing their place in the WTC Final which is scheduled in Lord’s from June 11. Leading the ongoing series 2-1, they need either a draw or a win in the 5th Test to reclaim the Border Gavaskar Trophy. They trounced on India from nowhere on the last day of the Boxing Day Test to script an 184-run victory. Clever captaincy from Pat Cummins was the main highlight, and he was adjudged the Player of the Match award for his spectacular all-round show (90 runs and 6 wickets). Debutant Sam Konstas’ 60 and Steven Smith’s 34th Test ton in the 1st innings garnered attention. A 61-run stand for the last wicket in the 2nd innings between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland did help them to extend their lead over the 300-run mark.
Underfire, Mitchell Marsh, who has been short of runs and not among the wicket-takers in the series, dropped from the 5th Test and Beau Webster will make his Test debut on Friday.
Gautam Gambhir’s coaching expertise and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy combination haven’t gelled as a result, India are on the verge of losing the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Currently trailing 2-1, India needs a complete overhaul in their approach and needs to make tough decisions for the 5th Test to stay in the WTC Final race. A last-day blunder with the bat in the 4th Test, where they could have shown a better character to save it, means they stay 3rd in the WTC standings with a PCT of 52.78.
There are reports that Rohit Sharma will be rested for the 5th Test and in his absence Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side. Speedster, Akash Deep, who has a back niggle ruled out as well. Shubman Gill or Sarfaraz Khan are the contenders for Rohit Sharma’s place, while Harshit Rana or Tanush Kotian will replace Akash Deep. They are expecting a better batting show in the Sydney Test and wants to finish the tour on a higher note.
