India stumbles to 57-3 at lunch on Day 1 of the fifth Test against Australia

Jasprit Bumrah took charge of the Indian cricket team as captain in place of Rohit Sharma, who did not play the final Test match against Australia. The team said Rohit was “rested” due to his recent poor performances. His absence has made fans and cricket experts wonder if there is more behind the decision. Bumrah praised Rohit’s decision to sit out, saying, “Our captain has shown leadership by choosing to rest. It shows how united we are as a team. No one is being selfish.”

Rohit Misses Major Official Event Too

Sources revealed that on New Year’s Day, the Indian players were invited to a special event hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a venue overlooking Sydney Harbor. Rohit Sharma was supposed to give a speech at this event, but he pulled out at the last minute. This has led to more speculation about whether Rohit’s break is about more than just form or rest.  Australia Cricket

Is This a Turning Point for Indian Cricket?

Rohit’s exclusion from the playing eleven in the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy could be a big moment in Indian cricket history. Some believe this may be the beginning of a new phase for Team India, possibly with new leadership. Rohit’s recent form with the bat has not been strong, and sitting out the Sydney Test might be a quiet way of stepping back for a while.

Series Highlights and India’s Performance So Far

The Test series has been full of ups and downs. India started strong under Bumrah’s captaincy, winning the first match in Perth by a massive 295 runs. Rohit was on paternity leave during that game. However, in the second Test at Adelaide, India lost badly by 10 wickets. The third Test in Brisbane ended in a draw because of rain, and Australia came back strongly in the fourth match in Melbourne, winning by 184 runs.

Fifth Test: India Starts Poorly in Sydney

India had a tough start on the first day of the fifth and final Test. KL Rahul was the first to go, scoring just 4 runs before being caught at square leg. Then Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener, was dismissed after scoring 10 runs. Scott Boland bowled a good delivery that was caught at third slip, reducing India to just 17 runs for two wickets.

Virat Kohli also had a close call when he edged a ball from Boland to second slip. Steve Smith claimed the catch, but the third umpire reviewed the video and found it unclear. So, Kohli was allowed to continue. Before the lunch break, Shubman Gill added 20 more runs before being caught by Nathan Lyon at slip. At lunch, India was struggling at 57 for 3, with Kohli not out on 12.

Changes in the Batting Line-Up Possible

With the team under pressure, many think that India might change its batting order. Shubman Gill could return to bat at number three. Gautam Gambhir has spoken about Rishabh Pant’s poor shot selection and may support giving a chance to young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. During practice, Pant was seen having a long talk with vice-captain Bumrah, which might be about his role in the team.

Australia Eyes the Trophy

Australia is leading the series 2–1 and is determined to win or draw this final match to claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014–15. The team is playing with focus and confidence. On the other hand, Indian fans still hope for a turnaround.

Gautam Gambhir said, “I am extremely confident,” showing that the team still believes they can win the series despite all the challenges.

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