Jasprit Bumrah gives India hope after Australia seize control in fiery day one
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The tourists crumbled on day one after being bowled out for 185 but their star bowler hit back with a vengeance to claim a vital wicket with the final ball of the day. Jasprit Bumrah stepped up as India skipper in the absence of struggling captain Rohit Sharma and landed a haymaker to Australia with the final ball on a fiery day one at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
![[Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates with teammates]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/09/11803131.jpg)
After India crumbled with the bat, bowled out for 185 on the first day of the fifth and final test, seeking to win to level the series 2-2, the hosts got off to a rocky start. Bumrah’s first decision backfired, opting to bat first with the green-tinged SCG pitch providing joy for Australia's bowlers.
![[Australia's Scott Boland celebrates taking the wicket of India's Virat Kohli]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/03/09/2025-01-03T083252Z_899910393_RC222CA3OOBW_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-TEST-AUS-IND.jpg)
Scott Boland grabbed 4-31 off 20 overs and Mitchell Starc chipped in with 3-49, meaning a score of less than 200 for the fifth time in the series for India. But at stumps, Australia were left on 9-1 in response, with Bumrah (1-7) taking the wicket of Usman Khawaja (2) at slip to set things up beautifully for day two.
The new skipper immediately celebrated in the direction of Sam Konstas after a fiery final over that saw the young batter and Bumrah face off with a verbal exchange just two balls prior. "I feel they had a little chit-chat, they (Australia) wanted to waste some time," wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant said. "I didn't hear it, but I feel that's the only thing which (Konstas) wanted to do to just wait some time so we don't bowl one more over.".
