sydney
The fifth and final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 between India and Australia was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In this match, the Indian team had to face defeat by 6 wickets. The Australian team had a target of 162 runs to win, which it achieved in the second session of the third day of the game (January 5). With this victory, Australia captured the five-match Test series 3-1. Australia has won the Test series against India after 10 years.
With this series win, the Kangaroo team also took entry in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Now Australia will face South Africa in the WTC final. The final of the current cycle of WTC is to be played at the Mecca of cricket Lord’s from 11-15 June this year. The Indian team played two consecutive finals, where it lost first to New Zealand and then to Australia. Now the Indian team’s dream of reaching the WTC final for the third time has been shattered.
In the Sydney Test, the Indian team’s second innings was reduced to 157 runs. Let us tell you that in this match, the Indian team had scored 185 runs in its first innings. In reply, Australia’s first innings was also reduced to 181 runs. That means, on the basis of first innings, India has got a lead of four runs. India won the first test match in Perth by 295 runs. Then Australia won the Adelaide Test by 10 wickets. After this the Brisbane Test was a draw. Whereas Australia won the Melbourne Test by 184 runs.
Highlights of Australia’s second innings, bowling looked scattered without Bumrah
Chasing the target, Australia had a good start and scored 39 runs in 3.4 overs. From here, Prasidh Krishna led the Indian team to make a comeback. Prasidh first got Sam Constas (22) caught out by Washington Sundar. Then he also hunted Marnus Labuschagne (6) and Steve Smith (4). Yashasvi Jaiswal caught both Labuschagne and Smith.
From here there was a partnership of 46 runs for the 5th wicket between Usman Khawaj and Travis Head. Siraj ended this partnership by getting Usman Khawaja caught out by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. From here, Travis Head and Beau Webster did not give any chance to the Indian team and took Australia to the destination of victory. Jasprit Bumrah did not come out to bowl in the second innings. In such a situation, the bowling of the Indian team looked scattered. Anyway, the target of 162 runs was not that big for Australia.
The beginning of the new year 2025 was not good for India. The result of the match played against Australia in Sydney came out on the third day itself. Rohit Sharma kept himself away from captaincy and playing eleven due to poor form. Jasprit Bumrah captained this match, but he got injured while bowling in the first innings. In such a situation, Virat Kohli captained the rest of the match. India had scored 185 runs in the first innings. In response, Australia lost all wickets for 181 runs. India could score only 157 runs in the second innings. In this way Australia got the target of 162 runs, which Australia achieved with great pain.
Team India has played all its matches of this WTC cycle, while Australia still has two matches left. If the Indian team had won this match, it would definitely have been in the race for the final, but now there is no equation left for any team. With India’s victory, the doors to reach the final would have been open not only for India but also for Sri Lanka and Australia, which are now closed for Sri Lanka and India, because Australia has secured the ticket for the final.
When and where will WTC be played?
WTC 2025 Final will now be played between South Africa and Australia. South Africa had entered the finals with 66.67 percent victory. Australia made it to the title match with 63.73 percent victory. The final of the ICC World Test Championship is to be played in England for the third consecutive time. This time ICC has chosen Lord’s of London for this, where the final is to be played from June 11. The Australian team has won this title before. The South African team will look to win its first title.
