BGT '24
India sans Rohit Sharma offer no better picture against Australia in Sydney
Sydney/IBNS: In a repetition of what went on throughout the Border Gavaskar Trophy for the tourists, India started off the fifth and final Test against Australia with disappointment with the bat even after captain Rohit Sharma rested himself in hope for a rebound at SCG in Sydney on Friday.
As the players headed towards the pavilion for tea, India crawled to 107-4 in 50 overs.
After India's stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah won the coin toss and opted to bat first on a wicket which is almost covered in grass, the visitors lost early wickets in the form of KL Rahul (4) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (10).
Shubman Gill, who was looking settled in the middle, was caught in the slip by Steven Smith off Nathan Lyon in a staggering shot just at the stroke of lunch.
Gill, who replaced out-of-form Rohit, needlessly stepped out of the crease and edged Lyon's turner to Smith falling for 20.
Virat Kohli, the other senior Indian batter who is under the pump over poor show with bat, was dismissed poking an off-stump ball bowled by Scott Boland.
The former captain, who had survived a dismissal threat earlier with the third umpire's decision, was sent packing for 17 from 69 balls.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja battled out the second session yielding no more wickets to the hosts, who are 2-1 ahead in the series.
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