Uncover the excitement of Day 2, where Rishabh Pant’s explosive fifty and India’s bowlers excelled on a spicy SCG pitch, shaping the match’s narrative.
Introduction:
Australia’s task of stopping India from levelling the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is tough enough, especially on the spiciest Sydney Cricket Ground pitch seen in 25 years. At stumps, India is in a slim lead of 145 runs with some breathtaking cricket from both sides.
See also: Scott Boland Stars as India Slumps to 185 on Chaotic Day 1
Bumrah Injury and Resurgence of India’s Bowling
Australia’s hopes of capitalizing on their home advantage took a hit when India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was sidelined with a back spasm. Despite Bumrah’s absence for much of the innings, India’s bowlers stepped up admirably. Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy exploited the conditions to perfection, combining for five crucial wickets. Prasidh dismissed Steve Smith, who was tantalizingly close to reaching 10,000 Test runs, and Alex Carey showed his mastery of swing and length.
See also: Australia Reclaims Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Dominant 3-1 Win Over India

Reddy’s double blow, removing Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc in consecutive balls, ensured Australia’s lower order crumbled. Bumrah’s early dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne further underlined his importance, but India’s “non-Bumrah” seamers collectively delivered their best figures of the tour, reducing Australia to 181 in their first innings.
See also: Ryan Rickelton’s Double Century Leads South Africa’s 2nd Test Domination in Cape Town

Rishabh Pant’s Blistering Assault
India’s batting appeared to be as fragile again, as Scott Boland’s clinical precision meant that KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli did not have much in their pockets. However, Rishabh Pant quickly and dramatically changed the scenario with his 61 off just 33 balls. His innings included match-winning strokes, like the helicopter six over mid-wicket down to Mitchell Starc to bring up his half-century. That was the second-fastest by an Indian in Test cricket. See also: Champions Trophy 2025: India Announces Squad

Pant’s attacking game revealed how the SCG pitch was quite challenging for conventional batting. He took calculated risks, which pushed the Australians into defensive lines and shifted the momentum temporarily in favor of India.

Australia’s response was a story of resilience:
Australia’s hope emanated in the person of Beau Webster on his Test debut. Webster, with his composed 57 off 105 balls, reflected grit and determination when the match was largely bowler’s day. His half-century stand with Smith helped stabilize Australia for a bit, but wickets fell in clusters, and a marginal first-innings deficit of four runs remained with the hosts.

The SCG Pitch: A Bowler’s Paradise
The SCG pitch has been a nightmare for the batsmen, as the erratic bounce and sharp deviation always threatened them. The pitted surface created by the hardened indentations has made even small targets look impossible. Australia is chasing history; it has faced only three successful fourth-innings chases of 150-plus runs at this venue in the last 25 years.

Day Three: What’s in Store
India resumes their second innings on day three with the two all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar out at the crease. Together, these two players are the key to extending India’s lead on the day when every single run amplified the pressure on Australia. For the hosts, the hope lies more with the bowlers-in particular Boland and Starc-to restrict India from scoring anymore and to push the match to a close.

Key Moments That Influenced the Game
Bumrah’s Early Wickets: Although Bumrah played a minimum number of matches, his early wickets dictated the entire India’s game.
Prasidh Krishna: Prasidh, who bowled Smith and Carey with absolute precision, emerged as India’s surprise package.
Rishabh Pant: Pant, who was as fearless as ever, changed the scenario for India. He gave the team a vital psychological advantage.
Webster: Webster’s maiden fifty was Australia’s ray of hope in this mayhem.

A Test Hanging in the Balance
As the Sydney Test reaches its middle phase, the match is delicately poised. India’s bowlers have surpassed expectations at every turn, but the loss of Bumrah might just turn the tables around. The Australians, on the other hand, have to find ways to deal with the crumbling pitch and India’s multi-dimensional bowling attack.
In a battle where the series and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy are on the line, the SCG Test promises much drama and some unforgettable moments.