India dominated the morning session of day two of the final Test against Australia in Sydney, piling significant pressure on the Australian batsmen. The session saw Australia lose four crucial wickets: Sam Konstas (23), Marnus Labuschagne (2), Travis Head (4), and Steve Smith (33). Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were the standout performers with the ball for India.
Australia began their innings at 9 for 1 after Usman Khawaja was caught in the slips off the final ball of Day 1. Jasprit Bumrah captained the Indian team in Rohit Sharma‘s absence.
Sam Konstas started aggressively, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for two boundaries, including a reverse ramp shot.
“Kya ho gaya, ab shot nahi dikh rahe kya? Oye Konstas, shot nahi lag raha kya?” taunted Yashasvi Jaiswal as Konstas began to struggle.
Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal fires a cheeky remark at Sam Konstas
Konstas resumed his innings on 7, partnering with Marnus Labuschagne, and scored his first runs of the day with a two off Mohammed Siraj’s opening delivery.
Siraj dismissed Konstas for 23, caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully. Konstas’s attacking approach ultimately led to his downfall.
Labuschagne’s time at the crease was brief as Bumrah induced an edge, with Rishabh Pant completing the catch behind the stumps.
Head attempted a counter-attack with a boundary but was dismissed in the same over by Siraj, caught by KL Rahul at slip. Australia found themselves in deep trouble at 39 for 4.
Smith and Webster, replacing the dropped Mitchell Marsh, sought to stabilise the Australian innings and rescue their team from a precarious position.
Smith was nearing a significant milestone, aiming to become the 15th batsman and fourth Australian to score 10,000 Test runs. The Sydney crowd awaited this landmark with anticipation.
However, Prasidh Krishna dismissed Smith just before lunch, caught by KL Rahul. Smith’s pursuit of the milestone will now have to wait.
At lunch, Australia were struggling at 101 for 5, trailing India’s first-innings total of 185 by 84 runs. Debutant Beau Webster was unbeaten on 28, with Alex Carey on 4.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is at stake in this final Test. A win or a draw would see Australia reclaim the trophy, last held in the 2014-15 series. An Indian victory would ensure they retain the title.