India sweat on Jasprit Bumrah fitness but Rishabh Pant helps build lead over Australia

Visiting captain suffers back problem on dramatic day at the SCG

India’s captain Jasprit Bumrah (L) reacts after Australia’s Steve Smith hit a shot during day two of the fifth cricket Test match between Australia and India at The SCG in Sydney on January 4, 2025. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Australia’s Steve Smith, left, and Usman Khawaja. AFP

India's players shout a successful caught behind appeal against Australia's Marnus Labuschagne. AFP

Indian fans cheer in the stands. AFP

Rishabh Pant of India hits the ball for six. EPA

Australia’s Scott Boland after a delivery on day two. AFP

Australia’s bowler Pat Cummins falls on the ground while appealing. AFP

Rishabh Pant of India looks dejected while leaving the field after being dismissed by Pat Cummins. Getty Images

Pat Cummins of Australia celebrates after dismissing Rishabh Pant. Getty Images

Australian players led by Pat Cummins leave the field. Getty Images

Rishabh Pant slammed the second-fastest Indian Test half century on Saturday to drive the visitors to a 145-run lead with four wickets left after an intense second day of action in the decisive fifth Test against Australia.

At the close in Sydney, India were 141-6 with Ravindra Jadeja on eight and Washington Sundar six after they dismissed Australia for 181 in reply to their first-innings 185.

Australia lead the series 2-1 with India needing to win at the Sydney Cricket Ground to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Pant signalled his intent by hammering a six on his first ball and then reached 50 after just 29 deliveries with another big heave that cleared the ropes. Only his 28-ball half-century against Sri Lanka in 2022 was faster for India.

He was eventually dismissed for 61 off 33 by Pat Cummins, but Scott Boland was India's main tormentor, taking 4-42. Pant's heroics set up an exciting finale, amid doubts over whether skipper Jasprit Bumrah will take any further part.

He left the field after bowling one over following lunch and was driven away from the SCG for hospital scans. Bumrah was seen returning shortly before stumps. In his absence, Prasidh Krishna (3-42), Mohammed Siraj (3-51) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-32) stepped up to fill the void and dismiss Australia after they resumed on 9-1.

"It's been a hell of a Test, it's been in fast-forward mode," said Australian all-rounder Beau Webster, who top-scored with 57 and took a wicket.

"With the amount of wickets, I am just happy that I could contribute with the bat, few catches and wicket there as well, so really happy.

"It's a real tussle," he added. "We don't know what a good score is yet and obviously plenty on offer for the quicks."

Yashasvi Jaiswal got India's second innings off to a fast start, crunching four boundaries from the first over by Mitchell Starc.

But the opening partnership was broken when KL Rahul was bowled for 13 by Boland, whose line and length was impeccable throughout. He struck again in his next over with a ball that nipped back to exact the same punishment to Jaiswal (22).

Virat Kohli desperately needed a big score - for himself and the team - but failed once again, caught in the slips for six with Boland once more the architect.

It was likely the 36-year-old Kohli's last Test innings in Australia, with India usually only visiting every four years.

Webster claimed Shubman Gill (13) as his first Test wicket, but at the other end Pant was on a mission until an edge off Cummins carried to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Boland claimed his fourth to remove Reddy cheaply.

"As many runs as possible would be great for us because we don't know what the wicket will be behaving like for us," said India bowler Prasidh Krishna. "There's no particular number in mind, but as many as we can score. We are ready to bowl them out for whatever."

Earlier in the day, Australia had lost Sam Konstas (23), Marnus Labuschagne (two), Travis Head (four) and Steve Smith (33) before lunch. In front of his home crowd, Smith looked set to become only the 15th batsman and fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs.

But he was made to wait, five runs short, after Prasidh enticed an edge to Rahul in the slips.

The home side resumed after a dramatic final-ball wicket on Friday when Bumrah - captaining the side after Rohit Sharma was "rested" - had Usman Khawaja caught.

That Australian body blow came two balls after Bumrah and Konstas had a tense exchange. The 19-year-old Konstas padded up again on seven with new partner Labuschagne, who didn't last with Bumrah getting the faintest edge to Pant.

A fearless Konstas slammed Bumrah to the boundary, then produced an audacious reverse ramp shot for another four. But the teenager overplayed his hand and fell to a Siraj outswinger, attempting a drive that flew to Jaiswal at gully.

Siraj removed Head in the same over with another gem to leave Australia at 39-4. Smith and Webster, who replaced the dropped Mitchell Marsh, began the rebuild before Prasidh dismissed the veteran just before lunch and bowled Carey soon after their return.

India then took 3-4, with Reddy at the forefront, as the tail collapsed.