 "India knocked out of 2025 World Test Championship final race as Australia clinch Sydney Test")
India were knocked out of contention for the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final following a six-wicket defeat to Australia on Day three of the fifth Test in Sydney on Sunday. Australia have qualified for the WTC final and will take on South Africa in the summit clash at Lord’s in June this year. The win also helps Australia regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade with a 3-1 series victory.
India, who were coming on the back of a 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, needed to win the Sydney Test to have any hopes of qualifying for the WTC final . This is the first time India have not qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. India went down to New Zealand by eight wickets in the final of the 2021 edition, whereas Australia had beaten India by 209 runs in the final of the 2023 edition.
India, resuming Day three from their overnight score of 141/6, were all out for 157 in the first hour of play on Sunday. This meant Australia needed 162 runs to win, with India having taken a lead of four runs going into the second innings.
Australia’s aggressive start to run chase
Australia began their run-chase on an aggressive note, with Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas forging 39 runs in 3.5 overs before the latter was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna. There was a glimmer of hope for India when Prasidh Krishna removed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith within a gap of two overs. India were missing Jasprit Bumrah from their bowling attack, with the stand-in skipper having sustained back spasm on Saturday.
Travis Head (34*) then came into bat at number five and forged a 46-run partnership with Usman Khawaja (41), who finally got some runs under his belt after largely having been unimpressive throughout the series. Mohammed Siraj, however, struck in the 19th over to see off Khawaja, who was edged and caught behind by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Debutant Beau Webster, however, impressed with an unbeaten 34-ball 39, hitting six fours in the process. Webster forged an unbeaten 58-run stand with Travis Head for the fifth wicket. Webster hit the winning runs as he hit a boundary in the last ball of the 27th over by charging down the track.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia were led by Jasprit Bumrah in this match after regular skipper Rohit Sharma decided to give himself a rest amid a poor run of form . Rohit, who had also missed the first Test due to the birth of his second child, managed only 31 runs from three Tests against Australia. Amid rumours of his retirement from Test cricket, Rohit clarified that he only opted out of the Sydney Test due to his poor form and that he wasn’t retiring. “This decision is not about retirement, I am not leaving. I am sitting out of this match because runs are not coming,” Rohit had told official broadcasters _Star Sports_ during the lunch break on Day 2.
Scott Boland, who took 10 wickets in the Sydney Test, won the Player of the Match award, whereas Jasprit Bumrah, who took 32 wickets from five Tests, was adjudged Player of the Series.
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