India enters the final match of the series on the back of an 184-run loss to Australia in the Melbourne Test, which gave the hosts a 2-1 lead. This defeat also dashed India’s hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s early next year. Despite the setback, Gambhir remains unwavering in his belief that the Indian side has what it takes to prevail in Sydney.

During a pre-match press conference, Gambhir emphasized that the team has the right skill set and individual talent to clinch victory in the fifth and final match of the series. He highlighted the potential for even greater achievements in the future with the current squad.

“Extremely, extremely confident. You know, we’ve got the skill set, we’ve got the individuals, we’ve got everything in the dressing room that can win a test match here. Not only here, but probably go on to do some unbelievable things in the future as well. So, extremely confident,” Gambhir said.

However, India will need to adjust to a forced change in their lineup. Gambhir confirmed that pacer Akash Deep would be absent from the Sydney Test due to a back injury. The 28-year-old will not feature in the playing eleven, leaving the team to manage without him in the final match of the series.

“As of now, Akash Deep is out (for the fifth test) due to a back injury,” Gambhir stated.

India’s squad for the final match includes: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Sarfaraz Khan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Tanush Kotian, Dhruv Jurel, and Harshit Rana.

The final Test will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, starting January 3, with both teams gearing up for a thrilling conclusion to the series.

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After rain had washed out the opening day, the skies cleared and bright sunshine greeted the players at The Gabba, promising an exciting day of cricket. Australia resumed their innings at 28/0 from 13.2 overs, with Akash Deep and Bumrah sharing the new ball. The battle between bat and ball became a spectacle as Bumrah and Akash produced an outstanding spell of pace bowling.

Akash set the tone by applying pressure from one end, while Bumrah expertly executed his skills from the other. Usman Khawaja, despite his vast experience, appeared unsettled facing Bumrah, who continued to extract pace and bounce from the surface. The pressure mounted, and eventually, Bumrah got the breakthrough, dismissing Khawaja for 21 after forcing him to edge the ball to Virat Kohli at second slip.

With Australia reduced to 39/2, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship. The two Australian batters batted cautiously, leaving deliveries outside the off-stump and attacking the ones closer to the leg stump. As their partnership began to build, the Indian fielders became visibly frustrated, searching for a breakthrough.

Mohammed Siraj attempted a tactical move by trying to change the bails on the stumps, in a bid to disrupt Labuschagne’s concentration. Labuschagne quickly replaced the bails, but his stay at the crease was short-lived. Nitish Kumar Reddy, bowling with impressive accuracy, lured Labuschagne into playing an aerial drive, which resulted in another thick outside edge that was caught by Kohli, dismissing Labuschagne for 12.

With Australia at 76/3, Bumrah and Akash kept the pressure on the Australian batsmen. Akash continued to bowl with precision, particularly challenging Travis Head, who responded with a smile at times, acknowledging the quality of the deliveries. Despite the sustained pressure, Head and Smith managed to see out the remaining part of the session without further casualties.

Brief Score:
Australia 104/3 (Steven Smith 25*, Travis Head 20*; Jasprit Bumrah 2/26) vs India.

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