Australia vs India 2025: 3 Players to watch out for in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) 5th Test

The battle for the coveted Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has converged to a final showdown. Witnessing intense matchups, it has been nothing short of an epic. But, as of now, Australia does not seem far away from triumphing, with the results 2-1 in the five-match series.

The Men in Blue were leading the Test series, as they dominated Australia in the first Test in Perth. With a thumping victory by 10 wickets, the Aussies struck back at the Adelaide Oval in the second game. While the Brisbane Test ended up in a draw, Australia have gained an upper hand in the penultimate match, by crushing India by 184 runs.

With the grand finale in the SCG, the stakes are higher for both teams. If Australia succeed, they could have a comprehensive series win after two series losses against India in their backyard. Moreover, they will also inch closer to sealing the WTC final berth. As for Team India, the chances of reaching the WTC finals look thin but they will aim for a win or at least draw the series to retain the trophy.

Meanwhile, here are the key players to watch out for in the final Test of BGT 2024-25:

3. Steve Smith

One of the modern legends in Test cricket, Steve Smith will be a threat to the Indian bowlers. He has got the scorecard ticking well for Australia, scoring 277 runs at an average of 39.75 with consecutive hundreds in Brisbane and Melbourne so far. 

Notably, the veteran has notched up 1,171 runs in 15 innings, the highest a batter has scored at the iconic venue, SCG. It would be a bigger advantage for the hosts given the form he is in. Also, Smith had achieved the feat of most Test hundreds against India in MCG, defining his greatness yet again. He will try to replicate his purple patch in his home ground, where he can rattle the Indian bowling unit yet again.