Australia Vs India 5th Test: Australia aims to seal the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 with a 3-1 scoreline by winning the fifth and the test match of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
A dominating 184-run victory at the MCG not only hurt India’s hopes of winning the 5-match test series but also their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final in jeopardy. While talented batters like Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan haven’t been given a deserving chance as they were sidelined from the playing XI since the pink-ball test in Adelaide.
Let’s delve deeper to find the head-to-head stats as well as the weather forecast and pitch conditions to predict India’s possibility of winning the New Year’s Test Match. It’s time to start this preview session by knowing the schedule, session timings, and the best live-streaming platforms and TV channels to watch the Live match.
Schedule for AUS vs IND 5th Test BGT 2024-25
| Date and Day | Day | Venue | Seating Capacity | Timings |
| 03rd to 07th January 2025 | Friday to Tuesday | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Moore Park, Australia | 48,000 | 05 am IST / 10:30 am LOCAL |
Session Timings for Australia vs India New Year’s Test Match BGT 2024-25
| Session | Starting and Completing Timings (IST and AEDT) | |||
| AEDT (Local) | IST | |||
| Starting Time | Completing Time | Starting Time | Completing Time | |
| First Session | 10:30 am | 12:30 pm | 05 am | 07 am |
| Lunch | 12:30 pm | 01:10 pm | 07 am | 07:40 am |
| Second Session | 01:10 pm | 03:10 pm | 07:40 am | 09:40 am |
| Tea | 03:10 pm | 03:30 pm | 09:40 am | 10 am |
| Third Session | 03:30 pm | 05:30 pm | 10 am to | 12 pm |
| Extra Half an Hour | To complete the overs to be bowled per day (if required) | |||
Where to Watch Australia vs India New Year’s Test BGT 2024-25? Live Streaming and TV Channels
Viewers residing in India or Australia can watch the New Year’s test of the BGT 2024-25 through the below-mentioned live-streaming platforms and TV Channels:
| Country | Live Streaming | TV Channels |
| India | Disney + Hotstar App and its official website | Star Sports Network |
| Australia | 7 Plus, Kayo Sports | Channel 7, Fox Cricket |
Head-to-Head Stats of Australia vs India in SCG Tests
Ahead of the 14th clash between Australia and India in the SCG Test, let’s take a closer look at the head-to-head stats of these two teams at this venue:
| Overall Test Matches Played at SCG (AUS vs IND) | 13 |
| Matches Won by Australia | 5 |
| Matches Won by India | 1 |
| Draw Matches | 7 |
| Highest Total for India | 705-7 (declared) in 187.3 overs |
| Highest Total for Australia | 659-4 in 163 overs |
| Lowest Total for India | 150 all-out in 67.5 overs (in 2000) |
| Lowest Total for Australia | 131 all-out in 49.4 overs (in 1978) |
| Best Individual Score | Michael Clarke (Australia): 329 runs (not out) from 468 balls in 2012 (includes 39 fours and 1 six) |
| Best Bowling Figures | Anil Kumble (India): 8-141 in 46.5 overs (includes 7 maiden overs) |
Weather Forecast Reports at SCG for Australia vs India 5th Test BGT 2024-25
The weather reports for the 5-day test match between Australia and India at Sydney point out 30% to 50% chances of rain with temperatures ranging between 20 °C to 32 °C as tabulated below:
| Date and Day | Temperature | Chances of Rain |
| January 03 (Friday) | 20 °C to 27 °C | 30% |
| January 04 (Saturday) | 20 °C to 30 °C | 5% |
| January 05 (Sunday) | 21 °C to 33 °C | |
| January 06 (Monday) | 21 °C to 31 °C | 30% |
| January 07 (Tuesday) | 21 °C to 28 °C | 60% |
Pitch Conditions at SCG and Possible Toss Winning Captain’s Decision
The SCG pitches are known for their dry and spin-friendly nature and the toss-winning captain would decide to bat first as spinners continue to gain additional benefits on this turning track as the game progresses.
What could be the Playing XI for AUS vs IND 5th Test BGT 2024-25? A Predicted List to Be Known
Possibly, Australia might continue with the same set of playing XI based on their dominating victory in the previous match, while India is expected to make slight changes:
Indian Cricket Team Predicted Playing XI for the New Year Test BGT 2024-25:
| S.No | Player | Role |
| 1. | Rohit Sharma (Captain) | Batsman |
| 2. | Yashasvi Jaiswal | |
| 3. | KL Rahul | |
| 4. | Virat Kohli | |
| 5. | Rishabh Pant | Batsman / Wicketkeeper |
| 6. | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| 7. | Washington Sundar | |
| 8. | Nitish Kumar Reddy | |
| 9. | Harshit Rana | Bowler |
| 10. | Mohammed Siraj | |
| 11. | Jasprit Bumrah |
Australian Cricket Team Predicted Playing XI for the New Year Test BGT 2024-25:
| S.No | Player | Role |
| 1. | Usman Khawaja | Batsman |
| 2. | Sam Konstas | All-rounder |
| 3. | Marnus Labuschagne | Batsman |
| 4. | Steven Smith | |
| 5. | Travis Head | |
| 6. | Mitchell Marsh | All-rounder |
| 7. | Alex Carey | Batsman / Wicketkeeper |
| 8. | Pat Cummins | Bowler |
| 9. | Mitchell Starc | |
| 10. | Nathan Lyon | |
| 11. | Scott Boland |
Predicting the Winner of AUSTRALIA vs INDIA 5th Test BGT 2024-25: Overall Opinion
Australia has a higher chance of winning the New Year’s test as they have remained unbeaten at the SCG against India for 47 years as well as in their previous games against these opponents in the past 5 years:
- 2024: 8-wicket victory vs Pakistan.
- 2023: Draw Match vs South Africa.
- 2023: Draw Match vs England in The Ashes 2023.
- 2021: Draw Match vs India.
- 2020: 279-run victory vs New Zealand.
Having won their last game back in 1978, the head-to-head stats reveal that India would have a tough time concluding the hosts’ unbeaten record in Sydney Tests.
The only option left for the visitors is to win the last test match of the series to level the series with 2-2 which would help them maintain slim possibilities to qualify for the WTC 2025 final relying on other teams’ results. In contrast, a loss or draw would still make them lose the series with a 1-3 or 1-2 scoreline as well as mark their exit from the contention to reach the WTC 2025 final.