India started 2024 with a stunning two-day victory over South Africa in Cape Town to square a two-Test series 1-1. They will have to reprise those heroics over the next five days at the Sydney Cricket Ground if they are to finish with honours even in the five-Test showdown against Australia and extend their lease over the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The odds seem stacked heavily against the visiting side, which has steadily gone downhill since its exceptional 295-run win in Perth at the start of the series. The top-order batting has been a particular letdown with India’s two most experienced batters in the middle of an extended trough. To make matters more complicated, head coach Gautam Gambhir refused to confirm if skipper Rohit Sharma will play the fifth Test starting on Friday, his throwaway line revolving around seeing the pitch in the morning and then deciding the playing XI triggering speculation of all kinds.