India’s hopes in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy came crashing down as they lost to Australia by six wickets in the fifth and final Test. The match, held at the Sydney Cricket Ground, was wrapped up in less than three days, leaving the home crowd ecstatic as Australia celebrated their dominant performance.

This defeat also marked the end of India’s chances of making it to the World Test Championship final. Unfortunately, most of the Indian players failed to step up in this crucial game, though a few showed glimpses of fight.

Here’s a closer look at three players who struggled and two who stood out during the final Test:

### Ravindra Jadeja: A Missed Opportunity
Jadeja, playing as one of two spinners on a pitch that favored fast bowlers, had limited chances with the ball. However, with the bat, there was room for him to make a difference. Sadly, he couldn’t capitalize in either innings.

The Sydney pitch was tricky for batting, with Australia’s pace attack making the ball move sharply in both directions. But instead of taking calculated risks or trying something different, Jadeja stuck to defending from his crease. This passive approach cost him dearly, as he eventually fell victim to deliveries he could have tackled with better intent. For someone with nearly two decades of international experience, it was a disappointing show of poor judgment and missed opportunity.

### Rishabh Pant: A Spark Amid the Gloom
Pant had struggled throughout the first four Tests, but he found his rhythm when it mattered most. In the first innings, he held his ground before an ill-timed pull shot off Scott Boland ended his stay. Learning from his mistake, Pant switched to his signature aggressive style in the second innings.

His explosive half-century gave India a glimmer of hope, providing a crucial lead. While it wasn’t enough to save the match, Pant’s fearless batting stood out as a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable performance by India.

### Virat Kohli: Same Problems, No Solutions
Kohli’s struggles continued as he got out in a similar fashion in both innings, nicking deliveries he should have left alone. Despite the stakes being sky-high, he refused to adjust his approach, repeatedly getting drawn into shots against balls better left untouched.

With India relying heavily on their star batter to deliver, Kohli’s failure raised serious concerns about his form and place in the team for future matches in the World Test Championship cycle.

### Prasidh Krishna: A Rare Bright Spot
Prasidh Krishna, brought into the side to replace the injured Akash Deep, showed promise and fight. While he did concede some boundaries, his ability to extract sharp bounce and swing the ball both ways made him a constant threat to Australia’s batting lineup.

On Day 3, Prasidh’s three-wicket spell briefly raised hopes of turning the game around for India. Though it wasn’t enough in the end, his performance was one of the few positives for India in this match.

### Shubman Gill: Poor Shot Selection Costs Dearly
Shubman Gill returned to bat at No. 3, replacing an underperforming Rohit Sharma. But Gill struggled to make an impact due to some poor decision-making at the crease.

In the first innings, he advanced down the track unnecessarily against Nathan Lyon and got caught at slip. In the second innings, he repeated his error-prone approach by attempting a risky cross-batted shot, resulting in an inside edge that was caught behind.

Gill has been part of India’s Test setup for a while now, and his tendency to make rash decisions under pressure needs urgent attention if he is to succeed at this level.

In summary, India’s performance in Sydney left much to be desired. While a few players like Pant and Prasidh showed spirit, costly mistakes and poor form from key players ultimately led to their downfall. With this loss, India’s journey in this World Test Championship cycle comes to an end, leaving fans hoping for a stronger comeback in future contests.