3 things India need to do right to beat Australia in the 5th BGT 2024-25 Test ft. Rishabh Pant

India's World Test Championship hopes might be going up in smoke, but they still have a chance to retain the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy. If they win the Sydney Test, which will commence on Friday, January 3, they will pull level in the series and take the trophy back home.

How can the hosts turn their fortunes around? They've been a shadow of themselves since their famous win in Perth, and there are plenty of concerns running through their camp. However, if India can be on top of their strategies, they should be able to put up a serious fight.

India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Tanush Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.

On that note, here are three things India need to do right to beat Australia in the fifth Test.

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#3 Rishabh Pant needs to find the right balance

India Men's Test Squad Training Session - Source: Getty

Rishabh Pant, one of India's biggest match-winners in Test cricket, hasn't notched up a single half-century in the series so far. He has come in for criticism from various quarters for his imprudent shot selection and inability to play big knocks.

In the Sydney Test, Pant will need to strike the right balance between attack and defense. In the last encounter, he was dismissed playing a scoop off Scott Boland in the first innings and a pull-off Travis Head in the second. Both wickets were certainly below the caliber of a Test batter.

If Pant is able to tune his approach a bit, the rest of the middle-order batters will also be more comfortable. A move down to No. 6, instead of the No. 5 position he's currently batting at, could help matters.

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#2 The Indian captain needs to use his spinners more frequently

India Men's Test Squad Training Session - Source: Getty

India went in with two spinners in the Melbourne Test, but Washington Sundar was sparingly used with the ball. The skipper, irrespective of who it is, cannot afford to make the same mistake in Sydney.

Historically, the SCG has offered turns as the game has gone on. While Australia might opt for a greener top, India might not be willing to drop Washington Sundar after his composed half-century at the MCG despite some reports suggesting that Dhruv Jurel might come in for him.

Sundar and Jadeja are two bowlers who have a decent amount of control, and bowling them will also take some of the workload off the fast bowlers. India shouldn't be afraid to give them central roles.

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#1 India need to put pressure on Mitchell Starc

BORDER GAVASKAR TROPHY TEST: DEC 30 NRMA Insurance Boxing Day Test - Source: Getty

Mitchell Starc struggled with a back/rib injury through the Melbourne Test, but the fast bowler has been cleared to take part in the fifth and final encounter of the series. His fast-bowling partner Scott Boland claimed that Starc will "grimace" at times, indicating that he isn't fully fit despite getting the green light.

India need to take advantage of that. Not only is Starc prone to losing his radar at times, but Australia are also fielding a debutant - Beau Webster - as their fourth pacer. The visitors need to be on the front foot and proactively put the Aussie weak links under pressure.