Broadcast cameras filmed Bumrah getting into a team vehicle, not wearing his whites, and leaving the SCG as his teammates pushed for wickets in Australia’s first innings. Bumrah’s car was accompanied by an ambulance as it left Moore Park.

India have not confirmed whether Bumrah is injured – they have been contacted for comment – but the sight of him leaving the ground at a pivotal moment in the match with the series on the line is a huge indicator that he is nursing an injury.

Bumrah posted figures of 2-33 from 10 overs in Australia’s first innings. He has bowled 152 overs across five Tests in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, the most of any Indian bowler.

From 44 Tests, Bumrah has never bowled more than the 53.2 overs he produced in Melbourne during the fourth Test.

At one point on day four in Melbourne, Rohit asked Bumrah to bowl another over, to which the quick replied: “Enough now, I’m not able to push more.”

This is also the first time Bumrah has played in all five matches of a five-Test series, raising questions as to whether India tried to get too much out of their firebrand quick.

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Mohammed Siraj (3-51) and Prasidh Krishna (3-42) certainly have what it takes to ask questions of Australia’s batsmen in the fourth innings but no Bumrah is undoubtedly a psychological edge for Pat Cummins’ men.

Earlier in the day, Sam Konstas (23) couldn’t get going, Steve Smith (33) fell five runs short of 10,000 Test runs, while Webster produced the best debut innings by an Australian No.6 since Marcus North made 117 against South Africa in 2009.

Pant’s 50 came off 29 balls – one ball slower than his knock against Sri Lanka in 2022 – in a superb display of power-hitting. The highlight was back-to-back sixes off Mitchell Starc to the western side of the ground.

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