India have been left in a tricky place after losing the Boxing Day Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Rohit Sharma-led side trail the series by 1-2 after playing 4 games, and are at a risk of getting thrown out of the World Test Championship Final race.

The Indian team needs to win the final Test match of the series, but that is going to be more tricky than usual in Sydney. Sydney is traditionally a track that offers the most spin in Australia, but the Indian team might not be able to take full advantage of it.

In fact, with India desperately needing a win in the final Test, a lot of the prayers might be directed to the ‘Rain Gods’ in Sydney. Just like the MCG Test match, Sydney’s weather conditions is expected to be challenging with the temperature between 20-34 degrees Celsius.

The first three days of the Test match are expected to remain rain-free, but they will range in terms of heat. According to Accuweather, Day 3 and 4 of the Test match is going to be the hottest, with temperatures soaring up to 34 degrees Celsius.

However, the match will be affected by rainfall on the final day. There is an 80 per cent chance that rain will take over the scenes in the afternoon, which will also result in some respite from the heat. While that will be good news for the people of Sydney, it could prove to be catastrophic for India’s hopes of reaching the WTC Final.

AUS vs IND, Sydney Test: Pitch report

The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is known for its batting-friendly pitch, offering consistent bounce and rewarding batsmen early in a Test match. As the game progresses, the pitch deteriorates, bringing spinners into play with turn and variable bounce. Teams often include multiple spinners to exploit these conditions in the later stages.

Matches at the SCG frequently extend to the final day, making patience and strategy crucial for both batsmen and bowlers. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the fifth Test at the SCG is crucial. Australia leads the series 2-1, and India will aim to capitalise on the conditions to level the series. The Test begins January 3, promising a thrilling contest on one of cricket’s iconic grounds.