The captain of the Indian cricket team is sitting out of a crucial Test match for the first time ever in the middle of an ongoing series as defeats in Australia beckon generational change in the country’s most popular and richest sport.

India won the toss and chose to bat first in the decisive fifth and final test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

India and Australia gear up for one final showdown to claim both the and their hopes in the WTC. After four intense matches, Australia lead the series 2-1. While India cannot win the series anymore, they can still retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the last match.