A saddened and shocked India have been forced to rejig their XI for next week's first Test, with teenage prodigy Prithvi Shaw suffering a freakish ankle injury at the SCG.
Shaw hurt himself trying to complete a catch on the boundary early on day three of India's four-day match, snaffling the ball then rolling his ankle while attempting to stay in the field of play.
The 19-year-old's immediate reaction was one of agony as he grabbed his lower left leg.
He was carried from the field on Friday and sent to hospital, where scans confirmed there was some ligament damage that will ensure he misses the four-Test series opener at Adelaide Oval that starts on Thursday.
Shaw is also likely to miss the second Test, which starts on December 14, as there is only a three-day turnaround between the games.
"Sad that it happened the first time he came out on the field," star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin told reporters.
"He has not spoken much.
"He's a young boy who has come to play in Australia for the first time, had a dream start to his Test career, so it's hit him pretty hard."
The record-breaking batsman, who last month became the youngest Indian to score a century on Test debut, top-scored in Sydney on Thursday with an impressive 66.
Murali Vijay is expected to open in the absence of Shaw, who coach Ravi Shastri has likened to a mix of Sachin Tendulkar, Virendar Sehwag and Brian Lara.
Ashwin insisted the injury would not affect his side's bid for their first Test series win in Australia.
"It's unfortunate what's happened, but these things happen," he said.
"It's an opportunity for someone else."
The visitors haven't given up hope of Shaw playing the inaugural Test at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Virat Kohli, who knows the quality and consistency of his attack is likely to decide whether India are successful this summer, wouldn't have enjoyed an inexperienced Cricket Australia XI marching to 6-356 at stumps on Friday in response to India's 358.
Max Bryant and Aaron Hardie, both yet to play first-class cricket, D'Arcy Short and Harry Nielsen all passed 50.
Nielsen finished 56 not out while Hardie, the allrounder who dismissed Kohli and claimed 4-50, will resume on 69.
The match doesn't have first-class status, as per India's request, and it's generally foolish to read too much into any tour game but Kohli won't be thrilled with the output of his pacemen.
Pacemen Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma all struggled with their consistency, while Ashwin returned 1-63 from 24 overs.
"The wicket was pretty flat. Initially we conceded a few runs with the new ball and then we realised what lengths we had to bowl and what sort of fields we need," Ashwin said.
Short, who top-scored with 74, noted India had a "good attack, the pitch is quite good for batting".
