Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Team India managed to lift the T20 World Cup for the 2nd time ever in their history as they secured a nail-biting win versus South Africa in the final and left arm pacer Arshdeep Singh played a key role in helping his team lift the trophy. 
Arshdeep finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket taker alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi (17 wickets) and his exceptional performances in the shortest format of the game in 2024 have been rewarded as the pacer has been nominated in ICC's Men's T20 International Player of the year award. Alongside the 25-year-old, Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Travis Head of Australia have also been nominated. 
<h3>The performance of Arshdeep Singh in 2024</h3>
The performance of Arshdeep Singh with the ball in 2024 has been phenomenal. In 18 matches, the 25-year-old has managed to dismiss 36 batters at an exceptional average of 13.5. With these statistics, he finished the year of 2024 as the joint-highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals.
Earlier in the year 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had taken 37 wickets. This is the second best performance of an Indian fast bowler in T20 Internationals in a calendar year. Now Arshdeep Singh has become number two in this list.
<h2>Smriti Mandhana is also in the race of winning the ICC Women's ODI Player of the year</h2>
Apart from Arshdeep, Indian Women's Cricket Team's elite batter Smriti Mandhana is also a part of the race of winning the ICC award. Her exceptional performances with the bat in the 50 over format meant that her name has also been nominated in the list of 'ICC Women's ODI Player of the year award'. 
She will be locking horns for this award versus Annabel Sutherland of Australia and South African captain Laura Wolvaardt. It will be interesting to see which player will be given the ICC Women's ODI Player of the year award.Mandhana is anticipated to be the favorite to win the award.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/can-team-india-still-qualify-for-the-wtc-final-despite-suffering-a-defeat-in-melbourne-versus-australia-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final despite suffering a defeat in Melbourne versus Australia?</a>

Arshdeep Singh of India celebrates their T20 World Cup 2024 win in Mumbai's Marine Drive | Image: BCCI

Left Arm pacer Arshdeep Singh of Team India has been nominated for ICC Men's T20 Player of the year award and he's regarded as the favorite to win the award

Arshdeep Singh of India the favorite to win ICC's Men's T20 Player of the year award

arshdeep-singh-of-india-the-favorite-to-win-icc-s-men-s-t20-player-of-the-year-award

The Indian Men's National Cricket Team is set to suffer a major setback as it prepares to take on Fierce-Rivals Australia in the 5th &amp; final Test-Match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Fresh Reports are emerging that the Men in Blue may lose the services of fast bowler Akash Deep for the crucial Do-or-Die Sydney Test-Match. There are also reports that have emerged recently which have suggested that the Indian team management are considering the place of wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant in the team. 
28-year-old Akash Deep has been dealt a major setback with a possible back injury. According to the news report of the Indian Express, the players is suffering a lot of pain in his back and will most likely miss out on selection from the Sydney Test-Match. On the other hand, some news reports suggest that the Team management is considering replacing Pant with Dhruv Jurel in Sydney. 
The absence of both players at such a crucial time is surely going to prove to be a major setback for the Indian team. Akash is a player who has performed well with both ball &amp; bat and this was pretty evident in the Melbourne Test-Match, where he saved the Rohit Sharma-led outfit from the follow-on threat by getting involved in a crucial 47 run partnership for the final wicket with fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
<h2>Who will be the replacement of Akash Deep? </h2>
The injury to the 28-year-old seamer has halted the Rohit Sharma-led outfit's preparations for the 5th Test-Match in Sydney. The two time WTC Runner's-up now will be forced to rethink and rework their strategies and they also have to take care of vice captain Jasprit Bumrah's workload. 
With Akash Deep likely to sit out of the 5th Test-Match, Harshit Rana is likely to be given yet another opportunity to prove himself in Sydney and he will be looking to perform at his best and help the Indian Team retain the precious BGT Trophy. 
The Indian Think Tank might also consider the possibility of bringing in Prasidh Krishna into the playing 11 in place of Jadeja Or Sundar, but since the surface of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is known to provide assistance to the spin bowlers, the Men in Blue will likely go ahead with two spinners. Also Jadeja and Sundar are handy batters so the Indian think tank might no want to hamper their batting at the expense of bringing in an extra bowler.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/5-reasons-why-team-india-lost-the-melbourne-test-match-versus-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 Reasons why Team India lost the Melbourne Test match versus Australia</a>

Akash Deep of India caused a lot of problems for Steve Smith and Travis Head of Australia in the Gabba Test-Match | Image: Getty Images

Team India have been handed a major setback as Akash Deep is suffering back pain issues is likely to miss the 5th Test-Match in Sydney.

India's Akash Deep set to miss the 5th Test Match in Sydney, suffers am injury setback

india-s-akash-deep-set-to-miss-the-5th-test-match-in-sydney-suffers-am-injury-setback

The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently going on in Australia between the Mighty Aussies and Team India. The series was tied at 1-1 after the two Fierce-Rivals played out a dramatic 3rd Test-Match in Brisbane but the hosts fought back in excellent fashion, securing a hard-fought victory by 184 runs in the Boxing-Day Test-Match in Melbourne and took a 2-1 lead. 
Except the Test-Match in Perth, Virat Kohli hasn't created any kind of impact with the bat and Rohit on the other hand, has looked completely out of touch since returning in the Adelaide Test-Match. Moreover, all of their shot choices have proven to be poor and mediocre. Even in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, both players got punished after playing mediocre shots. 
<h2>Gambhir will have the final say in terms of deciding the Playing 11:</h2>
It has been reported that the Indian Team selectors and the chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar have given Gambhir the full authority to select the Starting 11 for the Must-win Sydney Test-Match. 
Since the Sydney Test-Match is going to be a do-or-die one for the Rohit Sharma-led team, it's being said that the out-of-form players will most likely get dropped and the in-form players will be given the opportunity to prove themselves. There is a high possibility that the duo of Kohli &amp; Rohit might get dropped for the Sydney Test. 
During the net practice session, if both the experienced players perform in a satisfactory manner, only then they will be included in the Starting 11.The places of other players will also be decided through the net-practice sessions. 
Therefore, there are high chances of Dhruv Jurel getting a chance to play in the final Test-Match and the return of Shubman Gill is also going to be imminent. Mostly, he will replace the Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the playing 11.Also, there are chances that Nitish Kumar Reddy might get a chance to bat up the order. 
<h2>The Bowling-Attack is likely to see some changes</h2>
Except Jasprit Bumrah, the rest of the Indian bowlers have failed to live upto expectations and this over reliance on the Indian Vice-Captain is proving to be a big problem for the Men in Blue. Bumrah needs to get some support from his fellow bowlers and since he's not getting it, some hard changes are expected to be made. 
Siraj may have dismissed 16 batters in the ongoing BGT series but he has not looked at his best in the first four encounters versus the Aussies and this may be a good time to give some rest to the 30-year-old and bring in Prasidh Krishna. 
The 28-year-old seamer is someone who knows how to use the bouncer well and his deadly bouncers on the pitch of Sydney can prove to be a nightmare for the Australian batters. 
Talking about Akash Deep, he hasn't proven to be effective at all with the ball and while he may have scored some crucial runs as a tailender, they may not be enough to save him from getting dropped. Harshit Rana who took a four wicket haul in the Perth Test-Match is likely to replace Akash Deep in the Starting 11 for the Sydney Test. 
While the former wasn't effective in Adelaide, he can prove his doubters wrong by giving his best in the Sydney Test-Match. 
India's Strongest Playing XI (5th Test) - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Reddy, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (WK), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah (captain) &amp; Harshit Rana.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/jasprit-bumrah-crushes-ravichandran-ashwin-to-become-the-first-india-bowler-to-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jasprit Bumrah crushes Ravichandran Ashwin to become the first India bowler to...</a>

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma of India | Image: Associated Press

The Sydney Test-Match is going to be a must win for the Indian Cricket Team and some harsh decisions will have to be taken in regards to playing 11 if the Rohit Sharma-led want to have any chance of retaining the BGT Trophy

IND vs AUS 5th Test: Team India's Strongest Playing 11 for the Perth Test Match

ind-vs-aus-5th-test-team-india-s-strongest-playing-11-for-the-perth-test-match

Team India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma are currently taking part in the five-match 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series versus the Australiana on Australian soil. The fourth Test-Match of this series ended on the 30th of December in Melbourne where the Indian Team suffered an embarrassing 184-runs defeat. 
The win in Melbourne allowed the home side to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Let us tell you that the Men in Blue had been given a target of 340 runs to secure the win, but they got all-out for just 155 runs. Following this defeat, a lot of weaknesses of the Rohit Sharma-led team have been exposed. 
The two teams will now travel to Sydney where they will be squaring off versus each other in the fifth &amp; the final Test-Match of the series. The forthcoming contest will commence from the 3rd of January, 2025 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
If the Men in Blue want to save the series, then they have to win the Sydney Test-Match by any means possible and they have to find solutions to their five problems which got exposed in Melbourne. Let's take a look at five reasons why the Indian Team lost the Melbourne Test-Match. 
<h2>Five Reasons why Team India lost the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match versus Australia</h2>
<h3>5. The flop performance of the Top order</h3>
If we exclude the Perth Test-Match, then the performance of the top order of the Indian Team has not been good in the other three tests. They have failed to create a big partnership for the Men in Blue. The opening duo of KL Rahul &amp; Yashasvi Jaiswal got involved in a magnificent 201 run partnership for the first wicket. 
But since that match, the Indian Team in every other contest of the BGT Series have struggled to create big partnerships for the first and second wickets. In this case, the team management of Team India needs to make the players prepare in a special manner otherwise their chances of winning in Sydney will reduce.

<h3>4. Poor fielding display, many catches got dropped</h3>
In the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, the Indian team showcased a lackluster fielding performance, where they dropped four catches in the 2nd inning of the contest and these dropped catches proved to be very costly. Yashasvi Jaiswal alone dropped three catches while the other one was dropped by Siraj. If Rohit Sharma &amp; CO want to finish out on top in the Sydney Test-Match, then they have to show improvisations in the fielding.

<h3>3. Poor performance with the bat of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma</h3>
The below par performance of the duo of Virat Kohli and Captain Rohit Sharma with the bat have proven to be a major reason behind Team India's lackluster performance in the ongoing BGT 2024-25 series. Opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is currently the highest run getter for the Men in Blue in the ongoing BGT series having amassed 359 runs in four contests. 
Kohli is at the fourth position in the list of Team India's highest run getters, having scored 167 runs in seven innings. He scored an incredible century in the Perth test but besides that, he hasn't done much and his bat has stayed silent in the other three matches. 
Talking about Rohit Sharma, his condition is even more worse in terms of batting performance. The 37-year-old has hit the Australian bowlers for just 31 runs in five innings in three BGT tests. He is currently averaging just 6.20, which is considered as miserable when you take into consideration the standards which the skipper has set for himself. 
The Indian fast bowlers have scored more runs than the skipper, which makes it even more embarrassing for the Indian skipper. Seamer Akash Deep has scored 38 runs in three innings in the ongoing BGT series. If the two time WTC runners-up want to have any chances of winning in Sydney, then both Kohli and Rohit will have to start firing with the bat. 

<h3>2. Weak Captaincy of Rohit Sharma</h3>
The Men in Blue have won just a single contest in the ongoing series, where they secured a dominant victory in Perth under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah. The seamer led the team in the absence of Rohit as he missed the opening test due to being on a paternity-leave. 
However, ever since he returned to lead the team in Adelaide, things started to go all wrong for India. The team wasn't able to win a single match and now they are on the verge of losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. 
Somewhere down the line, the leadership of Rohit Sharma has proven to be weak. An example of this can be seen in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match where in the 2nd inning, the Indian bowlers had dismissed six Australian batters for a mere score of 91 runs and the situation was looking really good for the team. 
However, after this Rohit looked very relax and took things lightly that the last four wickets fell after the hosts had reached the score of 234 runs. Post the fall of six wickets, the Indian skipper was supposed to implement a tight fielding setup in order to create pressure on the lower order of the Aussies. 
Instead, he implemented a spread out fielding setup which allowed the lower middle order Australian batters to take easy doubles and singles and they got involved in big partnerships which helped their team to get in a strong position.The duo of skipper Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne stiched a 57 run partnership for the 7th wicket and tailenders Scott Boland &amp; Nathan Lyon got involved in a partnership of 61 runs for the final wicket which caused issues for the Indian team. 
The 37-year-old will have to showcase strong captaincy in the Sydney Test-Match if the Men in Blue want to save the BGT series.

<h3>1. Complete dependency on Jasprit Bumrah</h3>
If we look at it closely, Team India has been heavily dependent on vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah in the entire BGT 2024-25 series. This dependency has been the highest in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match. You can guess this from the fact that the 29-year-old is the highest wicket taker in the current series as he has dismissed batters 30 times in four encounters. 
Australian skipper Pat Cummins is the 2nd highest wicket getter of the series, with 20 scalps next to his name. While in terms of Indian bowlers, Siraj has dismissed 16 Australian batters, Akash Deep has five scalps and Harshit Rana has taken just four wickets in two matches and Jadeja has also taken the same number of scalps too. 
In this way, these four bowlers have dismissed a combined number of 29 batters in comparison to the 30 scalps of Bumrah. These stats show how dependent Team India has been on Bumrah alone and the other bowlers have to start taking the initiative if they want to help the Rohit Sharma-led retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/virat-kohli-wants-india-test-captaincy-again-as-he-doesn-t-trust-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli wants India Test captaincy again, as he doesn't trust...</a>

Jasprit Bumrah of India walks back after getting dismissed in the Melbourne Test-Match | Image: X(CriccrazyJohns)

The Indian Team suffered an embarrassing defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match and that defeat exposed many problems of the Men in Blue. We will take a look at those problems in this article.

5 Reasons why Team India lost the Melbourne Test match versus Australia

5-reasons-why-team-india-lost-the-melbourne-test-match-versus-australia

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah dethroned Ravichandran Ashwin to become the highest-ever ranked bowler in the history of the Test rankings of ICC. The fast bowler achieved a rating point of 907, which no ever bowler from a has achieved. 
Jasprit Bumrah surpassed Ravichandran Ashwin's rating points of 904 to become the highest-ranked Indian bowler in the ICC rankings. The former Indian off-spinner achieved 904 rating points in December 2016 and scripted history, highlighting the legacy that he created. 
Jasprit Bumrah achieved the feat after his incredible performances with the ball in the Boxing Day Test against Australia. The fourth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between the teams took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, and it saw the hosts winning the match. 
Jasprit Bumrah picked 9 wickets in the match with a fifer in the second innings. Ahead of the match, the fast bowler had a rating of 904, and his exceptional performance saw him getting at the top of the list in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers in the longest format of the game. 
<h2>List of the highest rank Indian bowlers </h2>
Here's the list of the highest rank Indian bowlers 
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Name
</td>
<td valign="top">
Rating
</td>
<td valign="top">
Date
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Jasprit Bumrah
</td>
<td valign="top">
907
</td>
<td valign="top">
31 Dec 2024
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
R Ashwin
</td>
<td valign="top">
904
</td>
<td valign="top">
12 Dec 2016
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Ravindra Jadeja
</td>
<td valign="top">
899
</td>
<td valign="top">
20 Mar 2017
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Kapil Dev
</td>
<td valign="top">
877
</td>
<td valign="top">
19 Jan 1980
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Anil Kumble
</td>
<td valign="top">
859
</td>
<td valign="top">
30 Jan 1994
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Vinoo Mankad
</td>
<td valign="top">
811
</td>
<td valign="top">
17 Nov 1952
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Subhash Gupte
</td>
<td valign="top">
806
</td>
<td valign="top">
10 Jan 1956
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Bishan Singh Bedi
</td>
<td valign="top">
804
</td>
<td valign="top">
20 Dec 1977
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Dilip Doshi
</td>
<td valign="top">
794
</td>
<td valign="top">
3 Feb 1982
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
Mohammed Shami
</td>
<td valign="top">
790
</td>
<td valign="top">
16 Nov 2019
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Jasprit Bumrah has been nothing short of exceptional in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He has been a major reason behind the team fighting hard in the series. The premier fast bowler has been single-handedly carrying the bowling lineup of the team. 
Jasprit Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The pacer has picked 30 wickets in the 4 games, and with one more match remaining in the series, he is expected to take a few more wickets for the team.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/-for-all-the-ups-downs-rohit-sharma-bids-adieu-to-/">"For all the ups &amp; downs" - Rohit Sharma bids adieu to.....</a>

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah dethroned Ravichandran Ashwin to become the highest-ever ranked bowler in the history of the Test rankings of ICC.

Jasprit Bumrah crushes Ravichandran Ashwin to become the first India bowler to...

jasprit-bumrah-crushes-ravichandran-ashwin-to-become-the-first-india-bowler-to-

Things are not at all going right for the Indian team currently at the moment in Test cricket. Amid all this, a fresh set of reports has emerged in the media, which has suggested that Virat Kohli might be back at the helm of things as a leader in Test cricket. 
Virat Kohli, who is the most successful Test captain of India, has expressed his desire to take over the Test captaincy of India. As per the reports in RevSportz, it is learned that the senior batter wants to continue playing till 2027 as he wants to give his best for the team and help them. 
There were reports in Indian Express, which claimed that one senior batter in the team, ahead of the series, had made his thought that he would be eyeing the captaincy and had mentioned at the start that he would be doing something special in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Virat Kohli, who is expected to be that senior player, feels that he can help the team in the transition phase. He has touted himself as the ‘Mr Fix-It’, and he believes that no youngster so far is ready to take the charge and wants to take over the captaincy on an interim basis. 
<h2>Virat Kohli expressing his desire to take over the leadership role means that Rohit Sharma's tenure as the captain of the team is all set to end</h2>
Virat Kohli expressing his desire to take over the leadership role means that Rohit Sharma's tenure as the captain of the team is all set to end. The skipper of the team has come under massive scrutiny following his poor efforts in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
His poor performances with the bat, too, haven't helped his cause, as the captain has scored around 30 runs in the series. There have been several reports that have stated that Rohit Sharma might announce his retirement after the Sydney Test, which will be the last game of the series. 
Things are also not going right in the Indian dressing room. It is learned that senior players of the team aren't on the same page with Gautam Gambhir, and the head coach, too, hasn't been amazed by the way the players have played in the series so far. 
The Sydney Test will be a great opportunity for the entire team to reply to all the criticism. The match will be played from 3rd January and winning there will help the Rohit Sharma-led side to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/jasprit-bumrah-crushes-ravichandran-ashwin-to-become-the-first-india-bowler-to-/">Jasprit Bumrah crushes Ravichandran Ashwin to become the first India bowler to...</a>

Virat Kohli, who is the most successful Test captain of India, has expressed his desire to take over the Test captaincy of India

Virat Kohli wants India Test captaincy again, as he doesn't trust...

virat-kohli-wants-india-test-captaincy-again-as-he-doesn-t-trust-

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under massive scanner for his poor performances as the coach of the Indian team. But things are turning worse for him because of the team's disappointing effort in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Gautam Gambhir has come under massive scrutiny as the things in the Indian dressing room are great. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that the senior players of the team and the head coach are not on the same page related to the decisions in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
The reports added that some of the players of the team haven't shown their confidence in Gautam Gambhir. This is because of his experiments of playing 11 and the way he handled Shubman Gill, who was dropped from the team for the fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Some of the senior players are not feeling good with Gautam Gambhir. This is because they believe that communication isn't as good as it used to be during the time of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. This has come under the notice of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 
<h2>If the performance doesn't improve, even Gautam Gambhir's position wouldn't be safe - BCCI source</h2>
The BCCI source said that Gautam Gambhir's position as a head coach isn't safe. He said that if results don't come good in the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 along with ICC Champions Trophy 2025 then he is likely to be sacked. Speaking to PTI, he said: 
"There is a Test match to be played and then there is Champions Trophy. If the performance doesn't improve, even Gautam Gambhir's position wouldn't be safe." 
The source, while calling Gautam Gambhir a "compromise", said that he wasn't even first choice for the role. He mentioned that VVS Laxman and other foreign coaches didn't want to take the role and hence he was given the opportunity. He added: 
"He was never BCCI's first choice (it was VVS Laxman) and some of the well-known overseas names didn't want to coach all three formats, so he was a compromise. Some other compulsions were also there." 
It remains to be seen how Gautam Gambhir bounces back from this situation. The India team will be next seen in action on 3rd January when they will be playing the next match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/-for-all-the-ups-downs-rohit-sharma-bids-adieu-to-/">"For all the ups &amp; downs" - Rohit Sharma bids adieu to.....</a>

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has come under massive scanner for his poor performances as the coach of the Indian team.

Gautam Gambhir to be sacked as reports of his poor equation with senior players puts him under gun

gautam-gambhir-to-be-sacked-as-reports-of-his-poor-equation-with-senior-players-puts-him-under-gun-

IND vs AUS 5th Test: India lost at Melbourne Cricket Ground on the boxing day test even after they were considered the better side at the MCG. Now, after conceding a massive 184-run loss in the fourth test, India and Australia are set to take a bout at Sydney Cricket Ground for the last time in the series and the first time in the year 2025.
The defeat at the MCG was a key moment in the series. Big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma failed to shine, and the middle order fell apart when the team needed them most. Australia’s star bowlers, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, made life difficult for India, showing their weakness in overseas conditions. This loss sparked heated discussions about India’s plans and preparation for away games.
The result shook Indian cricket, raising serious questions about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and Virat Kohli’s form. Fans and experts began calling for changes, suggesting new players should get a chance to step up. With young talent waiting in the wings, all eyes were on the senior players to prove they could still perform under pressure.
With a scoreline of 2-1, Australia is dominating and is a high favorite for the trophy. The only hope for Indian side is that the last test is set to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 
<h2>India's history at the SCG</h2>
The Indian cricket team’s last Test loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) came in January 2008 during the heated 2007–08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia won by 122 runs in a game packed with drama, including the infamous "Monkeygate" controversy between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds. That defeat became a turning point for India, building the team’s resilience and setting the stage for stronger performances at the SCG in the years to come.
Since that 2008 loss, India hasn’t lost a Test at the SCG. A standout moment was the thrilling draw in January 2021, where Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari battled through injuries to save the match. Their gutsy effort helped India hold their ground and ultimately secure a historic series victory in Australia, earning widespread admiration.
India’s overall Test record at the SCG stands at 1 win, 5 losses, and 7 draws, with their only win dating back to 1978. The SCG holds a special place in India’s cricketing journey, filled with moments of struggle and triumph. From the heartbreak of 2008 to remarkable comebacks, India’s performances at the SCG showcase the team’s growth and determination in world cricket.
Match Played- 13 India Won- 01 Australia Won- 05 Draw- 07
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indian-cricket-team-india-s-full-test-cricket-schedule-in-2025-they-will-face-these-teams/">Indian Cricket: Team India's full Test Cricket schedule in 2025, they will face these teams</a>

With immense pressure now on India, the history of Sydney gives some hope to the Indian team. The SCG journey reflects growth, from the controversial 2008 loss to unbeaten performances, including a heroic 2021 draw, showcasing resilience and evolving strength in overseas cricket.

India's SCG journey highlights resilience, overcoming setbacks like the 2008 loss and achieving iconic moments like the 2021 draw.  

India's Record at Sydney Cricket Ground Before the IND vs AUS 5th Test

india-s-record-at-sydney-cricket-ground-before-the-ind-vs-aus-5th-test

India captain Rohit Sharma bid adieu to 2024 in a staggering Instagram post. The senior batter posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday, December 31, of his best and worst moments of 2024. This comes amid the talks related to his retirement. 
Rohit Sharma had a roller coaster ride in 2024 as the captain had his best and worst part of his career. The India captain started the year on high as under him India won the Test match at Centurion and went on to draw the series. After that, he was at his best in the Test series against England. 
Rohit Sharma with the team full of youngsters won the Test series against England. Under his leadership, India won the five-match series by a massive margin of 4-1. He led from the front and also slammed two centuries in the series, helping the team win. 
After that, Rohit Sharma was at his best in the IPL as he was amongst the highest run-getters for Mumbai Indians. He also slammed the century there. He also returns to the T20Is before the Tests as slammed a century there as well. 
<h2>The best moment for Rohit Sharma was in June when under his leadership India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.</h2>
The best moment for Rohit Sharma was in June when under his leadership India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He was the leading run-getter for the team in the tournament as he top-scored and helped the India team end their ICC title drought. 
Things didn't go well for Rohit Sharma after that. Since then has been going through a rough patch in the Tests. The India captain has failed to get going and under his leadership team faced the whitewash first time at home as they lost the series to New Zealand by the margin of 3-0. 
He is currently in Australia but things have been poor for him as well. The batter has scored just 31 runs in the three games and also under him India is behind in the series by 2-1. He has registered scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9 and following this, there have been a lot of talks related to his retirement as well. 
He posted the video with caption: "For all the ups &amp; downs, and everything in between, Thank you 2024."
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEPoz8Ah2oV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">You can watch video here: </a>
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

"For all the ups & downs" - Rohit Sharma bids adieu to.....

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India is all set to lock horns with England in the three-match ODI series. This will be the only series for the Men in Blue before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and it will be extremely important for the team as they would want to look at their combination for the tournament. 
The ODI series between England and India will get underway from 6th February at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. The second game of the series is scheduled to take place on 9th February in Cuttack, followed by the last match to be played on 12th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 
There have been several reports that have claimed that India will be playing the series in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. This is because BCCI wants their premier players to be rested and fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2024, which will be a crucial event for the team. 
If the reports emerge to be true, then it will be a massive problem for the Indian team that they will be playing without their captain. This has raised speculations about who will be leading the team in the three-match ODI series against the full-strength England team at home. 
<h2>Who will captain India in the absence of Rohit Sharma during England ODIs </h2>
With Rohit Sharma being rested for the three-match ODI series, it is expected that Shubman Gill will be captaining the team against England. The young batter was recently appointed as the vice-captain of the team in the white-ball format after the team went through the transition. 
It is expected that the squad for the England series will be similar to what India will be named for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Therefore, it will be a great opportunity for the young players who will be picked to make their case strong for the tournament. 
Shubman Gill, since the last few years, has been the best batter for India in the ODIs. He has shown his real class with the bat and would want to carry on the same form. He also was captain of the team during the T20I series against Zimbabwe and will be keen to replicate the same performance.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

There have been several reports that have claimed that India will be playing the series in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah

Who will captain India if Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli will be rested for England ODIs

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Batting great Sunil Gavaskar gave a massive suggestion to the Indian team going forward in Test cricket. He said that the Rohit Sharma-led should keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer for the red-ball cricket as he can be handy for the team. 
India hasn't been blessed with as many fast-bowling all-rounders as they would've wanted. After Kapil Dev, it was Hardik Pandya who took the mantle and has been doing a staggering job for the team in the white-ball cricket but his fitness hasn't supported him at all. 
Hardik Pandya played a few Tests for India but couldn't carry on in the format. The all-rounder last played in 2018 and, after that, has been focusing on white-ball cricket after that, India tried Shardul Thakur, and although he did a decent job, the quality wasn't there, and he was dropped. 
India now has included Nitish Kumar Reddy in the team and the all-rounder has been doing a great job in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He has shown great promise with the bat as he also slammed a magnificent century and helped the team tackle the trouble. 
But it's fair to say that the quality of the ball still has been lacking. Nitish Kumar Reddy hasn't been the best with the ball and hasn't bowled well, which has put an extra burden on Jasprit Bumrah, who has bowled around 140 overs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
<h2>India must also keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer, who can be another fine all-rounder and is a left-hander to bat - Sunil Gavaskar</h2>
Amid the debate around all-rounder, Sunil Gavaskar has suggested the name of Venkatesh Iyer, claiming that he can be a fine all-rounder for the team. He also pointed out that he played in the county. Writing in his column, he explained: 
"India must also keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer, who can be another fine all-rounder and is a left-hander to bat. His bowling too can do with some work, but he has played in England and can be a very good option to have there," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. 
Venkatesh Iyer has already made his India debut, having played two ODIs and nine T20Is. He also played for Lancashire in the England summer earlier this year.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indian-cricket-team-india-s-full-test-cricket-schedule-in-2025-they-will-face-these-teams/#google_vignette"> </a><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indian-cricket-team-india-s-full-test-cricket-schedule-in-2025-they-will-face-these-teams/#google_vignette">Indian Cricket: Team India's full Test Cricket schedule in 2025, they will face these teams</a>

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar gave a massive suggestion to the Indian team going forward in Test cricket.