India batter Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are all set to play the three-match ODI series against England. As per the reports in Times of India, it is learned that both the senior batters of the team will be playing the series and have no intention to take a rest. 
A few days ago, some reports claimed that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli won't be playing the three-match ODI series against England. The duo were speculated to be rested to manage their workload, especially after the hectic Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
But it raised many eyeballs as to why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be rested, especially with the three-match ODI series against England being the only series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC event will be taking place in February-March and it will be a crucial tournament for India. 
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have come under massive pump for their poor returns with the bat. And also with them already announcing their retirement from T20Is, the ODIs against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be extremely important for both the stalwarts. 
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. 
<h2>Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played a white-ball game during the ODI series against Sri Lanka</h2>
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played a white-ball game during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The two players will have to play a massive part if India needs to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be playing their games in Dubai as the tournament will be played in a Hybrid model. 
Currently, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are playing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. Both the players have struggled to get going. The skipper, in particular, has looked torrid and is all set to be dropped from the team for the last match of the series. 
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, slammed a century in the opening match of the series. But after that, has looked torrid with the bat. It remains to be seen how he will fare in the last game of the series.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gambhir-vs-agarkar-selection-committee-declined-head-coach-s-request-of-cheteshwar-pujara-s-inclusion-for-bgt-2024-25-reports/">Gambhir vs Agarkar? Selection Committee declined Head Coach's request of Cheteshwar Pujara's inclusion for BGT 2024-25: Reports</a>

India batter Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are all set to play the three-match ODI series against England.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma all set to be part of England ODIs

virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-all-set-to-be-part-of-england-odis-

The Indian Men's National Cricket Team is currently in Australia where they are taking part in the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Post the conclusion of the Australian tour, they will head back to Indian where they will be participating in a limited-overs Bilateral Series versus England, which will consist of five T20 International contests and three One Day International games. 
Ahead of England's tour of India, a big update has come out regarding the three-match One Day International series and it says that the duo of Virat Kohli &amp; Rohit Sharma are not going play in the Odds versus the Three Lions. Besides these two players, elite seamer Jasprit Bumrah will also miss the ODI series. 
The One-Day International series versus the Three Lions is the Men in Blue's final series before the commencement of 2025 Champions Trophy and this series will be acting as a preparatory ground for the 2023 ODI World Cup runners-up. 
The White Ball assignment versus the Jos Buttler-led team will start from the 22nd of January, 2025 with the five-match Twenty-Twenty series. Then the 50-overs event of three games will kick off from the 6th of February, 2025.
It's worth noting that both Virat &amp; Rohit have retired from the shortest format of the game and both will be seen playing in just the One-Day International matches but now that seems very unlikely too.
According to a news report of Sports Tak, the trip of Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli &amp; Rohit Sharma will be missing the England ODI series due to the workload-management policy of the BCCI. Bumrah will also be absent from the England T20 International series. However, official updates regarding the trio's participation are yet to be revealed. 
<h2>The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy will commence from the 19th of February</h2>
Let us tell you that the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy will kick off from the 19th of February, 2025. On the other hand, the white ball series between England and India will end on the 12th of February. Champions Trophy (CT) will be played under the 'Hybrid-Model' policy.
While Pakistan will be acting as the host country of the tournament, the Men in Blue will be playing their CT fixtures in the city of Dubai, UAE. If the Rohit Sharma-led team manage to qualify for the knock out rounds and advance to the final too, then one Semi-Final and the all-important Final will be played in the Dubai Cricket Stadium.
Do Read:

India's Jasprit Bumrah (R) celebrates with teammate Virat Kohli (C) and captain Rohit Sharma after taking the wicket of Australia's captain Pat Cummins during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between India and Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai | Image: Getty Images

The Trio of Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma are set to miss the England ODI series ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

IND vs ENG: Kohli and Rohit set to miss the England ODI series ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

ind-vs-eng-kohli-and-rohit-set-to-miss-the-england-odi-series-ahead-of-champions-trophy-2025

The Indian Men's National Cricket Team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma are currently taking part in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series versus the Mighty Australians in Australia and both teams are currently fighting it our against each other in the five-match Test-Series. 
Post the conclusion of the Australian tour, the Men in Blue will shift their focus towards their upcoming bilateral assignment versus England and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Alongside the squad for the Bilateral series verus the Three Lions, the country's Cricket Governing Body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is also expected to announce the Indian squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament. 
<h2>Schedule of the White-Ball series assignment versus England</h2>
The Men in Blue will kick off the white-ball assignment versus England with the five-match T20 International series which will kick off from the 22nd of January. Then both the teams will lock horns versus each other in the three-match One Day International series from the 6th of January.
The ODI series versus the 2019 ODI World Cup winners will act as a preparatory ground for the Men in Blue ahead of the Champions Trophy. Post the conclusion of England's tour of India, Rohit Sharma &amp; CO will immediately travel to Dubai. They will be kicking off their Champions Trophy 2025 (CT) campaign on the 20th of February versus the Bangladeshi Tigers.
<h2>Big players likely to get rested</h2>
According to the workload management policy of the BCCI, experienced players like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to get rested for the T20 International series. Apart from them, the likes of Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are also anticipated to be rested. 
Talking to Inside sport, a executive of BCCI said, "He (Jasprit Bumrah) has been playing Cricket continuously since the last 2 months. It's our priority to keep him fit for the 2025 Champions Trophy and IPL 2025 too. That's why, Bumrah will not be included in the T20 squad for the England series."
<h2>Probable T20 Squad of the Indian team versus England</h2>
Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, T20 specialists will likely get selected in the squad. Players like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel and Sanju Samson will be getting the chance to showcase their skills. The duo of Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav, who have just returned from their respective injuries might also get selected to help them get ready for the Champions Trophy. 
Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK) and Riyan Parag. 
<h2>Probable ODI Squad of the Indian team versus England</h2>
Regular skipper Rohit Sharma will be handling the leadership duties of the One-Day Team. The presence of experienced players like Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj are expected to increase the strength of the squad.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and KL Rahul. 
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/shaheen-afridi-neglected-the-orders-of-the-selectors-and-this-led-to-his-exclusion-from-the-test-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shaheen Afridi neglected the orders of the selectors and this led to his exclusion from the Test Team</a>

Kuldeep Yadav of India celebrates the wicket of Liam Livingstone of England during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup India 2023 between India and England | Image: Getty Images

The Indian Team will be shifting their focus towards the England series and Champions Trophy post the conclusion of the 2024-25 BGT Series. It's likely the BCCI will announce the Champions Trophy squad along side the England white-ball series squads.

India vs England: Team India's predicted squad for the ODI and T20i series versus England

india-vs-england-team-india-s-predicted-squad-for-the-odi-and-t20i-series-versus-england

Cricket's global governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday, 24th of December announced the official schedule and fixture list of the upcoming ICC Mega-Event, the 2025 Champions Trophy. The competition, featuring the top eight One-Day International teams, will be played between 19th of February to 9th of March, with matches to be help in Dubai and Pakistan. 
The opening fixture of the tournament will be played between Pakistan and New Zealand in the city of Karachi as both teams will be kicking off the tournament. A total of 15 games will be played over a span of 19 days, with the city's of Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi playing host to the games in Pakistan. UAE's Dubai will also host several encounters, including the all-important group-stage phase contests of the Indian Cricket Team and the first semi-final as well. 
The all-important Final is scheduled to be played on the 9th of March in the city of Lahore, unless Team India qualifies for the marquee match, in which case the summit clash will be shifted to Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days if rain interrupts the proceedings of the contests.
The highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match will be played on the 23rd of February in Dubai, which is also going to be a highlight of the competition. Other key matches include Australia vs England on the 22nd of February in the city of Lahore and South Africa vs Afghanistan in Karachi on 21st of February. 
Each of the three Pakistani venues will play host to three group-stage encounters, with Lahore also set to host the 2nd Semi-Final. The Dubai leg of the Champions Trophy kicks off on 20th February, with the Men in Blue squaring off versus Asian-rivals Bangladesh. 
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy will witness the top eight teams from the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup competing versus each other to get their hands on the prestigious Trophy. Fans are eagerly waiting for this exciting tournament, with hosts Pakistan aiming to defend their title. 
<h2>Group Stages  </h2>
<h2>All of the participating teams are divided into two groups:  </h2>
- Group A: India, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan
- Group B: South Africa, England, Australia and Afghanistan

<h2>Champions Trophy 2025: Full schedule of the competition</h2>
19th of February, Wednesday: New Zealand versus Pakistan in the city of Karachi, Pakistan
 
20th of February, Thursday: Bangladesh versus India in the city of Dubai, UAE
 
21st of February, Friday: South Africa versus Afghanistan in the city of Karachi, Pakistan
 
22nd of February, Saturday: England versus Australia in the city of Lahore, Pakistan
 
23rd of February, Sunday: Pakistan versus India in the city of Dubai, UAE
 
24th of February, Monday: Bangladesh versus New Zealand in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25th of February, Tuesday: South Africa versus Australia in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan
 
26th of February, Wednesday: Afghanistan versus England in the city of Lahore, Pakistan
 
27th of February, Thursday: Bangladesh versus Pakistan in the city of Rawalpindi, Pakistan
 
28th of February, Friday: Australia versus Afghanistan in the city of Lahore, Pakistan

1st of March, Saturday: England versus South Africa in the city of Karachi, Pakistan
 
2nd of March, Sunday: New Zealand versus India in the city of Dubai, UAE
 
4th of March, Tuesday: First Semi-Final in the city of Dubai, UAE
 
5th of March, Wednesday: Second Semi-Final in the city of Lahore, Pakistan
 
9th of March, Sunday: The All-important Final in the city of Lahore (If Team India qualifies, then the match will get shifted to the city of Dubai, UAE) 
 
10th of March, Monday: Reserve-day for the Final

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-players-who-can-prove-to-be-long-term-replacements-for-ravi-ashwin-in-india-s-test-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 Players who can prove to be long-term replacements for Ravi Ashwin in India's Test Team</a>

The Champions Trophy on display in the city of Karachi, Pakistan | Image: Getty Images

The eight-team tournament runs from February 19 to March 9. The highly-awaited India versus Pakistan match wi be played on the 23rd of February in the city of Dubai.

ICC unveil the official Champions Trophy 2025 schedule, know all the details regarding India's matches

icc-unveil-the-official-champions-trophy-2025-schedule-know-all-the-details-regarding-india-s-matches

England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has been sidelined for at least three months due to a torn left hamstring, marking yet another setback in his illustrious cricketing career.
The injury occurred during the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton earlier this month, where England suffered a 423-run defeat. Despite the loss, England clinched the three-match series 2-1.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_676a23fcc9d73.jpg" alt="">
Stokes sustained the injury while delivering a bouncer in New Zealand’s second innings. It’s the same hamstring he had torn in August 2023 while playing in The Hundred, which sidelined him for two months. 
A recurrence of the tear was confirmed following scans upon his return to England. Consequently, Stokes has been ruled out of England’s upcoming white-ball tour of India and the 2024 Champions Trophy.
This latest injury adds to Stokes’ struggles with long-term fitness issues. Following knee surgery in October 2023, he worked hard to regain form and fitness for England’s home summer. Despite his best efforts, his workload, particularly in the New Zealand series, seemed to take a toll. Stokes bowled 36.2 overs in Hamilton, his most in a Test since 2022, including 23 overs on the first day alone.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_676a23ff2e606.jpg" alt="">
Reflecting on his injury history, Stokes admitted that he had pushed himself to physical limits to perform his dual role as a batter and bowler. His determination often led him to “drain and ruin himself,” as he confessed. Despite the setbacks, Stokes remains optimistic about overcoming his challenges, emphasizing his commitment to fitness and the game.
Stokes’ absence will be felt keenly, especially as England faces a packed schedule. With key fixtures like a five-Test series against India in June and the 2025/26 Ashes on the horizon, England management has prioritized his long-term health. This decision also means Stokes will forgo lucrative opportunities, including an £800,000 deal with MI Cape Town in the SA20 League starting in January.
Meanwhile, England’s ODI and T20 squads for the India tour have seen some fresh inclusions. Joe Root and Mark Wood return to the fold after significant absences, while rising star Jacob Bethell and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed add depth to the lineup. Jos Buttler retains his role as white-ball captain, but with competition in the wicketkeeping department, his position behind the stumps could be under review.
Despite England’s recent struggles in limited-overs cricket, losing both their 50-over and T20 World Cup titles in 2023, the team remains focused on rebuilding. Stokes, although sidelined, continues to inspire his teammates with his relentless work ethic and unwavering dedication to the sport.
As Stokes begins another period of rehabilitation, he remains determined to make a strong comeback. “I work harder because I have to,” he said. England fans will be hoping to see their talismanic leader back in action when the team resumes Test cricket against Zimbabwe in May at Trent Bridge.
He said, "I have to work so much harder on the physical side of the job to allow me to go out and do my job but I got a good amount of overs in during the last two games and I am more confident about getting through a lot of spells in a day."
"That is where I got to before I pulled my hamstring. I bowled nice in the summer, had a setback but now feel out of that and not worrying about anything else happening again. As you get older you think about your body a bit more but I work harder because I have to," he concluded.
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/uncapped-all-rounder-to-replace-ashwin-in-the-indian-squad-ahead-of-boxing-day-test-reports/">Uncapped All-rounder to replace Ashwin in the Indian Squad ahead of Boxing Day Test</a>

Ben Stokes Pulled his Hamstring (Getty Images)

England Test captain Ben Stokes faces a three-month cricket hiatus due to a recurring hamstring injury, missing key tournaments as England prioritizes his long-term fitness amidst a packed schedule.

Ben Stokes is sidelined with a hamstring injury, missing crucial matches as England prioritizes his recovery.

Ben Stokes OUT of Cricket For Three Months Due to Hamstring Injury

ben-stokes-out-of-cricket-for-three-months-due-to-hamstring-injury

England and the Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the 15-member strong squad for the  T20I series against India. The two teams will be locking horns with each other in the five-match T20I series ahead of the three-match ODI series. 
The England team will be playing under the leadership of Jos Buttler. The team has a good combination of young players as well as experienced players. With India playing the aggressive brand of cricket, it promises to be an exciting series between the teams as they look to build for the T20 World Cup 2026. 
Skipper Buttler, along with Phil Salt, are the two openers in the tea,m, while there are plenty of all-rounders in the team as well. The likes of Jacob Bethel, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton and others will be forming a strong squad for the five T20Is against India. 
The England team will be leaving for India on 17th January and the first T20I between the teams is all set to take place from 22nd January at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai will be hosting the next four games respectively. 
This will also mark the first series for Brendon McCullum as the head coach of England in the white-ball format. He will be hoping to emulate the red-ball form in e-ball cricket as well and help the team win the series against the Suryakumar Yadav-led side. 
<h2>England squad for the T20I series against India </h2>
Here's England's squad for the T20I series against India 
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (Captain) Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire) Jofra Archer (Sussex) Gus Atkinson (Surrey) Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire) Harry Brook (Yorkshire) Brydon Carse (Durham) Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire) Jamie Overton (Surrey) Jamie Smith (Surrey) Liam Livingstone (Lancashire) Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) Phil Salt (Lancashire) Mark Wood (Durham) 
Schedule of the India vs England T20I series 
1st IT20: India v England, Wednesday 22 January, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
2nd IT20: India v England, Saturday 25 January, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
3rd IT20: India v England, Tuesday 28 January, Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
4th IT20: India v England, Friday 31 January, MCA Stadium, Pune
5th IT20: India v England, Sunday 2 February, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/injury-scare-for-india-rohit-sharma-got-hit-at-net-sessions-ahead-of-boxing-day-test/">Injury Scare for India: Rohit Sharma got hit at net sessions ahead of Boxing Day Test</a>

The England team will be playing under the leadership of Jos Buttler

England announces squad for the T20I series against India

england-announces-squad-for-the-t20i-series-against-india-

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the strong 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well as the three-match ODI series against the Indian team, which will be played in February. 
England will be captained by Jos Buttler and the squad has seen Joe Root making a comeback into the team. The premier batter last played for the team in the ODIs during the ICC World Cup 2023. On the other hand, Ben Stokes wasn't considered for the selection. 
This was because the all-rounder suffered a hamstring injury during the Test series against New Zealand. The ECB on the same stated: "Ben Stokes was not considered for selection as he continues to be assessed following a left hamstring injury sustained during the third Test match against New Zealand earlier this month." 
England becomes the first team to announce the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The three-match ODI series against the Indian team will be an ideal preparation for the team heading into the tournament. They would be keen to win the tournament as well as the series. 
<h2>England squad for the ODI series against India and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 </h2>
Here's England's squad for the ODI series against India and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025: 
Jos Buttler (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell,  Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood 
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. 
Here's the schedule: 
1st ODI: India v England, Thursday 6 February, VCA Stadium, Nagpur
2nd ODI: India v England, Sunday 9th February, Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
3rd ODI: India v England, Wednesday 12 February, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

England will be captained by Jos Buttler and the squad has seen Joe Root making a comeback into the team

England announces squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and India ODIs

england-announces-squad-for-the-icc-champions-trophy-2025-and-india-odis-

NZ vs ENG 3rd Test: The third and last test of the England tour of New Zealand 2024 came to an end after the home team cleared up the lower order of England and clinched a consolation win in the series. This win has pushed New Zealand up to the fourth rank from the sixth.
The hosts had already lost the series after heavy defeats in the first two Tests, but this final match carried special significance—it was Tim Southee’s farewell game. A victory here would have offered a much-needed silver lining. As the match ended, Southee picked up a stump and led his team off the field, basking in the applause from the crowd.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_6760ec257790c.jpg" alt="">
The moment was made even more special when he received a warm hug from former teammate and current England coach, Brendon McCullum, bringing a heartfelt close to his illustrious Test career.
England may have won the series, but their tour ended on a sour note with New Zealand’s commanding victory in the final Test. Despite the setback, England had plenty to celebrate, including Harry Brook’s brilliant batting and Brydon Carse’s leadership of a sharp seam attack in the first two matches. Beating New Zealand at home is a tough challenge, and England can still take pride in their overall performance.
<h2>WTC 2025 Points Table Updates</h2>
New Zealand are fairly happy with the win in the last test. However, they would have been a lot happier if they had won the series. The two back-to-back losses in the first two tests brought down the PCT of New Zealand and dropped them from 4th rank to sixth rank with a 44.230 winning percentage. 
Just after winning the last match, New Zealand got their rank back. The massive 423-run win helped New Zealand to go to a 48.21 winning percentage. England, who were in 5th spot with over 45 PCT, now are sixth again with 43.18 PCT.
<h2>WTC 2025 Points Table Updated after NZ vs ENG</h2>
<table id="table_1" border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 1140px; height: 191px; background-color: #dee5f7; border-color: #000000; border-style: double;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 11px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.68" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">POS</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.96" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">TEAM</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PLAYED</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">WON</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">LOST</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">DRAW</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">DED</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">POINTS</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.69" style="height: 11px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PCT</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SOUTH AFRICA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.72" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
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<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.17" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">76</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.51" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">63.33</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.6" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">AUSTRALIA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.81" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.96" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">9</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.65" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">102</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.8" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">60.71</td>
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<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.73" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">INDIA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">16</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">9</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.7" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">110</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.33" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">57.29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NEW ZEALAND</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.59" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.7" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.5" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.6" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">81</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.56" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">48.21</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">SRI LANKA</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.76" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.81" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.37" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.5" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.76" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">60</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.23" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">45.45</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.73" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ENGLAND</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">22</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">22</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">114</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.66" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">43.18</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.78" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.55" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PAKISTAN</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.77" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.7" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.49" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">40</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=95.09" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">33.33</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.76" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">BANGLADESH</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">12</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.77" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">4</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">8</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.39" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.73" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">3</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">45</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=92.24" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">31.25</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 20px;">
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">9</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=69.77" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">F WEST INDIES</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">11</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.69" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.49" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">7</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.77" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=91.54" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">0</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">32</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.06" style="height: 20px; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">24.24</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/rishabh-pant-is-struggling-to-trouble-the-aussies-with-the-bat-this-bowler-has-found-a-way-to-stop-his-rampage/">Rishabh Pant is struggling to trouble the Aussies with the bat, this bowler has found a way to stop his rampage</a> 
SOURCE- <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings">WTC OFFICIAL</a>

The farewell test of Tim Southee and the New Zealand team gifted him the win in his last test. NZ secured a massive win of 423 runs in the last test of the series.

New Zealand made a big jump on the WTC points table after the win in the last Test of the series.

WTC 2025 Points Table Updated after New Zealand's Massive win against England in Farewell test for Tim Southee

wtc-2025-points-table-updated-after-new-zealands-massive-win-against-england-in-farewell-test-for-tim-southee

Joe Root has been the best batter in test cricket for the last few years or so. That is why he was deservingly crowned as the No. 1 test batter in the world. But he has been dethroned now. As per the latest ICC rankings, it is his teammate who has been crowned as the new No. 1 test batter in the world.
The 25-year-old English star Harry Brook has had an exceptional start to his test career. He has continued his run-scoring habit in red-ball cricket in the ongoing three-match test series against New Zealand. Brook has slammed two centuries in the first two tests, which has helped him to overtake Root to climb to the No. 1 spot in test cricket.
Root held the No. 1 ranking since July 2024, after replacing Kane Williamson. But Brook's incredible consistency has earned him a No. 1 spot. Notably, Root slammed a century in the second test in Wellington and has 897 rating points. But Brook has one more rating point (898) than him.
<h2>Harry Brook claims the No. 1 Test ranking; Travis Head moves to the 5th spot</h2>
In the first test against New Zealand, Harry Brook slammed 171 off 197 balls to help his team win. In the second test, he scored 123 off 115 balls in the first innings and 55 off 61 balls in the second innings. As a result, he also won the Player of the Match award.
In three innings, Brook has scored 349 runs at an average of 116.33 and a strike rate of 93.57, with two centuries and one fifty. His brilliant form has helped England take a 2-0, unbeatable lead in the series against New Zealand and also helped him become the new leading batter in Test cricket.
Root has slipped to second spot. Kane Williamson (812 rating points) and India's Yashasvi Jaiswal (811 rating points) have retained their positions and are in third and fourth place, respectively. Australia's Travis Head, who slammed a blistering 140 off 141 in the day-night test at Adelaide Oval, has jumped six spots up to fifth.
He is the highest-ranked Australian on the list. Kamindu Mendis has moved one spot up to sixth, while South African captain Temba Bavuma, who finished two tests against Sri Lanka with 327 runs, moved three spots up to seventh.
Rishabh Pant has dropped three spots down to ninth. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have slipped six and five spots to 20th and 31st, respectively. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah has retained his spot as No. 1 test bowler in the world.

Joe Root was at the top of the Test rankings since July 2024, and he has been replaced by Harry Brook, who has slammed two centuries in three innings against New Zealand.

25-year-old English star dethrones Joe Root in ICC rankings to become the new No. 1 Test batter 

25-year-old-english-star-dethrones-joe-root-in-icc-rankings-to-become-the-new-no-1-test-batter

Cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently updated the ICC Test player rankings and some significant changes have been made in the rankings. Indian Cricket Team's young opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal who scored a phenomenal century in the Perth Test-Match versus the Aussies has suffered a setback in the ICC Test Batting Rankings. 

England's hard hitting batter Harry Brook has become the new number two ranked Test batter, overtaking Yashasvi, following his phenomenal outing with the bat in the 1st Test-Match versus New Zealand. Former captain of New Zealand Kane Williamson is sitting at the third rank with Joe Root of England comfortably maintaining his lead at the top of the batting rankings. 

Wicket keeper batsman Rishabh Pant is the other Indian player present in the top 10 of the test batting rankings at the sixth spot while Jaiswal has dropped down by two places to fourth. Despite scoring his 30th Test century in the Perth Test-Match, Virat Kohli has dropped by one position to 14th. Another Indian player in the top 20 is Shubman Gill who is sitting at the 18th spot.
<h2></h2>
<h2>India's elite fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah continues to reign supreme in the Test Bowling-Rankings</h2>

Jasprit Bumrah, the elite seamer of Team India continues to dominate the test-bowling rankings as he has successfully retained his top spot while Kagiso Rabada of South Africa and Josh Hazlewood of Australia are sitting at the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. 

Despite not taking part in the Perth Test-Match versus the Kangaroos, R Ashwin has managed to retain his fourth position in the rankings while Ravi Jadeja has moved up by one spot to sixth. Besides these two players, no other Indian bowlers are present in the Top 20 ranks of the Test bowling rankings.

<h2>India's Ravindra Jadeja carries on his one-sided domination in the Test All-Rounder Rankings</h2>

Left arm spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja of India continues to maintain his one-sided domination in the Test All-Rounder rankings as he has once again retained his number one spot in the rankings while fast bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen of South Africa has made a huge jump of 10 positions and has replaced Ravi Ashwin at the second rank. The off-spinner has dropped down to the third position. 

Axar Patel is sitting at the eighth position and a good performance in the Adelaide Test-Match versus the Mighty Australians which starts on Friday of this week will give the advantage to the Indian players in the rankings.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/team-india-will-be-seen-wearing-this-new-jersey-in-champions-trophy-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Team India will be seen wearing this new jersey in Champions Trophy 2025</a>

Harry Brook of England had a phenomenal outing with the bat in the 1st Test-Match versus New Zealand | Image:  Getty Images

India's Jasprit Bumrah has retained the top spot in the Test bowling rankings, while Kagiso Rabada is second and Josh Hosselwood is third.

ICC Rankings: Harry Brook overtakes Yashasvi Jaiswal to become the 2nd ranked Test Batter, Bumrah retains his top spot

icc-rankings-harry-brook-overtakes-yashasvi-jaiswal-to-become-the-2nd-ranked-test-batter-bumrah-retains-his-top-spot

The England cricket team represents England and Wales in international cricket. Since 1997, it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club since 1903.

England

With the 2025 New Year celebrations over, the Indian Cricket Team have now begun their preparations for the next BGT match. Under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, the Men in Blue will be playing their first Test contest of 2025 in Sydney. This match will be played versus the the Pat Cummins-led Australia from the 3rd of January. 
The Indian Team is currently taking part in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Five-Match Test-Series on Australian soil. The home side currently have the advantage as they are leading the series by 2-1. The fifth and the decisive contest of the series will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The Jasprit Bumrah-led team will be looking to secure a victory by any means in the final encounter in order to retain the precious BGT Trophy. 
<h2>Change in captaincy ahead of the Sydney Test-Match</h2>
Regular Captain Rohit Sharma has decided to drop himself from the final Test-Match as his performance in the entire series has been disastrous, managing to score just 31 runs in five innings versus the Kangaroos. 
A lot of pressure was being created on Rohit and the Men in Blue even won the Perth Test-Match under the captaincy of Bumrah where Sharma was not available as he was away on paternity leave and therefore, the two time WTC Runner's-up will be seen entering the field of Sydney with Jasprit Bumrah as the captain.
<h2>What's the record of Team India in Test-Matches played in Sydney? </h2>
The Indian Cricket Team have a really poor record in Test-Matches played in Sydney. They have managed to reign supreme just once at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), that too 47 years ago.That means if the Blue Brigade manage to secure a victory in the final Test-Match in Sydney, then their shameful winless streak will get broken. 
The Men in Blue have taken part in 13 Sydney Test-Matches so far, managing to win just one and have suffered defeats in five contests. The other remaining matches at this venue between Australia and India have ended in a draw i.e seven draws. 
India won their only Sydney Test-Match way back in January of 1978, where they triumphed over the Kangaroos by a margin of an inning and two runs under the leadership of the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi. This was time when Test Matches used to be of 6 days and there used to be a rest day in between.
Total Tests played in Sydney: 13
Won: 1
Lost: 5
Drawn: 7 
The upcoming 5th Test-Match in Sydney will be must win one for the Jasprit Bumrah-led team if they want to have any hopes of retaining the BGT Trophy. Winning the match in Sydney will also allow them to keep their hopes of qualifying for their third successive WTC Final alive. 
<h2>Playing 11's of both teams for the 5th Test-Match in Sydney</h2>
India (Probable): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Virat Kohli, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah (Captain) and Harshit Rana.
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins (Captain), Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gambhir-vs-agarkar-selection-committee-declined-head-coach-s-request-of-cheteshwar-pujara-s-inclusion-for-bgt-2024-25-reports/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gambhir vs Agarkar? Selection Committee declined Head Coach's request of Cheteshwar Pujara's inclusion for BGT 2024-25: Reports</a>

Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the wicket of Australia's Usman Khawaja | Image: Getty Images

The Indian Cricket Team have a shameful record in Test-Matches played in Sydney and they haven't won a single match at that venue since 1978. They would be looking to end this winless streak and rewrite history

IND vs AUS: Team India has a shameful record in Sydney, will the winless streak break in the 5th Test?

ind-vs-aus-team-india-has-a-shameful-record-in-sydney-will-the-winless-streak-break-in-the-5th-test-

India Cricket Team is all set to have massive changes going into the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Showdown will be taking place at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, and it surely will be more than just a match for the visitors. 
As per the reports in Indian Express, it is learned that Rohit Sharma is all set to be rested for the final game of the series. The Indian captain has himself opted out of the Sydney Test and conveyed the same to head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. 
Both Agarkar and Gambhir accepted Rohit Sharma's decision and the team will be playing the game without their captain. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah will be captaining the team and Shubman Gill will be replacing Rohit in the XI and will be batting at No.3 in the last game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Rohit Sharma opting out of the Sydney Test means that the India captain has played his last game in whites. The reports claimed that he might not be in the scheme of things for the next World Test Championship Cycle, which begins with a tour to England in June-July this year. 
Jasprit Bumrah captained the Indian team in the opening game of the series in Perth and under his leadership team won the match. The reports claimed that Shubman Gill will be batting at No.3 and KL Rahul will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. 
<h2> Prasidh Krishna will be drafted into the XI in place of Akash Deep</h2>
The reports also added that Prasidh Krishna will be drafted into the XI in place of Akash Deep. The latter got injured in the practice session and has been ruled out of the match. It will be a massive opportunity for Krishna to make an impact and help the team draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 
Also, there were reports which stated that Rishabh Pant will be dropped for Dhruv Jurel but Indian Express has confirmed that the Southpaw will be playing the match. He faced a lot of criticism getting out to wild shots in the last two games and would be hoping to silence all his critics.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/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</a>

India Cricket Team is all set to have massive changes going into the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma opts out of Sydney Test, massive updates about Indian XI arrive

ind-vs-aus-rohit-sharma-opts-out-of-sydney-test-massive-updates-about-indian-xi-arrive-

IND vs AUS: The stage is set, and Team India will square off against Australia for the final time in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The hosts started the series brilliantly with a win over Australia in Perth. But that has been the only good performance for India so far.
After that the visitors are only chasing the momentum while Australia have been very dominant in their performances. Their relentless bowling attack with some game-changing contributions from the batters has helped them to take a 2-1 lead. For India, Jasprit Bumrah has been the shining light throughout the series, who has been the lone survivor for India.
The final test will kick off at 5 AM on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Stadium. India might be bringing in Shubman Gill and Prasidh Krishna in for Rohit Sharma and Akashdeep, and it will be Bumrah who will lead the team. He will also have some big records in front of him to achieve in the fifth and final test at the SCG.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah eyes an all-time BGT record in the fifth and final test at SCG</h2>
Jasprit Bumrah has been superb in this series so far. He has taken a total of 30 wickets in four tests at an average of 12.83 and a strike rate of 28.26. He has taken three fifers and two four-wicket hauls. Meanwhile, the second highest wicket-taker in the series is Pat Cummins with 20 wickets. That tells the difference between Bmrah and the rest of the bowlers.
He has been phenomenal this series. But it is not over yet. The ace Indian pacer will have a couple of big records in front of him to achieve. One of them will be the record for most wickets in a Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Currently, former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh holds this record. He took 30 wickets in three tests during BGT 2000-01.
Bumrah is the only second bowler to take 30 wickets in a BGT trophy in history. He is just three wickets away from breaking Harbhajan's record and adding another milestone to his kitty. Apart from this, Bumrah is also near to breaking the 52-year-old record by Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, who took 35 wickets in a test series against England in 1972-73.
That tally of 35 wickets is the most wickets by an Indian bowler in a test series. Bumrah need six more wickets, and the way he is going, it looks possible that he might break this record as well. Notably, India need this win to retain the BGT trophy and also stay alive in the WTC final race.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-player-battles-to-watch-out-for-in-the-fifth-ind-vs-aus-test-at-the-scg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 Player Battles to Watch out for in the fifth IND vs AUS Test at the SCG</a>

Jasprit Bumrah has taken 30 wickets in the four tests at a record-breaking average of 12.83. He is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Jasprit Bumrah on the cusp of rewriting history; eyes two all-time bowling records in the final test at SCG

jasprit-bumrah-on-the-cusp-of-rewriting-history-eyes-two-all-time-bowling-records-in-the-final-test-at-scg

IND vs AUS: The fifth and final test between India and Australia will begin at 5 AM on January 3. This will be the last chance for Team India to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and stay in the race for the World Test Championship final. If they lose, they will lose both these great things. Australia are currently trailing 2-1 in the series and will enter the final test as favorites.
India need to find out ways to get runs from their batters and also support Jasprit Bumrah with other bowlers. We might see some changes in the playing XI for the final test. But all in all, it is expected to be a great battle between two powerhouses. Here we will talk about the top three player battles to watch out for in the fifth IND vs AUS test.
<h2>Three Top Player Battlers to watch out for in Fifth IND vs AUS test at SCG</h2>
1. Yashavi Jaiswal vs Mitchell Starc
Indian young opener Yashavi Jaiswal is the leading scorer for India in the ongoing IND vs AUS test series. He has scored 359 runs in four tests at an average of 51.29. Jasiwal scored 82 and 84 in two innings of the fourth test. India will hope he continues his form and scores runs.
If he gets set, he plays big innings; that's where Australia will rely on Mitchell Starc. This has been an exciting battle to watch so far in four tests. Jaiswal loves to take on Starc, and the pacer has had his number a few times. Starc has dismissed Jaiswal four times in tests this year, and Jaiswal scored 107 runs against him.
2. Rohit Sharma &amp; Virat Kohli vs Pat Cummins
The Australian captain, Pat Cummins, is one of the best modern-day bowlers for sure. He is just ahead of the opposition batter and loves to dominate. He played a crucial role in Australia winning the MCG test and won the Player of the Match award.
Meanwhile, for India, runs from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as these two have struggled badly. There are questions on their position in the team, and they have this last chance. But Cummins will not make it easy for them. The Australian captain has troubled these two stars many times. Cummins has dismissed Rohit 8 times in tests and dismissed Virat 5 times.
3. Travis Head &amp; Steve Smith vs Jasprit Bumrah
India were able to contain Travis Head in the fourth test, but Steve Smith slammed a brilliant ton. These two have scored two centuries each in the IND vs AUS test and have become a big headache for India. Hence, the visitors will look to go with the plan against them.
That's where Jasprit Bumrah will have a vital role. Bumrah has enjoyed bowling against the best, and these two certainly are. Bumrah has dismissed Head six times in tests, including four in 2024, while Bumrah has dismissed Smith four times in tests, including three times in 2024.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gambhir-vs-agarkar-selection-committee-declined-head-coach-s-request-of-cheteshwar-pujara-s-inclusion-for-bgt-2024-25-reports/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gambhir vs Agarkar? Selection Committee declined Head Coach's request of Cheteshwar Pujara's inclusion for BGT 2024-25: Reports</a>

Australia are leading the ongoing IND vs AUS test series 2-1. The fifth and final test will begin at 5 AM on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

3 Player Battles to Watch out for in the fifth IND vs AUS Test at the SCG

3-player-battles-to-watch-out-for-in-the-fifth-ind-vs-aus-test-at-the-scg

India captain Rohit Sharma is all set to be dropped from the playing XI for the final Test of the series against Australia. The match between the two teams will be played on Friday (3rd January) at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. 
Rohit Sharma, as per the various media reports, won't be featuring in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This has been quite evident with the way things have been panning out in the practice session a day ahead of the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 
India captain also didn't bat much in the nets and came to bat after batters had their sessions. Various media outlets have suggested that Rohit Sharma will be replaced by Shubman Gill, who got the first preference in the nets and was also seen getting a pat on the back by Gautam Gambhir. 
The India head coach, Gautam Gambhir, was also seen having a conversation with Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, with the fast bowler being actively involved in the conversations with the head coach. This, in all fairness, suggests that fast bowlers will be leading the team. 
But there also has been some section of reports which has stated that Shubman Gill might be leading the team. This is because team management might look at the bigger picture and allow the youngster to take charge of the team. But so far no clarity seems to be there.
<h2>We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow - Gautam Gambhir on Rohit Sharma </h2>
Even head coach Gautam Gambhir said refused to give any clarity about Rohit Sharma playing the final Test. He said that they would be taking the call after looking at the pitch. While speaking to reporters, he explained: 
"Everything is fine with Rohit and I don't think it's anything traditional. The head coach is here and that should be good enough. We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow. As I just said we are going to have a look at the wicket and announce our playing XI tomorrow. The answer remains the same.” 
Rohit Sharma has witnessed a massive dip in the form. In the last 15 innings, the India captain has scored only 164 runs in 15 innings at a shocking average of just 10.93, with one half-century score. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he has slammed just 31 runs. It remains to be seen now where will his future be heading.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/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</a>

India captain Rohit Sharma is all set to be dropped from the playing XI for the final Test of the series against Australia.

IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma all set to be dropped for last Test; Shubman Gill to lead? Full details

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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

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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

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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...

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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.