IND vs SL: Rohit?s heroics went in vain as the failing Indian middle order could not chase 240 despite a confident start of 97 runs for the first wicket. India faced a similar downfall in the First ODI as well when after Rohit?s early cameo of 50+ score, the team collapsed while chasing a low total of 231, and the game was tied by an extraordinary effort from the Lankan spinners. The second ODI saw the repetition of a similar form, while this time the middle-order collapsed further miserably which led to India?s defeat. The likes of Shivam Dube promoted up the order, with late KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, all failed miserably. Now Gautam Gambhir the new Indian head coach should bring in some new players instead of the players who have disappointing form in order to avoid a series defeat in his very first ODI series as a head coach, as this could lower his morale before the Champions Trophy. 



<div class="wp-block-rank-math-toc-block" id="rank-math-toc"><nav><div><div class=""><a href="#likely-changes-gg-must-make-in-the-third-odi-to-achieve-success">Likely Changes GG must make in the Third ODI to achieve success</a><div><div class=""><a href="#3-riyan-parag">3. Riyan Parag</a></div><div class=""><a href="#2-khaleel-ahmed">2. Khaleel Ahmed</a></div><div class=""><a href="#1-rishabh-pant">1. Rishabh Pant</a></div></div></div></div></nav></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="likely-changes-gg-must-make-in-the-third-odi-to-achieve-success">Likely Changes GG must make in the Third ODI to achieve success</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-riyan-parag">3. Riyan Parag</h3>



Finally, this harsh fact is to be accepted that Shivam Dube is not ideal to meet the needs of an all-rounder is the Indian team. Despite having been given numerous chances in T20s, he was also picked for ODIs and he faced a backslash. For this series their are no changes other than <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/riyan-parag-1079434">Riyan Parag</a> that could be made for Dube. As Parag is the only all-rounder likely to replace him his spinning ability will add to his chances for making an ODI debut. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="2-khaleel-ahmed">2. Khaleel Ahmed</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/08/Khaleel-Ahmed.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-145205" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Khaleel Ahmed might replace Arshdeep from India playing XI of Sri Lanka ODIs (Image: NDTV Sports)</figcaption></figure>
</figure>



Arshdeep Singh has been a top performer in T20Is, but he has not been equally convincing in the longer format of white ball cricket. Arshdeep might be replaced by Khaleel Ahmed who has been a part of Team India for long now though he has not received a single game. Ahmed the left arm quick has the ability to swing the ball on both sides and is a track which largely favors spin his cutters and slower balls might come in handy. 



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-sl-rohit-sharma-surpasses-sachin-tendulkar-with-an-incredible-fifty-in-the-second-odi/">IND vs SL: Rohit Sharma surpasses Sachin Tendulkar with an incredible fifty in the Second ODI</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="1-rishabh-pant">1. Rishabh Pant</h3>



This is Gautam Gambhir?s final go to save his reputation, and Pant who has not been provided an opportunity to make a comeback, now should replace a failing Iyer or Rahul. The left-handed batter can also be a solution to India?s lack of opposite paired batters. His form and his extreme ability to tackle spin can make him the ideal choice on a track like Colombo, which has already portrayed its spin favouring nature in the last two games.

IND vs SL: After a disappointing loss in the Second ODI - Likely changes Gambhir would make to India?s Starting XI

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India's journey to reach the ICC World Test Championship final is getting tougher as each day passes by. They are currently locking horns with Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 and two matches are still left in the series, which will decide their fate. 
India is currently engaged in the fourth game, and the game will be concluding tomorrow. The game is likely to see all three results. Australia are currently 333 runs ahead with one wicket in hand, and it is expected that India will have to chase around 350 runs if they pick a wicket early. 
A win will take India close to the final of the ICC World Test Championship as if they win the Sydney Test, they will qualify directly for the final. But if the ongoing game ends in a draw, the path will be very a bit tough for him as they need to win the next match, which will be a must-win. 
If the ongoing match ends in a draw and India wins the Sydney Test, then Australia needs to lose one match in their next series against Sri Lanka. If this all happens then the Rohit Sharma-led side will be entering the final of the ICC World Test Championship and will be playing South Africa at Lord's. 
But if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ends in a draw, then India will have a massive threat as both Sri Lanka and Australia will be in contention for the final. If the island nation beats the Pat Cummins-led side by the margin of 2-0, then they will qualify for the final of the ICC World Test Championship. 
India, however, can still qualify even if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ends in 1-1, but it will be an impossible task. In this scenario, Sri Lanka should win the series 1-0 and draw one game in the series. But this is impossible as Galle always has match results, which will be a cause of concern for India.
<h2>India's qualification scenario for the ICC World Test Championship </h2>
Here's India's qualification scenario for the ICC World Test Championship
- If the MCG Test ends in a draw.
- SCG Test is a must-win match.
- Then Australia shouldn't win both games against Sri Lanka. 
(India can qualify even if BGT ends in 1-1 but then SL should win the series 1-0 which is impossible as Galle always has match results) 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/sportswear-brand-puma-slams-sanjay-manjrekar-on-nitish-to-be-dropped-remark-after-reddy-s-spectacular-boxing-day-ton-/">Sportswear brand Puma slams Sanjay Manjrekar on "Nitish to be dropped" remark after Reddy's spectacular Boxing Day Ton </a>

India's journey to reach the ICC World Test Championship final is getting tougher as each day passes by.

Massive threat for India! Sri Lanka all set to qualify for the WTC Final if...

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India batter Virat Kohli was at his animated best during the Day four of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia. The match between the teams is taking place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. 
India staged a decent comeback in the match and has given them a great chance to win the game. This was possible because of Virat Kohli and his electric effort on the field. The batter lifted the entire team and with the way he was charging up, Australian was under pressure. 
Virat Kohli also took over the charge of the Indian team as well as he was seen captaining the team. The batter was seen getting the field placements and also was seen passing on the inputs to the skipper Rohit Sharma, as the crowd was also behind him all the time. 
Virat Kohli also plotted the wicket of Steve Smith for Mohammed Siraj, and not only this, he was seen having a chat with both the bowlers, telling them to bowl which lines and lengths. You can see the video below the article: 
Coming to the match, India had another decent day with the bat in the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Their effort with the bat and ball has given them a real chance to win the game at MCG. 
Nitish Kumar Reddy (114)  could add just nine runs to his overnight tally as the Indian innings ended on 369 runs, trailing by 105 runs. Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon picked three wickets each. 
Australia, in the second innings, had a poor start to their innings as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were all over the batters. The hosts were left tottering at 96 for six, but at the other end, Marnus Labuschagne (70) held the one end and took his team out of trouble along with Pat Cummins (41) as the duo added 57 runs for the seventh wicket. 
After Marnus and Cummins got out, Nathan Lyon (41*) and Scott Boland (10*) frustrated the bowlers and took the lead over 330 runs with their 55-run partnership. At stumps on Day four, Australia was 228 for nine with a lead of 333 runs.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/sportswear-brand-puma-slams-sanjay-manjrekar-on-nitish-to-be-dropped-remark-after-reddy-s-spectacular-boxing-day-ton-/">Sportswear brand Puma slams Sanjay Manjrekar on "Nitish to be dropped" remark after Reddy's spectacular Boxing Day Ton </a>
<h2>Watch: Virat Kohli taks charge of Indian team, passes inputs to bowlers</h2>

India batter Virat Kohli was at his animated best during the Day four of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia.

Watch: Virat makes comeback as Test captain, helps Rohit Sharma in the field setting

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ICC Champions Trophy 2025: The ICC has officially confirmed the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and team India is all set to compete in this prestigious tournament! While fans eagerly await the BCCI's official squad announcement, the excitement is already building. In the meantime, let’s dive into a thrilling prediction of India’s probable squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to be a cricketing spectacle, scheduled from February 19 to March 9. Hosted across Pakistan and Dubai, this prestigious tournament will feature eight top teams battling it out in 15 thrilling matches.
India, captained by Rohit Sharma, finds itself in Group A alongside Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. All of India’s matches will be played in Dubai, starting with an exciting opener against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
With political factors shaping the tournament’s venues, India’s Dubai campaign adds a distinct flair. Fans are set for a rollercoaster of action, with iconic rivalries, unforgettable moments, and nail-biting drama expected throughout the Champions Trophy 2025.
Following a grueling five-match Test series against Australia, India will focus on this high-pressure tournament. Packed with experience and young talent, the Men in Blue are geared up to showcase their dominance on the world stage.
Here’s a glimpse at India’s likely squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
<h2>India’s Probable Squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025</h2>
Top-Order Stars: Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the front-runners to open India’s innings, with Shubman Gill waiting in the wings as a strong backup. Known for their consistency in ODIs, these players are expected to give India a flying start at the top.
Reliable Middle-Order: The middle order is set to shine with the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant. Rahul, who proved his mettle in the lower middle order during the 2023 ODI World Cup, is likely to be a key player once again. The explosive Surya Kumar Yadav and young talent Dhruv Jurel may also feature, adding depth and versatility to India’s batting lineup.
Dynamic All-Rounders and Spinners: Either of Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy will lead the charge as all-rounders, bringing balance to the squad. In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to shoulder the responsibility, with their knack for breaking partnerships and keeping the pressure on.
Formidable Pace Attack: The fast-bowling unit will be headlined by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami. Shami’s experience and skill make him a strong pick, despite limited appearances post the ODI World Cup. Rising stars like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana could also earn spots, injecting fresh energy into India’s pace arsenal.
<h2>India’s Probable Squad</h2>
1- Rohit Sharma 2- Yashasvi Jaiswal 3- Shubman Gill 4- Virat Kohli 5- KL Rahul 6- Rishabh Pant 7- Suryakumar Yadav 8- Dhruv Jurel 9- Hardik Pandya 10- Nitish Kumar Reddy 11- Kuldeep Yadav 12- Axar Patel 13- Ravindra Jadeja 14- Jasprit Bumrah 15- Mohammed Siraj 16- Mohammed Shami 17- Arshdeep Singh 18- Harshit Rana
READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-cricket-champions-trophy-2025-schedule-teams-fixtures-full-squads-time-table/">ICC Cricket Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule, Teams, Fixtures, Full Squads, &amp; Time Table</a>

India’s probable ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad features a strong top order, a dependable middle order, versatile all-rounders, quality spinners, and a lethal pace attack, blending experience and emerging talent for success.

India’s squad combines experienced stars and young talents, with balanced batting, all-rounders, spinners, and a fiery pace unit.

India's Probable Squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025!

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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

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India batter Nitish Kumar Reddy has made the whole country proud after his sensational innings with the bat in the fourth game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The match between the teams is taking place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. 
Nitish Kumar Reddy slammed his maiden Test ton, and it came at a time when India was under massive pressure. The all-rounder looked in terrific touch with the bat and didn't put a foot wrong, which brought the Rohit Sharma-led side back in the game with his incredible effort. 
Almost every Indian fan, as well as the Indian players, stood up and applauded the batter for his innings. This was because, being the 21-year-old, the all-rounder was better than almost every Indian batter and racked up ton in front of his family.
While his family was in tears, a prominent figure in Indian cricket, Ravi Shastri, was also in tears. The former Indian head coach was commentating, and Nitish Kumar Reddy slammed his ton and was seen crying when the batter achieved his milestone. The video went viral, and you can see below the article. 
Coming to the match, India made a slight comeback on Day three of the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 after being dominated for two days. Overnight batters Rishabh Pant (28) and Ravindra Jadeja (17) did all the hard work in the first hour of day three after India resumed at 165 for five. 
However, after that both the batters perished with visitors under pressure at 221 for seven. It was then when Nitish Kumar Reddy (105*) and Washington Sundar (50) joined hands and bailed India out of trouble and put Australia under massive pressure. 
The Nitish-Washington duo added 127 runs to put Australia under pressure. While the Southpaw was back after a fifty, Nitish hit his maiden Test century as India ended Day three on high. At stumps, India was 358 for nine, trailing by 116 runs. 
The Indian team would be hoping that Nitish Kumar Reddy bats longer and helps his team reduce the deficit under 100. His innings tomorrow will be extremely important for the team in the context of the ongoing match.
Also read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gautam-gambhir-and-rohit-sharma-ordered-to-drop-mohammed-siraj-following-his-worst-performance-/">Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma ordered to drop Mohammed Siraj following his worst performance</a>
<h2>Watch: Ravi Shastri gets emotional as Nitish Kumar Reddy slams his maiden Test ton at MCG</h2>
Here is the video:

India batter Nitish Kumar Reddy has made the whole country proud after his sensational innings with the bat in the fourth game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Watch: Ravi Shastri left in tears as Nitish Kumar Reddy slams a magnificent century at MCG

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India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy achieved a massive feat after his sensational performance with the bat in the ongoing fourth Test against Australia. The right-hander became the third youngest player from India to hit a century in Australia. He joined the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant in the elite list.
Nitish Kumar Reddy came up with a blistering effort with the bat in Melbourne. When the chips were down, he came up with a magical effort and stood tall for his team when they needed him the most. The all-rounder bailed the team out of trouble and brought them back into the game. 
<h2>Nitish Kumar Reddy came to bat after India was under massive pressure</h2>
Nitish Kumar Reddy came to bat after India was under massive pressure, having lost both Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja early on Day two. The all-rounder proved his prowess with the bat as he hit the bowlers all over the park en route to his maiden century in the longest format of the game. 
Nitish Kumar Reddy showed great discipline and made sure that he took his team close to the total of Australia. His innings came at a time when India was facing the threat of follow-on as they had lost 7 wickets in no time, and the hosts were all over them. 
Nitish Reddy, along with Washington Sundar, made sure that India made a strong comeback and frustrated the Australian bowlers. While the left-hander slammed a glorious half-century, the right-hander went on to hit a blistering century in tough conditions. The duo together added 127 runs to stage the Indian comeback. 
Nitish Kumar Reddy, with his maiden ton, also became the first player from India to score a century in Australia while batting at No.8 in Tests. He would want to double his effort and take his team to a comfortable position. A lot of Indian hopes would be on him tomorrow, especially after his effort on day three.
Nitish was unbeaten at 105 runs at the stumps on Day three. He would be keen to add more runs to his tally and reduce the deficit under 100 runs, which is currently his 116 runs. It remains to be seen how much can he score on Day four.
Also read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gautam-gambhir-and-rohit-sharma-ordered-to-drop-mohammed-siraj-following-his-worst-performance-/">Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma ordered to drop Mohammed Siraj following his worst performance</a>

India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy achieved a massive feat after his sensational performance with the bat in the ongoing fourth Test against Australia.

Nitish Kumar Reddy scripts history; becomes third  youngest Indian player to…

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India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has dropped a bombshell statement about his battle with Australia batter Sam Konstas. He said that the batter was interesting, and he was enjoying the battle and is looking forward to the next innings of the match. 
Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the best bowler for India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, was made look clueless by the 19-year-old Sam Konstas. The Australia debutant tackled the 'Bumrah' challenge brilliantly as, according to him, the attack was the best option to counter his challenge.
Sam Konstas brought his T20 style in the Tests as he hit Jasprit Bumrah for sixes and boundaries all over the park. It wasn't conventional shots but the batter was at his unorthodox best as he played reverse scoops and hit the fast bowler for runs all over the park. 
Jasprit Bumrah was hit for two sixes by Sam Konstas and it marked the first instance since 2018 when the fast bowler was hit for two sixes in the match. The pacer was taken out of attack in the first spell till the time the batter was back in the hut. 
<h2>He is an interesting batter - I always felt, I was in the game, some days, it pays off - Jasprit Bumrah on his battle with Sam Konstas </h2>
Talking about his battle with Sam Konstas, Jasprit Bumrah claimed that he has experienced a lot in his career and while calling the batter interesting batter, he said that he felt he was always in the game. He also stressed that when the batter fails, he will be criticised a lot. Speaking to 7 Cricket, he explained: 
"I have experienced a lot - played T20I cricket for more than 12 years - He is an interesting batter - I always felt, I was in the game, some days, it pays off, it looks good - some days, it won't and you guys will be criticizing the same person - I love different challenges and looking forward to new challenges". 
Sam Konstas raced away to his half-century in the game and ended with an inning of 60 runs. He set a great platform for the Australia team which allowed them to post a massive first innings total of 474 runs on the board. 
Jasprit Bumrah, on the other picked a four-wicket haul and gave away 99 runs. This was the first time in his career that he was taken for this many runs. He would be looking for a strong response in the second innings.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/how-much-is-virat-kohli-s-match-fee-what-will-he-get-after-a-20-percent-penalty-at-the-mcg-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How much is Virat Kohli's match fee? What will he get after a 20 percent penalty at the MCG?</a>

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has dropped a bombshell statement about his battle with Australia batter Sam Konstas.

Jasprit Bumrah afraid of Sam Konstas? Fast bowler's 'interesting batter' comment goes viral

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Fierce-rivals Australia and India are currently taking on each other in the fourth Test-Match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and this match is being played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The superb performances of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar with the bat has helped the Men in Blue to get in a strong position on the 3rd day of the contest. 
From here on, the chances of Team India's win in the Melbourne Test have increased significantly. However, rain interruption was seen on the 3rd day of the contest and this has increased the threat of even more rain interruptions on the fourth and fifth days of the encounter. In this article, we will take a look at the weather reports of the fourth and fifth days of the fourth Test-Match which is currently being played in the city of Melbourne.
The third day of the Boxing-Day Test-Match was halted for some time due to rain after which the question started to raise among the fans that will the fourth and fifth days also get intervened by rainfall? Due to constant rainfall, the Gabba Test-Match ended as a draw. In such situation, keeping the World Test Championship Final qualification in mind for the Indian team, the rain can hamper their chances of qualifying for the title-deciding clash in June of next year. 
<h2>Weather forecast of the fourth and fifth days of the Melbourne Test-Match</h2>
According to the weather report of AccuWeather, the chances of rainfall intervening with the third day of the Melbourne Test-Match were 49% and rain intervened with the proceedings of the game too. But, no major impact was caused on the match by the intervention of the Weather Gods.
<h3>Weather Forecast on the fourth day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match</h3>
The chances of rain intervening with the Australia vs India match on the fourth day i.e 29th of December, Sunday are just two percent. The minimum temperature is anticipated to be between 14-25 degrees Celsius. At the same time, winds are expected to blow at a speed of 17km/h.
<h2>Weather Forecast on the 5th day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match</h2>
Talking about the fifth day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test, the rainfall interruption chances are pretty low, sitting at just 3%. The temperature is expected to be around 15 degrees Celsius with a maximum of 28 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the winds will be blowing at the speed of 15km/h. 
Both the weather forecast reports of both days are positive and this decreases the chances of the contest getting washed out due to rain and this is a positive news for the Men in Blue.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/will-rohit-sharma-retire-after-the-border-gavaskar-series-bcci-gives-a-huge-statement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Will Rohit Sharma retire after the Border-Gavaskar Series? BCCI gives a huge statement</a>

It was an overcast morning session at the MCG on the 3rd day of the fourth Test-Match between Australia and India | Image: Associated Press

Rain intervened with the proceedings of the match on the third day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match. So will the Rain Gods play spoilsport on the fourth and fifth days too? Let's find out

IND vs AUS 4th Test: Will the fourth and fifth days witness rain interruptions? Know the weather reports of both the days

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Indian Cricket Team's captain Rohit Sharma has been in poor form with the bat so far in the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series versus Australia. Playing as an opener, the 37-year-old got dismissed after scoring just three runs in the first inning and it was yet another failure for the Indian skipper versus the Mighty Aussies. His poor form has created a lot discussions regarding his retirement from Red-Ball Cricket. 
Through various Social Media platforms, a lot of claims are being made that Rohit is going to retire from the longest format of the game post the conclusion of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy series and the BCCI has come ahead and they have given a huge statement regarding the same.
Speaking to Insidesports regarding the possible retirement of Rohit, a BCCI official said, " There have been no discussions regarding the retirement of Rohit (Sharma). All of these are rumours and we don't prefer to respond on rumours. We are hearing these baseless rumours for the first time. It's upto him (Rohit) to decide whether we are in the middle of a Test-match or not. It's about winning matches."
<h2>The poor form of Rohit Sharma continues</h2>
The Indian skipper is currently having a tough time out there in the middle with the bat in Australia. If we take a look at his last 10 Test innings, he has managed to score just a single fifty. In the last 10 Test-innings, the 37-year old has scored 3, 10, 6, 3, 11, 18, 8, 0, 52 and 2 runs respectively. Even in the first inning of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test, the former Mumbai Indians captain got dismissed after scoring just three runs.
<h2>Rohit Sharma's Test career so far</h2>
37-year-old Rohit Sharma has taken part in 66 Test-matches so far in his career. In 114 innings of these contests, he has managed to score 4,289 runs at average of 41.24 with the help of 12 hundreds and 18 fifties with a highest score of 212 runs next to his name. It's worth noting that Sharma made his Test debut in 2013 versus the Windies. 
<h2>The captain himself is proving to be the weakling</h2>
A captain of a team is regarded as the most important and experienced player and their role is to rescue their team from difficult situations and lead them to victory. However, in the case of Rohit Sharma, he is proving to be the weakest link of the Men in Blue. 
His poor performances with the bat are proving to be problematic for the Indian Team and in the last 14 test innings, Rohit has managed to score just 155 runs at a horrendous average of 10.07 which includes just a single half-century.The score of 52 runs has been his best score and besides that, the 37-year-old has not managed to cross the 20 runs mark even once.
Do Read<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-cricket-champions-trophy-2025-schedule-teams-fixtures-full-squads-time-table/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">: ICC Cricket Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule, Teams, Fixtures, Full Squads, &amp; Time Table</a>

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma walks back to the pavilion after getting dismissed for yet another low score | Image: Associated Press

Rohit Sharma's repeated poor performances with the bat have raised questions regarding his place in the team and many experts and Indian fans want him to retire from Test Cricket

Will Rohit Sharma retire after the Border-Gavaskar Series? BCCI gives a huge statement

will-rohit-sharma-retire-after-the-border-gavaskar-series-bcci-gives-a-huge-statement

The time is ticking for India captain Rohit Sharma in Test cricket. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that the opening batter is all set to play his last match in red-ball cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which will be the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, provided few conditions. 
Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar is in Melbourne, and he will soon be having a conversation with Rohit Sharma related to his future in Tests. As per the reports, if India fails to reach the final of the series, then the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will be the last match for India's captain.
This comes after Rohit Sharma's struggles in the Test cricket of last. In the last 8 games, the opening batter has scored just 155 runs at an average of 11.07 and his struggles are visible in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he has managed just 22 runs from 5 innings. 
After playing two games in the middle order, Rohit Sharma moved back to the top order in the ongoing Melbourne Test. However, the move didn't pay off, as the skipper was back in the hut after facing just 5 balls. He attempted a half-hearted pull shot and was caught by Scott Boland with ease. 
<h2> Rohit Sharma felt uncomfortable while batting in the middle order in the second and third Test matches</h2>
The reports also added that Rohit Sharma felt uncomfortable while batting in the middle order in the second and third Test matches. However, to accommodate him back as an opener, Shubman Gill was dropped from the team for the ongoing game as Washington Sundar replaced him as an all-rounder. 
With their place for the ICC World Test Championship very far away, it is fair to say Rohit Sharma won't be playing any more Tests after the ongoing game. To make it into the final, India will have to win both the remaining games. However, with the way things are going in the ongoing match, Australia look like clear favourites. 
There also have been some other sections of reports that have claimed that a big announcement will be around the corner after the Melbourne Test concludes. It is learned that there will be some big news coming from Indian cricket, especially if the team loses the game. 
If the reports related to Rohit Sharma's retirement after the Sydney Test are true, it's safe to say that the batter will have a great opportunity to turn things around in the remaining three innings. If he sets the stage on fire in three innings, chances are he will continue leading the team.
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As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that Rohit Sharma is all set to play his last match in red-ball cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground