Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: The time has come when the hype of the India vs Australia Test rivalry fires up the global cricket enthusiast. Ponting has kicked off the chain event with his bold statement of the prediction of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 where INDIA vs AUSTRALIA fight in a multi-match bilateral Test series. 



Unlike the other cricketing events between India and Australia, India have enjoyed a far better dominance over Australia in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Be it home series, or away, India had the upper hand, and especially in the last four series, the Men in Blue have won all four series 2-1.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2023/02/Rohit-Sharma-Pat-Cummins.jpg" alt="India vs Australia 3rd test likely to be shifted out of Dharmshala over concerns of relaid outfield: Reports" class="wp-image-102181" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rohit Sharma and Pat Cummins | Image: AP</figcaption></figure>



The BCCI and Cricket Australia came to an agreement to extend the four-match test series to a five-match Test series and from now onwards, the two teams will play five test matches every two years for sure and this year, the two teams will take bout in December and January.



Now, the ICC Hall of Fame and Former Australian Captain have made an early call for the winner of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Though the two teams are highly competitive in nature and have often shown their rigid character, Ponting thinks his home team is going to take the series one-sided.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ponting on Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Winner</h3>



During a recent episode of The ICC Review, Ponting discussed his forecasts for the series while chatting with host Sanjana Ganesan. He said "I'm obviously going to tip Australia to win and I'm never going to tip against Australia. There will be a draw somewhere and there will be some bad weather somewhere, so I'm going to say 3-1 to Australia."



He confidently went with Australia and before that, he even showed the weight of the Gravitas of the two teams in test cricket while putting his support to Australia. He also emphasized on a note that 'Australia got a point to prove'.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2020/12/Australia-vs-India-1st-Test-2020.jpg" alt="Cricket Australia released the schedule for Aussie Home Summer 2021-22 Season" class="wp-image-23154" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Australian Cricket Team</figcaption></figure>



"It's going to be a competitive series and as I said I think Australia's got a bit of a point to prove against India in Australia on the back of what's happened the last the last two series here," he added.



He also liked the idea of a 5-match Test series and said "We are back to five Tests as well, which is the other really important thing about this series. It?s only been four Tests the last couple of times. Five tests, I think everyone's really excited by that and I don't know if there'd be too many drawn games."



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However, if we take a look at the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India have won it as many as 11 times out of 16 while Australia has 5 trophies on their cabinet. 



When we come to the matches, Australia do have better numbers but not better than India. Out of a total of 56 matches played between these two nations in the BGT, India have won 24 matches and Australia won 20 while 12 ended in a draw. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2021/12/Border-Gavaskar-Trophy-1.jpg" alt="India-Australia Border Gavaskar Trophy to be expanded to five test matches in next FTP cycle" class="wp-image-82291" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: Twitter</figcaption></figure>



The series is scheduled to be played in the last month of the year and we can just wait for the results.



READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-world-test-championship-points-table-latest-updated-after-wi-vs-sa-1st-test/">ICC World Test Championship Points Table Latest Updated After WI vs SA 1st Test</a><div></div><div class="tdb-author-name-wrap" style="align-items: baseline"></div><div></div>



SOURCE: <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/news/ponting-provides-series-prediction-for-border-gavaskar-trophy">ICC OFFICIAL</a>

"BGT 3-1 to..." Ponting Makes Early Prediction for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 | India vs Australia Tests

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Indian Cricket Team won the first match of the five-match Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 by a comprehensive margin of 295 runs. At the start of the series, everyone was downplaying India and terming the Aussies as favourites given that India was coming on the back of a 3-0 whitewash suffered at home against New Zealand. However, India came back strongly after being dismissed for 150 runs batting first in the first innings.
Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar remarked that there was considerable discussion in the Australian media regarding the legality of the catch by Suryakumar Yadav during the T20 World Cup final. He questioned the basis on which Australians, from their own country, could doubt whether Suryakumar’s feet had touched the ground. Gavaskar in a rare feat self-praised himself to be the root cause of the motivation Team India received due to his criticisms which led them to a famous BGT comeback after a home series sweep. 
“Now remember that Suryakumar Yadav catch in the T20 World Cup final. There were so many things being written in the media in Australia that questioned the legality of that catch. How can you, sitting right here in Australia, question if Suryakumar’s feet touched the ground? That is why our team showed that we are a side [that] will thrash you in this series,” stated Gavaskar, as quoted by India Today.
<h2 dir="ltr">Sunil Gavaskar feels that India always comes up hard in the Perth Test</h2>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunil_Gavaskar">Sunil Gavaskar</a> after the Perth win for India, claimed that often such wins are followed by immense criticism on Australian media. He recalled the 2008 Perth win under Anil Kumble, where the clash between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh led to an immense media scare, followed by India’s win. 
He draws a parallel to the current series, suggesting that once again, after facing criticism from the Australian media, India has emerged victorious in Perth.
“I remember India’s win at Perth in the 2007–08 series came right after that controversy between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds, which was followed by criticism from the Australian media. So that win in Perth, and the win this time (also in Perth), it shows that each time it’s the Australian media that goes against India,” he added.
India will now face Australia in the second Test match at the Adelaide Oval, which will be a Day/Night Test match with the Pink Ball. The last time around in the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide in BGT 2020-21, India was dismissed for 36 runs and registered their lowest total in a Test innings. The team needs to win four Test matches to have a chance of qualifying for the WTC final without depending on others.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/the-ipl-auction-day-2-sees-its-first-major-jump-a-pacers-day-out-bhuvneshwar-kumar-sold-for-inr-10-75-crores-to-rcb/" title="IPL mega-auction sees a huge surge in bids">IPL mega-auction sees a huge surge in bids for Indian pacers</a>

Sunil Gavaskar makes his bold claim on India's results in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Sunil Gavaskar credits his criticism as one of the biggest motivations received by the Indian team, which helped them secure a splendid victory at Perth after their dismayed performance in the home series against the Blackcaps.

The Indian Cricket Team won the first match of the five-match Test series against Australia, and Gavaskar has a bold claim to make considering the amazing start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

IND vs AUS: “We are a side [that] will thrash you in this series”, Sunil Gavaskar makes a huge prediction on the BGT 2024/25

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IND vs AUS: Nitish Kumar Reddy earned his Test debut in the opening match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. From there onwards, he has not looked behind and has been a revelation down the order with the bat. He has batted at number seven and has been the fourth seamer in the side. Reddy has scored 163 runs in four innings so far at an average of 54.33 and a strike-rate of 87.17. He has also picked up two wickets with the ball.

India won the first Test match in Perth but lost the second in Adelaide against the Pink Ball. So, there are expected to be some changes going into the third Test in Brisbane starting on December 14. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar remarked that Nitish Kumar Reddy possesses exceptional batting talent, which is evident. He suggested that Reddy’s talent might even improve when facing higher-quality bowling. Manjrekar also noted that while Reddy hasn’t scored many runs in first-class cricket, his rare batting talent is unmistakable.

<h2 dir="ltr">What did Sanjay Manjrekar say about Nitish Kumar Reddy?</h2>
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“Exceptional batting talent there, and you can see it. Maybe the kind of batting talent that gets better with higher-quality bowling. He hasn’t got many runs in first-class cricket, but you can see the rare batting talent there,” he commented.

Manjrekar stated that India needs to consider the balance of their team. He pointed out that they must work on sharpening their bowling while also addressing their batting concerns. He acknowledged that Nitish has shown some promise recently. He also mentioned that someone had suggested playing Nitish purely as a batter, but he felt this could be a bit risky and perhaps premature.

“India also has to think about the balance of the team. India also have to look to make their bowling sharper along with solving the batting issues. Nitish has shown some spark at the moment. Somebody suggested, what about playing him as a pure batter in the side. Bit risky, bit too early”, he added.

Team India lost the second Test in Adelaide by 10 wickets and might bring in Akash Deep in Brisbane. However, it remains to be seen if they bring him in for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitish_Kumar_Reddy">Nitish Kumar Reddy</a> or Harshit Rana. Gabba is one of the fastest and bounciest wickets in the world. So, it might be an all-pace attack in the next test.

ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/Michael-Vaughan-suggests-a-new-idea-to-revolutionize-Test-cricket/"> Ex-English captain suggests new idea to revolutionize test cricket </a>

IND vs AUS: Former India cricketer wants Nitish Kumar Reddy to be dropped in Brisbane despite stellar performances

Ex-Indian cricketer and analyst Sanjay Manjrekar recently startled all with the remark of not considering Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing 11 for the upcoming BGT fixture at the Gabba.

IND vs AUS: “Bit risky, bit too early”, Former India cricketer wants Nitish Kumar Reddy to be dropped in Brisbane despite stellar performances

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The third Test-Match of the currently ongoing 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy five-match Teat-Series between fierce-rivals India and Australia is slated to be played at the iconic Gabba Cricket Stadium of Brisbane. The Gabba Test-Match will start from Saturday, 14th of December onwards. 
Earlier, the Indian Cricket Team had faced a crushing defeat in the 2nd Test-Match of the series which was played in the city of Adelaide. In such a situation, if the third Test-Match in Brisbane gets washed out due to rain, then it's gonna prove to be a big loss for the Men in Blue. In this article, we will be taking a look at the weather-forecast of all five days of the Gabba Test-Match. 
<h2>There's a big possibility of rain intervening with the match on all five days</h2>
According to the weather-report of Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology, rain is expected on all five days of the Gabba contest. The least rain is anticipated on the fourth day of the contest i.e 30%. So let's take a look at the weather -forecast of all five days

<h3>First Day</h3>
There is a possibility of maximum 50 percent rainfall on the first day. The minimum temperature on the first day is expected to be around 23 degrees Celsius and the maximum can be 31 degrees Celsius. During this time, winds are anticipated to blow at a speed of 15-20 km per hour. 

<h3>Second Day </h3>
There is a 40 percent chance of rain on the second day. The minimum temperature on the second day can be 23 degrees and the maximum can be 31 degrees. The wind can blow at a speed of about 15 to 20 km per hour. 

<h3>Third Day </h3>
There is a possibility of 40 percent rain on the third day as well. The minimum temperature on this day can be 22 degrees and the maximum can be 31 degrees. 
<h3></h3>
<h3>Fourth Day</h3>
There is a possibility of at least 30 percent rainfall on the fourth day. The minimum temperature on the fourth day can be 23 degrees and the maximum can be 30 degrees. 
<h3>Day Five</h3>
40 percent rainfall is expected on the fifth day. On the fifth and last day, the minimum temperature can be 23 degrees and maximum 30 degrees. During this time, the wind can blow at a speed of about 15 to 20 km per hour.
<h1></h1>
<h2>All eyes will be on the fast-bowlers of both teams</h2>
If rain intervenes with the proceedings of the Gabba Test-Match, then both teams would be looking to give preference to their fast-bowlers in their Playing XI. The Pacers can take good advantage of the moving ball in overcast conditions. It's going to be really interesting to see which team ends up securing a victory in the rough and highly anticipated Gabba Test-Match. 

Do Read:

Rain is expected to interrupt with the Gabba Test-Match between India and Australia | Image: Getty Images

The third Test-Match between fierce-rivals India and Australia will be played at the iconic Gabba Cricket Stadium in Brisbane. The chances of rain intervening with the match are quite high on all five days of the Gabba Test-Match.

IND vs AUS 3rd Test Weather Forecast: Will the Gabba Test-Match face rain interruptions? Know the weather report of all five-days

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The third match of the five-match Test-Series between Australia and India under the name of 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) will be played at the iconic Gabba Cricket Ground of Brisbane from 14th of December onwards. The series is currently tied at 1-1. In the first match played in Perth, India registered a big win by 265 runs. In the second Test, Australia made a spectacular comeback and defeated India by 10 wickets.
Heading into this highly exciting encounter, both the teams would be looking to take advantage of each other's weaknesses. The Indian Cricket Team had previously defeated the Kangaroos in their previous meeting at this ground and they would be looking to secure their 2nd successive victory at the Gabba Stadium. The Mighty Australians on the other hand were definitely not happy with their defeat at this stadium last time around and they would be looking to settle the score versus the Rohit Sharma-led team. 
<h2>IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Pitch-Report of the Gabba Cricket Stadium</h2>
If we talk about the pitch of Brisbane's Gabba Stadium, then fast bowlers have dominated this ground. Batsmen are seen struggling to score runs on a fast and bouncy pitch. The bounce of the pitch is so accurate that batsmen struggle to play their shots freely but once they settle down at the crease, they feel confident in playing shots. A total of 68 Test matches have been played on this ground so far, in which the team batting first won has won in 26 matches, while the team batting later won 27 matches. The average first inning score innings at this ground is 327 runs.
<h2>India vs Australia: Head-2-Head Record in the longest format of the game</h2>
Fierce-rivals Australia and India have squared off versus each other in 109 Test-Cricket matches. Out of these 109 contests, the Men in Blue have reigned supreme on 33 occasions whereas the Kangaroos have secured victories 46 times. 29 matches between the two teams have ended in a draw while one contest ended as a tie.
<h2>IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Live-Streaming Details of the contest</h2>
Indian Cricket Teams can tune into the Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1-HD channels to watch the English live telecast of the Gabba Test-Match in the morning. For the Hindi Commentary fans, the match will also be telecasted on the Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Hindi HD channels. In terms of OTT Streaming, fans can watch the match on the application and website of Disney + Hotstar.
<h2>IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Best Dream 11 team option for the Gabba Test-Match</h2>
<h3>Wicketkeeper- Rishabh Pant</h3>
<h3>Batters - Travis Head, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli</h3>
<h3>All-rounders – Nathan McSweeney, Ravi Ashwin, Nitesh Kumar Reddy and Mitchell Marsh</h3>
<h3>Bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc</h3>

Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the wicket of Australia's Nathan McSweeney | Image: Cricket Australia

Australian bowlers have attacked both the teams with bounce and seam so far and the pitch is expected to have good seam here too. Rohit and Kohli have no shortage of talent, but their form is not supporting them at the moment.

IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Dream 11 teams, H2H Record, Live-Streaming Details and more

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As concerns over India's pace bowling unit continue in the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, veteran Mohammed Shami's inclusion in the squad has not been finalised yet. Active talks are going for making the pacer play in the final two Test-Matches of the five-match series. 
But, the BCCI is not fully confident about the fitness levels of the 34-year-old seamer. When asked whether there are any chances of Shami getting recalled to the Indian squad for the remaining contests versus Australia, Rohit Sharma didn't specify whether the player would join the squad or not. 
The Indian skipper's response was simply that all doors open for Shami to make his much-awaited return to the National setup. The demand for the 34-year-old's inclusion in the squad came after the Men in Blue's poor performance in the Adelaide Pink-Ball Test-Match.
In Adelaide, where the Australian trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland destroyed the Indian Cricket Team with the ball, only Jasprit Bumrah proved to be lone positive for the Rohit Sharma-led team. The duo of Suraj and Harshit Rana didn't have a good game and underperformed. 
Captain Rohit Sharma had earlier confirmed that Shami has suffered a fresh knee injury while playing for Bengal in the ongoing 2024 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, it's not clear yet how serious his injury is. The fast-bowler has also played Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal this year. 
Some news reports have also suggested that Rohit and Shami got involved in a heated-arguement regarding a statement given by the former on the pacer's fitness. The Men in Blue will be taking on the Mighty Australians in the third Test-Match at the iconic Gabba Cricket Ground in Brisbane from the 14th of November onwards. The series is currently tied at 1-1 and Rohit Sharma &amp; CO would have to win this upcoming encounter by all means possible if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for the WTC Final alive.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-aus-3rd-test-dream-11-teams-h2h-record-live-streaming-details-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Dream 11 teams, H2H Record, Live-Streaming Details and more</a>

Mohammed Shami is bowling well in Domestic Cricket | Image: PTI

Mohammed Shami of India has not been included in the squad for the ongoing BGT 2024 series versus Australia yet despite him proving his fitness in the 2024 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Time is running out and the Indian management will have to take a quick call.

Should Mohammed Shami get included in the squad vs Australia? Team India don't have a trustable bowler and they haven't taken a final call yet

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The third Test-Match of the ongoing 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently being played at the iconic Gabba Cricket Ground of Brisbane, in which Indian Cricket Team's nightmare Travis Head has once again become a headache for Rohit Sharma &amp; CO. The Southpaw once again faced the Indian bowlers in a brave manner and scored a phenomenal hundred in 115 deliveries. 
<h2>Head celebrated his century in style</h2>
This century has also helped the 30-year-old to create a unique record in his name. Head has become the first player in the history of the game to score a century and bag a King-Pair (golden duck in both innings of a Test-Match) in the same Cricket Ground in the same calendar year. 
<img alt="Travis Head celebrates his century with Steven Smith, Australia vs India, 3rd Test, Brisbane, 2nd day, December 15, 2024" class="ds-rounded-xl" src="https://img1.hscicdn.com/image/upload/f_auto,t_ds_w_1200,q_50/lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/393000/393039.jpg" width="291" height="437" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
The destructive batter celebrated his century in his trademark celebration style, resting his helmet on the handle of the bat. He brought up his ton on the third delivery of the 69th over of the first Australian inning by hitting Bumrah's low full-toss delivery towards the wide mid-on region for three runs.
The 30-year-old then even want on to cross the 150 runs mark but was eventually dismissed after playing a wonderful knock of 152 runs in 160 deliveries at a strike-rate of 92 in the 1st inning of the Gabba Test-Match versus the Indians. He got out off the bowling of Indian Vice-Captain Jasprit Bumrah.
<h2>A unique record in the name of Travis Head</h2>
This ton in the Gabba Test-Match versus the Men in Blue gave Travis Head a special place in the history of the sport as he became the first batter to bag double golden ducks in both the innings of a test (King-Pair) and score a hundred at the iconic Gabba Cricket Stadium in the same calendar year. This feat has never been accomplished before, due to which Head's name was recorded in Cricket's record books. 
In the Pink-Ball Test-Match versus the Windies at the Gabba Cricket Stadium in early 2024, the 30-year-old had been dismissed on the very first ball in both innings. In the 1st inning, experienced seamer Kemar Roach dismissed him for a golden duck while in the 2nd inning, youngster Shamar Joseph clean bowled him on the first ball. The Windies went on to win that contest by a small margin of eight runs.
<h3>List of batters who have scored a century and bagged King-Pairs at the same stadium</h3>
1. Wazir Mohammad of Pakistan, in Port of Spain in the year 1958
2. Alvin Kallicharran of West Indies, in Port of Spain in the year 1974
3.Marvan Atapattu of Sri Lanka, in Colombo in the year 2001
4.Ramnaresh Sarwan of West Indies, in Kingston in the year 2004
5. Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh, in Chittagong in the year 2004
6.Travis Head of Australia, in Brisbane in the year 2024.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/top-5-batters-with-most-100s-in-border-gavaskar-trophy-bgt/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 5 batters with most 100s in Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT)</a>

Travis Head of Australia celebrates his century in the Gabba Test-Match versus India | Image: Cricket Australia

Travis Head has once again shown his flair in the Gabba Test-Match against India. He has also made a unique record in cricket history by scoring a brilliant century.

IND vs AUS: Travis Head achieves a big  milestone after scoring a century at Gabba, becomes the 1st  Cricketer in the world to do so

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Destructive left-handed Australian batsman Travis Head has proven to be a constant headache for the Indian Cricket Team be it in T20 Internationals, One Day Internationals or Test-Matches. He never fails to deliver versus Team India. 
Former Indian Cricketer Mohammad Kaif asked the other whether the Men in Blue have found a solution to get rid of Head Or not, who single-handedly led the Aussies to victory with a hundred in the 2023 WTC Final, 2023 ODI World Cup Final, the Adelaide Test-Match and most recently the Gabba Test-Match too. Kaif also went on to question why the Rohit Sharma-led Team have failed to find the weaknesses of Head just as their opponents have found ways to get rid of Virat Kohli. 
Let's take a look at what the stats say and see what kind of strategies the Indian Cricket Team should use to prevent Head from becoming a nightmare in the remaining Tests as well. 

<h2>Offside Trap</h2>
Travis Head has a tendency of getting hit by balls that come to the 4th and 5th stumps at the beginning of the inning. The 30-year-old, who is also a great off-side player, will also play these same balls well once he gets set at the crease. Therefore, statistics say that if at the first 10 deliveries of the inning are bowled to him on the fourth or fifth stumps line, then there's a bigger chance of dismissing Head.
<h2>The weapon known as the bouncer</h2>
Another area where Travis Head has a weakness is the the short-pitched deliveries which hit the body. The 30-year-old, who played a magnificent inning of 140 runs in 141 deliveries in the first inning in the Adelaide test, has faced a total of just five bouncers in total. While he has an average of 55 versus the short balls, the figures show that this drops to 20 for short-pitched deliveries which hit the body. 
But on short-pitched deliveries that miss the target, the average of the 30-year-old increases to 83.5. If the ball pitches outside the off-stump, the average sees a significant increase to 173. Thus, if you know how to execute proper bouncers, If you don't follow the accurate line and length, then there's a chance of retaliation shown by Head. 
In the Adelaide Test-Match, a total of 34 short-pitched deliveries were bowled to Head by the Indian bowlers, but majority of them were in the outside off-stump region. Only five of them were hitting the body and the balls bowled outside off were also smashed for boundaries by the Southpaw. 
<h2>Prevent runs, know yorkers</h2>
The third strategy to keep Head safe is to block easy runs. Along with that, try yorkers. Head was dismissed by Siraj's yorker in Adelaide and Harshit Rana's yorker in the first innings in Perth. Earlier this year, when West Indies defeated Australia at the Gabba, Shamar Joseph also dismissed Head with a yorker. But even there, if there is no accuracy, if the over is pitched or full, Head will be hit.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/Rohit-Sharmas-poor-captaincy-exposed-as-for-the-first-time-since-201415-Australia-achieves-the-rare-feat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rohit Sharma's poor captaincy exposed as for the first time since 2014/15 Australia achieves the rare </a>feat

Travis Head of Australia continued to be a nightmare for the Indian Cricket Team in the 2024 BGT Series | Image: Getty Images

How can Team India get rid of their nightmare Travis Head? Aussie batter loves to toy with Indian bowlers

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India pacer Akash Deep brought his best with the ball in the ongoing third Test against Australia. The fast bowler oozed his class at the Brisbane in Gabba, which is known as the happy hunting ground of the Pat Cummins-led side. 
In what was an enthralling day of Test cricket, India almost saved the Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane. They came up with a fighting effort with the bat and avoided the follow-on going into the last day, thanks to the effort of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep. 
The start of day four didn't go the way India wanted, as they resumed at 51 for four. Skipper Rohit Sharma was the first wicket to fall as Pat Cummins had his number for the 6th time in Test cricket. But it came as a blessing in disguise for India. 
This is because, after that, KL Rahul (84) and Ravindra Jadeja (77) came up with a valiant effort that brought India back in the game. The Rahul-Jadeja duo stitched 67 runs for the sixth wicket before Nitish Kumar Reddy supported Jadeja as the duo added 53 runs for the seventh wicket, and it seemed India would avoid the follow-on. 
Australia made a strong comeback, and it seemed they would warp up the Indian innings before the follow-on score of 245. But Akash Deep (27*) and Jasprit Bumrah (10*) came up with a magical effort with the bat as they batted incredibly well and avoided the follow-on. They added unbeaten 39 runs before bad light forced umpires to take stumps on Day 4 
Akash Deep, in particular, looked solid with the bat. He showed great courage and fought hard as he slowly ticked in the scorecard and ensured India avoided the follow-on. As he went past 245 runs, he applied salt on the wounds of Australian bowlers with a massive six to Pat Cummins. 
<h2>Akash Deep shines with bat, slams Pat Cummins for a massive six, makes KL Rahul awestruck</h2>
Akash Deep went for a slog to full delivery by Pat Cummins. He timed the ball to perfection as the ball went on to land into the stands. This made the entire Indian dressing stand and applaud him, but the epic reaction came from KL Rahul, who was sitting in the dugout. 
The batter was seen saying B******d in acknowledgement as the ball went into the stands. Akash Deep ended the Day with a score of 27 runs off 31 balls. He and Bumrahadded 39 runs partnership. 
Here's the video:
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THE SHOW-STOPPER AKASH DEEP!

India pacer Akash Deep brought his best with the ball in the ongoing third Test against Australia.

Watch: KL Rahul yells, B****c**d as Akash Deep whacks Pat Cummins for a massive six

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The Indian Cricket Team is preparing itself for a massive overhaul. Reports have emerged that more players are gonna follow suit after the retirement of Ravi Ashwin. Ashwin's unexpected decision of retiring came immediately after the Gabba Test-Match ended in a draw. There are indications which suggest that the Indian team management asked the off-spinner, who will ne turning 39 years old soon, to consider retiring and that's why the CSK spinner decided to hang up his Cricketing boots midway through the 2024 BGT series with two contests still remaining. 
Rumours say that Virat Kohli might retire from tests following the conclusion of the ongoing 2024 Border Gavaskar Trophy series but this claim has been completely rubbished by Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma. He said that the former Indian skipper will carry on with Team India for the next five years. 
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"He (Virat) is a player who loves playing the sport of Cricket. He always gives his best for the Indian Team and excels in crucial situations. He can surely go on to score two more hundreds in the ongoing series versus the Australians and Fans will surely see Virat in the squad of Team India for 2027 ODI World Cup," Rajkumar said.
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Virat and skipper Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20 Internationals following the conclusion of the 2024 T20i World Cup, are struggling to play well in the BGT series. More senior players are anticipated to announce their retirements from the longest format of the game before the beginning of the Tour of England in June-July of next year. 
With the Men in Blue's next Test-Series set to take place in June of next year after the end of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rohit's performance with the bat in the remaining two Test-Matches versus the Aussies will play an important role in extending his career in the longest format of the game. 
Kohli on the other hand, has performed in a decent manner in Test Cricket in the last five years and despite going on to score a century in the Perth Test-Match, him getting dismissed constantly outside the off-stump, have seen criticisms from Indian fans and experts. There are also chances that the duo of Virat &amp; Rohit are likely to call time on their One Day International careers after the end of the 2025 Champions Trophy in February.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-confirms-hybrid-model-for-champions-trophy-2025-pcb-gets-women-s-t20-world-cup-2028-hosting-rights-in-compensation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICC confirms 'Hybrid' model for Champions Trophy 2025; PCB gets Women's T20 World Cup 2028 hosting rights in compensation</a>

Virat Kohli of India didn't have a good outing with the bat in the Adelaide Test-Match versus the Australians | Image: Getty Images

A massive update has been provided on Virat Kohli's future with the Indian Cricket Team by his childhood coach. Kohli has struggled to perform well with the bat in the longest format of the game since the last five years and many reports have emerged that he may retire from Test Cricket post the end of the 2024 BGT series.

Kohli will continue to play! He will play for atleast five more years for India; Childhood coach provides a massive update

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IND vs ENG: Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his playing XI for the first T20I against England. The match between the two teams is all set to take place on Wednesday (22nd January) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
India and England will be locking horns with each other in the five-match T20I series. Both teams have a mixed combination of seniors and youngsters in the team, and with the way they have played of late, it's fair to say that it will be an exciting series to watch. 
Coming to the first T20I, Ravichandran Ashwin backed Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to open the innings for the team. The duo has been doing a decent job together as an opener and would be hoping to carry on the same form in the upcoming first match. 
Sanju Samson was at his exceptional best in the T20Is last year as he slammed three tons. While on the other hand, Abhishek Sharma hasn't been able to maintain consistency. Hence the series will be extremely important for him with the bat. 
At No.3, Ravichandran Ashwin picked Tilak Varma. The left-hander oozed his class with the bat in the last series against South Africa. He batted at No.3 and slammed two back-to-back centuries. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, as per Ashwin, will bat at No.4.
Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel are the three all-rounders picked by Ravichandran Ashwin in his Indian XI for the first IND vs ENG T20I. They are expected to play a major role with the bat and ball. 
Rinku Singh also has been picked by Ravichandran Ashwin in his Indian XI for the first IND vs ENG team. He will be taking the role of finisher while there was no place for Ravi Bishnoi, who hard has put a foot wrong in his T20I career. Varun Chakravarthy will be there as per Ashwin. 
Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh are the two fast bowlers picked by Ravichandran Ashwin for the first IND vs ENG XI. Shami will be making his comeback to the team after a year, while Arshdeep will be keen to make an impact. 
<h2>IND vs ENG: Ravichandran Ashwin's Indian XI for the first T20I </h2>
Here's Ravichandran Ashwin's Indian XI for the first T20I 
Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/arshdeep-singh-on-the-verge-become-the-greatest-indian-fast-bowler-in-t20is-/#google_vignette">Arshdeep Singh on the verge become the greatest Indian fast bowler in T20Is</a>

Ravichandran Ashwin names India XI for first IND vs ENG T20I {PC:X}

India and England will be locking horns with each other in the five-match T20I series

IND vs ENG: Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his playing XI for the first T20I against England.

IND vs ENG: Ravichandran Ashwin picks his Indian XI for the first T20I against England, no place for Ravi Bishnoi

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali talked about the delay in the squad of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for the Pakistan team. He said that it might look like they are scared of announcing the team, but it seems that they don't know what to do. 
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is around the corner and all the teams have named their squad for the tournament except the hosts Pakistan. The Men in Green are yet to announce the team even though the deadline of 12th January has already been surpassed by a long margin. 
India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have all revealed their squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This has made many speculate about why Pakistan isn't announcing their squad for the tournament, which is less than one month away. 
There have been several reports that Pakistan will be announcing their squad for the tournament soon. They are awaiting the fitness of a few players, and hence, they will soon be naming the team. Some reports also have revealed the players who will be playing, but an official announcement is yet to come. 
<h2>Pakistan kya darr gaya jo abhi tak team announce nahi ki? Nahi dara nahi hai. Samajh nahi aa rahi hai - Basit Ali </h2>
Amid all this, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali commented on the same, saying that no one knows what is happening. He speculated that they might be waiting for the fitness report on Saim Ayub. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained: 
"Pakistan kya darr gaya jo abhi tak team announce nahi ki? Nahi dara nahi hai. Samajh nahi aa rahi hai -- karein to kya karein? (Is Pakistan scared to announce their squad? No, it isn't, just unsure what to do and what not). The biggest issue is whether Saim Ayub can return fit or not. It's still not clear." 
It remains to be seen when will Pakistan announce the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is all set to take place from 19th February, with the final all set to be played on 9th March.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/can-delhi-capitals-win-ipl-2025-kl-rahul-or-axar-patel-who-could-be-the-next-leader-of-capitals-/#google_vignette"> </a><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/can-delhi-capitals-win-ipl-2025-kl-rahul-or-axar-patel-who-could-be-the-next-leader-of-capitals-/#google_vignette">Can Delhi Capitals win IPL 2025? KL Rahul or Axar Patel, who could be the Next Leader of Capitals?</a>

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is yet to be announced {PC:X}

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali talked about the delay in the squad of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for the Pakistan team.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is around the corner and all the teams have named their squad for the tournament except the hosts Pakistan.

"Pakistan darr gaya"- PCB attacked as they are yet to announce ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the jersey controversy ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This comes after the Indian governing body refused to write 'Pakistan' on their kits for the tournament. 
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is all set to be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is scheduled to begin on 19th February. The preparations for the tournament are on, and the ICC and the PCB are taking every step possible to make sure that everything is right on track. 
However, a controversy recently erupted after BCCI refused to write Pakistan on their jersey for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Notably, every participating nation, as per the ICC policy, has to write the name of the host nation below the logo of the tournament on their jersey. 
After BCCI refused to sport it, Pakistan Cricket Board officials made a strong statement, saying that BCCI is trying to use politics in every matter. He, however, mentioned that they are hopeful that ICC will support them and India will be asked to write the name of the jersey on their kits for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
<h2>It is the responsibility of every team to add the tournament logo to their jerseys - ICC official </h2>
Following this, BCCI also reacted, and the insider from the governing body said that since they are playing in Dubai, it isn't mandatory for them to wear the 'Pakistan written jersey'. The BCCI also stressed that they didn't write Pakistan's name on the podium of the Trophy tours as well. 
Amid all this, ICC has come up with a strong response for the BCCI. An ICC official mentioned that it is the responsibility of the host nation to add the tournament logo to their jersey. He stated: 
"It is the responsibility of every team to add the tournament logo to their jerseys. All teams are obligated to comply with this rule," an ICC official said as per A-Sports, as quoted by NDTV. 
Not only this, it is learned that the ICC also warned BCCI that they would be taking strict action if they didn't wear the Pakistan-written jersey during the tournament.
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Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/from-virat-kohli-to-shubman-gill-check-when-big-indian-players-played-the-last-domestic-match/">From Virat Kohli to Shubman Gill: Check when big Indian players played the last domestic match</a>
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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is all set to be hosted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is scheduled to begin on 19th February.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a warning to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the jersey controversy ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

ICC launches attack at BCCI over jersey controversy, gives 'Strict action' warning for not wearing 'Pakistan' printed kits

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India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh is all set to achieve the most massive feat in the history of T20I cricket in the upcoming T20I series against England. The series between the teams will begin on 22nd January at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. 
Arshdeep Singh is just 5 wickets away from becoming the first Indian bowler to pick 100 wickets in the T20Is. With India set to play a five-match T20I series against England, it is expected that the pacer will be achieving the feat in the upcoming series. 
This comes as a remarkable feat because Arshdeep Singh made his debut during 2022, and to reach to 100 wickets within the span of around 2 years is staggering. The left-arm pacer has been nothing short of exceptional in the T20 format and is one of the most consistent performers with the ball for the team. 
Arshdeep Singh has been sensational with the new ball as well as in death. In the last few years, he has proved to be the biggest match-winner for India in T20Is. The pacer has won many games for the team on his own and will be keen to carry on the same form in the upcoming series. 
<h2>Arshdeep Singh was one of the major reasons behind India winning the T20 World Cup 2024</h2>
Arshdeep Singh was one of the major reasons behind India winning the T20 World Cup 2024.  He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the series with 17 wickets to his name as he oozed his class with both new ball and old ball, helping India to end their title drought.
Arshdeep Singh will be extremely important for India in the upcoming T20I series against England. The pacer will be key for the team alongside Mohammed Shami, who will be making his comeback to the team after a long injury break. The duo will be leading the attack for the team. 
With the kind of performances that he has displayed, Arshdeep Singh is likely to play all five games in the series. It won't be a surprise if he gets to 100 wickets in the first two games of the series against England.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/from-virat-kohli-to-shubman-gill-check-when-big-indian-players-played-the-last-domestic-match/">From Virat Kohli to Shubman Gill: Check when big Indian players played the last domestic match</a>

Arshdeep Singh is just 5 wickets away from becoming the first Indian bowler to pick 100 wickets in the T20Is.

India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh is all set to achieve the most massive feat in the history of T20I cricket in the upcoming T20I series against England.

Arshdeep Singh on the verge become the greatest Indian fast bowler in T20Is

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The India and Pakistan rivalry has been a great contest on the cricket field, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, marked by intense competition between the neighbouring nations and passionate fan engagement. It has often been seen that ever since the two teams have stopped playing bilaterals against eachother, these two are featured in every ICC tournament, which draw millions of spectators.  
The rivalry only intensifies, every time the two nations play against eachother, be it the Cricket World Cup or the ICC Champions Trophy. Such has been India’s domination in the ICC events, that they claimed successive wins in both the One-Day as well as the T20 World Cup. However, the Champions Trophy results have been contrasting with Pakistan’s infamous victory in the CT 2017 final against India, as well as their memorable 10-wickets win against India in the T20 World Cup of 2021.    
Clearly, the India vs Pakistan games are celebration of cricket to its peak, where every ball, every run, and every wicket carries the weightage of national pride.
<h2 dir="ltr">Here’s the strongest combined playing XI from the current squads of India and Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">1: Rohit Sharma (C)</h3>
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Rohit Sharma - The Indian skipper at the top (Image Credit: X)
Indian captain and opener Rohit Sharma will be a part of the India-Pakistan combine playing XI. The right-handed batter has exceptional records and stats in ICC tournaments for the Indian Cricket Team.
As of now, Rohit Sharma has scored a total of 10,866 runs with an average of 49.16, including 31 centuries and 57 fifties in ODIs. Sharma has this ability to score quick runs and introduce the x-factor of the game for his side. 
<h3 dir="ltr">2: Babar Azam</h3>
Former Pakistan captain and top-order batter Babar Azam would also be a part of the combined ODI playing XI. Though he has been scorched off form recently and has faced sheer criticism, however, the players great antics cannot be overlooked owing to his sudden dip in form. 
As of now, Babar Azam has managed to score 5,957 runs with an average of 56,73, including 19 centuries and 34 fifties.
<h3 dir="ltr">3: Virat Kohli</h3>
One of the greatest players when it comes to limited overs cricket, Virat Kohli is considered the greatest in the format, while his fearless approach often frightens any bowling attack in the world. 
As of now, Virat Kohli is nearing the great landmark of 14000 ODI runs in international cricket, as he for now has a total of 13,906 runs to his name with an average of 58.18, including 50 centuries and 72 fifties.
<h3 dir="ltr">4: Shreyas Iyer</h3>
Indian middle-order batter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreyas_Iyer">Shreyas Iyer </a>has been a consistent player for the men in blue in the ODI format for a long time. Iyer has been a crucial asset to the India middle-order while delivering match-winning performances in the CWC 2023 as well as the Asia Cup. This is the reason he finds himself in place of Indian star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant.  
As of now, Shreyas Iyer has put on a total of 2,421 runs with an average of 47.47, including 5 centuries and 18 fifties.
<h3 dir="ltr">5: Mohammad Rizwan</h3>
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New Pakistan skipper - Mohammad Rizwan (Image Credit: X)
Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan fins his name in this combined playing XI for India and Pakistan. The currently named skipper of the Pakistan limited-overs side, has produced results after his immediate effect.  
As of now, Mohammad Rizwan has scored a total of 2,352 runs with an average of 41.26, including 3 centuries and 15 fifties, however, he is one of the most standout players for Pakistan in the middle-order. 
<h3 dir="ltr">6: Hardik Pandya</h3>
Indian all-rounder <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardik_Pandya">Hardik Pandya</a> has been the asset for the Indian side, winning matches on several occasions. Pandya has been a responsible batsman down the order with an exemplary record against Pakistan. He on several occasions has won matches for India single-handedly, be it with the bat or with the ball. 
As of now, Hardik Pandya has scored 1769 runs and has taken 84 wickets for the Indian side in the 50-over format.
<h3 dir="ltr">7: Shadab Khan</h3>
Shadab Khan, the Leg-spin bowling all-rounder has been a crucial player for the Pakistan cricket team in recent times.Though Shadab Khan has not featured much for Pakistan in recent times, his services have been relished by the nation when it comes to limited-overs cricket. 
As of now, Shadab Khan has 855 runs and 85 wickets for the Pakistan side to his name.
<h3 dir="ltr">8: Kuldeep Yadav</h3>
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Kuldeep Yadav: The wizard for India in the sub-continent (Image Credit: X)
Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm Chinaman bowler, has had an immense impact on India’s performances under sub-continent conditions. He is known for his standout services in the ODI format and hence features as the only main spin bowling option in the 11.
As of now, Kuldeep Yadav has taken 172 wickets for the Indian side with an economy of just 4.99.
<h3 dir="ltr">9: Shaheen Shah Afridi</h3>
Shaheen Shah Afridi has seemingly restored his form after his work stress was reduced, as the pacer has this supreme ability to swing the new ball on both sides. For Pakistan, Shaheen has been a proven matchwinner in several high-profile games in ICC tournaments.
As of now, Shaheen Shah Afridi has picked 119 wickets for the Pakistan Cricket Team with an economy of 5.49.
<h3 dir="ltr">10: Jasprit Bumrah</h3>
India’s most deadliest fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is one of the most feared bowlers in the world currently. Bumrah is an exceptional pacer in all phases of the game, and he can deliver the maximum impact with the new ball as well as in the death overs. Bumrah has not played many ODIs owing to his frequent injuries and still remains doubtful for the Champions Trophy 2025. 
As of now, Jasprit Bumrah has taken a total of 149 wickets with an economy of 4.59 for the Indian side.
<h3 dir="ltr">11: Mohammed Shami</h3>
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Mohammed Shami's return to the Indian side for the Champions Trophy (Image Credit: X) 
Mohammed Shami, the most experienced right-arm fast bowler for India, is set to feature in the upcoming Champions Trophy, as he has never featured for the Indian team ever since the last Cricket World Cup in 2023, where he was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament. 
As of now, Mohammed Shami has clinched a total of 195 wickets for the men in blue with an economy of 5.55.
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India and Pakistan's combined strongest probable 11 picked from their squads for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Sighting India vs Pakistan rivalries over ICC events, here is a combined playing 11 from the current squad of both the teams for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.