India VS Australia games are always fun to watch. And the Border-Gavaskar games of the recent past have given us some of the best moments as a cricket fans. We have seen the Indian Cricket team getting wrapped up for 36 and the same Indian team going on to win that very test series. The 2018-2019 India V Australia series was no less. We saw India win a series on Australian soil for the first time ever. Similarly, the Australian team is now coming to India to seek revenge. The India VS Australia series will begin in February. The BCCI has announced the test squad for the first two tests, here is a look at the same:&nbsp;



<h2>India VS Australia 2023, Indian Squad for First Two Tests has Been Announced:&nbsp;</h2>



The key pointers from the squad that has been announced for the first two tests are as follows:&nbsp;



<ol start="1">
<li>Ravindra Jadeja is making a comeback to the team for both test matches. &nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<ol start="2">
<li>Jadeja had undergone knee surgery and was in the process of rehabilitation till the last month. But he is expected to be fit and available for both test matches. &nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<ol start="3">
<li>Ishan Kishan has been picked in the absence of Rishabh Pant who has met with an unfortunate accident and is expected to stay out of action for 6 months so he will miss the India VS Australia Test Series.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Ravindra-Jadeja.jpg" alt="Ravindra Jadeja India VS Australia" class="wp-image-100673" width="700"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jadeja has made a comeback to the squad post his knee surgery.</figcaption></figure>



<ol start="4">
<li>Suryakumar Yadav has got his second test call-up after the India tour of England 2021. He might get an opportunity if KL Rahul keeps wickets and team India plays a pure batter in place of Rishabh Pant. &nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<ol start="5">
<li>In absence of Rishabh, KS Bharat needs to be India?s first-choice keeper considering the wicket-keeping skill and also considering that KS has been dominating the domestic red-ball circuit.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<ol start="6">
<li>Jaydev Unadkat, the veteran left-arm pacer, who made a comeback to red-ball cricket after 12 years is staying with the team.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<ol start="7">
<li>The only 3 pacers included in the squad are Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav.&nbsp;The India VS Australia series is expected to be spin dominant.</li>
</ol>



<h2>Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav Picked:&nbsp;</h2>



Ishan Kishan has been picked and he is expected to be India?s backup keeper in the absence of Rishabh Pant. Here is a look at his domestic stats:&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Stats&nbsp;</td><td>Value&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Matches&nbsp;</td><td>48&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Innings&nbsp;</td><td>82&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Runs&nbsp;</td><td>2985&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Average&nbsp;</td><td>38.74&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Highest&nbsp;</td><td>273&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ishan Kishan Stats</figcaption></figure>



Suryakumar Yadav has also been picked for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy games. But he will get an opportunity only if KL Rahul intends to take up the gloves and be the stand-in keeper. Here is a look at his domestic stats.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Stats&nbsp;</td><td>Value&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Matches&nbsp;</td><td>79&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Innings&nbsp;</td><td>132&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Runs&nbsp;</td><td>5549&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Average&nbsp;</td><td>44.75&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Highest&nbsp;</td><td>200&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Suryakumar Yadav Stats</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Indian Squad for India VS Australia Test Series Announced:&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Suryakumar-Yadav-1024x683.jpg" alt="Suryakumar Yadav" class="wp-image-100856"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The inclusion of Suryakumar is no surprise as he has shown elite form in the white-ball formats. IMG SRC: ICS.</figcaption></figure>



Squad:&nbsp;



Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Shubman Gill, C Pujara, V Kohli, S Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Suryakumar Yadav &nbsp;



Expected Playing XI:&nbsp;



Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat/Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj.&nbsp;



To know more go to <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/sa20-league-x-factor-players-from-each-team-best-players-in-sa20-league/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/sa20-league-x-factor-players-from-each-team-best-players-in-sa20-league/" rel="noreferrer noopener">SA20 League: X-Factor Players from Each Team. Best Players in SA20 League.</a>



Read more such articles at <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/prithvi-shaw-scores-379-in-ranji-trophy-second-highest-individual-score-in-history-of-the-tournament/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/prithvi-shaw-scores-379-in-ranji-trophy-second-highest-individual-score-in-history-of-the-tournament/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prithvi Shaw Scores 379 in Ranji Trophy. Second Highest Individual Score in History of the Tournament.</a>



To know more go to the <a href="https://www.bcci.tv/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.bcci.tv/" rel="noreferrer noopener">official website of the BCCI. </a>&nbsp;

India VS Australia 2023: Indian Squad Announced for the First Two Tests. Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan Included. &nbsp;

india-vs-australia-2023-indian-squad-announced-for-the-first-two-tests-suryakumar-yadav-and-ishan-kishan-included

Rohit Sharma has been very calm and composed with the statements that he makes in the media post being appointed as the Indian captain. But on the eve of the 4th test match against Australia, the Indian captain did not hold back his remarks. It was Ravi Shastri who criticized Rohit Sharma and team India on air while commentating for Star TV Network. Shastri went on to say that team India was overconfident in the 3rd Test match which they lost on a rank turner. Here is what Rohit Sharma had to say in response:&nbsp;



<h2>Ravi Shastri Says Indian Team was ?Overconfident? in the 3rd Test:?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Rohit-Sharma-and-Ravi-Shastri-1.jpg" alt="Ravi Shastri and Rohit Sharma" class="wp-image-82294" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The previous head coach, Ravi Shastri was very critical of the Indian cricket team's attitude in the 3rd Test match. IMG SRC: BCCI</figcaption></figure>



?This is what a little complacency and a little bit of overconfidence can do where you take things for granted, you drop guard and this game will bring you down.?, Shastri said while covering the game live for the Star TV Network. Shastri has been the team manager since 2014 and was also the coach of the Indian cricket team for 4 years from 2017 to 2021. He has seen how cricket has evolved and he is not new to the pressure and standard of the game. These comments of such a well-aware person did not go down very well with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. ?



<h2>Rohit Sharma Calls Ravi Shastri?s Remark ?Rubbish?:?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/rahul_dravid_and_rohit_sharma-si-1024x576.jpg" alt="Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma" class="wp-image-93211" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rohit has had a very good equation with the coaches but this statement of the previous head coach did not go down well with him! IMG SRC: BCCI</figcaption></figure>



Rohit has been very calm when answering such tough questions in the past. He had been earlier asked about his possible rift with Virat and also about dropping Virat Kohli, but Rohit Sharma has answered these questions with composure. But this time, the Indian skipper did not hold back and expressed what he truly felt. &nbsp;



?Honestly when you win two games and the people on the outside feel we are overconfident, it?s absolutely ?rubbish? because you want to do your best in all 4 games.?, Rohit said. He further added, ?You don?t want to stop by winning two games, it is as simple as that. Obviously, all these guys when they talk about being overconfident and all and especially when they are not a part of the dressing room, they don?t know what sort of talk happens in the dressing room.?&nbsp;



<h2>Rohit Sharma Refers to Ravi Shastri as an ?Outsider?:?</h2>



In a very one-of-a-kind statement from Sharma, he went on to refer to Shastri as an ?outsider?. He said, ?We want to do our best in all games and if it seems overconfident, or anything like that for the ?outsiders?, it doesn?t matter to us.??Further Rohit added, "So, yeah it's about being "ruthless" and not being "overconfident". Ruthless is a word that comes to every cricketer's mind, not to give an inch to the opposition while touring abroad".



The 4th game will begin at 9:30 am on 9 March 2023. The venue is the newly built Shri. Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Stick with <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">icccricketschedule.com</a> for all the latest updates. ?



To know more go to <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-australia-2023-have-to-improve-in-both-batting-and-bowling-department-says-indian-coach-rahul-dravid/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-australia-2023-have-to-improve-in-both-batting-and-bowling-department-says-indian-coach-rahul-dravid/" rel="noreferrer noopener">India VS Australia 2023: ?Have to Improve in Both Batting and Bowling Department?, Says Indian Coach Rahul Dravid.?</a>



Read more such articles at <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ab-de-villiers-names-his-greatest-t20-player-of-all-time-it-is-not-virat-kohli-breaking-news-2023/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ab-de-villiers-names-his-greatest-t20-player-of-all-time-it-is-not-virat-kohli-breaking-news-2023/" rel="noreferrer noopener">AB De Villiers Names His Greatest T20 Player of All Time. It is not Virat Kohli. Breaking News 2023.</a>



To know more go to the <a href="https://bcci.tv/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://bcci.tv/" rel="noreferrer noopener">official website of the BCCI</a>. ?

Rohit Sharma Says Ravi Shastri?s Remark Was ?Rubbish?. India VS Australia 4th Test Press Conference. &nbsp;

rohit-sharma-says-ravi-shastris-remark-was-rubbish-india-vs-australia-4th-test-press-conference

IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma missed the first test in Perth, which India won by 295 runs. The Indian captain joined the team ahead of the day-night test and led the team in Adelaide. He decided to bat in the middle order and let KL Rahul bat at the top. But it didn't turn out well for both of them.
Rahul had a poor outing in Adelaide, and Rohit had an even more horrible test, scoring only 3 and 6 in two innings. That has certainly put him under a lot of pressure, and the media has started talking once again. The third test will be played at the Gabba, which will begin on December 14.
India need to win the remaining games to qualify for the WTC 2023-25 final. Rohit has scored 142 runs at an average of 11.82 since the home series against Bangladesh. His form is a big worry for India, but his batting position is another big question. However, we will talk about three key reasons why him batting at the top will be beneficial for India.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Three Strong Reasons Why Rohit Sharma should bat at the top in Gabba Test</h2>
<h3>3. Formidable pairing with Yashasvi Jaiswal</h3>
Though KL Rahul played brilliantly in Perth and added a record stand of 21 with Jaiswal. But if we look at the ground reality, Rohit has done well whenever he has batted with Jaiswal in tests. These two have played together in 26 innings and scored 1236 runs as a pair.
The highest stand between the two teams is 229, and these are the sixth-best numbers for an opening pair in Indian cricket history. With a lot depending on the third test, India should go with the proven pair, which has done the job in the recent past for them.
<h3>2. KL Rahul's ability to bring flexibility to middle order</h3>
Though Rahul started his career as an opener but the last couple of years have shown that he has adapted to the situation of batting in the middle order. The best example was in the ODI World Cup 2023.
Rahul can play a long innings if the top order fails and is someone who can be good when the ball gets old. That is why if he bats at no. 5 or 6, he can give more flexibility to the top order than Rohit Sharma.
<h3>1. Rohit Sharma at top - A Proven match-winner</h3>
Rohit Sharma didn't start as an opener; he was a middle-order batter until MS Dhoni gave him a chance at the top. But since then, there was no stopping back, and he is among the best all-format openers in the world. In test, he opened for the first time in 2019. He has played in swinging conditions in SENA countries and done well as an opener.
As an opener, he has scored 2685 runs in 64 innings at an average of 44.02. It includes nine centuries and 8 half-centuries. Though his current form is concerning but his numbers back him as an opener for the Gabba Test.

Rohit Sharma scored nine runs in the second test at Adelaide Oval. He batted at no. 6 in the batting order. Questions have been raised over his batting position and form.

Rohit Sharma scored nine runs in the second test at Adelaide Oval. He batted at no. 6 in the batting order.

3 Strong Reasons why Rohit Sharma should open the innings for India in 3rd Test at Gabba

3-strong-reasons-why-rohit-sharma-should-open-the-innings-for-india-in-3rd-test-at-gabba

<div class="default-style">The big test in the ongoing IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is coming as the two best test sides will come face to face at the iconic venue The Gabba in Brisbane. India outpowered Australia in the first game, and the hosts bounced back brilliantly in the second match to level the series.</div>
<div class="default-style">The series is nicely leveled at 1-1, but the team that wins here will have an upper hand in the series. Both teams have their respective issues that they have to counter in the coming game. For India, they will feel a slight relief as they will be playing with the red ball in the third game.</div>
<div class="default-style">India have only won one out of seven matches played at the Gabba; that is where Australian captain Pat Cummins is confident of his team carrying on the momentum in the third test. He also warned the visitors for the bouncer barrage for the third game.</div>
<h2 class="default-style">IND vs AUS: Pat Cummins warns India of the "bouncer tactics" ahead of the third test at the Gabba</h2>
<div class="default-style">The third test will begin at 5:50 AM IST, and the pitch is likely to have grass on it. Pat Cummins, who bagged 5/57 in the second innings in Adelaide, bounced out Indian batters. The Australian captain is looking to continue that tactic in the third test if required.</div>
<div class="default-style">In a pre-match conference ahead of the third IND vs AUS test, Cummins talked about their plans and the pitch. When asked whether India might see more bouncers from him, he said, "Yes, potentially. It worked out in the Adelaide Test. It's always in the back of your mind as a bit of a Plan B, or if it's looking really uncomfortable and likely to take wickets, maybe it comes with Plan A for some of the batters. So I'm sure we'll give it a shot at some point this Test."</div>
<div class="default-style">Team India struggled with the bat in Adelaide and scored 180 and 175 in two innings of the game. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were dismissed against swing while other Indian batters were bounced out. The Australian captain also hinted about the pitch for the third test.</div>
<div class="default-style">He said, "I looked at it yesterday – it looked like a good wicket, like it has been the last few years. "I looked at it yesterday – it looked like a good wicket." Cummins also confirmed that Australia will make a change in their playing XI, which will be Josh Hazlewood coming in for Scott Boland.</div>

The third test between India and Australia will begin at 5:50 AM IST at the Gabba. Pat Cummins confirms Josh Hazlewood will play the third game in place of Scott Boland.

"Sure we will.."- Pat Cummins' big warning to Team India of "Bouncer Barrage" ahead of the third test at the Gabba

sure-we-will-pat-cummins-big-warning-to-team-india-of-bouncer-barrage-ahead-of-the-third-test-at-the-gabba

The third test between India and Australia at the Gabba ended in a draw after the rain played the spoilsport once again on the final day of the game. The series is still leveled at 1-1, and two games are remaining. Indian lower-order showed a great fight and helped the team to get back into the game.
With the series still level at 1-1, India still have a good chance to win the remaining two games to qualify for the World Test Championship. On Wednesday, Ravichandran Ashwin also announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. So, it will be interesting to see what the Indian bowling unit will look like in Melbourne and Sydney.
India are already missing Mohammad Shami, who is recovering from his injury. However, the veteran pacer has been playing at the domestic level and has been named to play in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. So, is he fit, or will he join India for the two remaining matches? Rohit Sharma provides a massive update on his availability.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma provides update on Mohammed Shami's availability</h2>
The Indian bowling unit has found it tough some time in this series. Jasprit Bumrah has been at his usual best, but he has not received consistent support from the other pacers. It won't be a wrong statement to say that India are missing Shami at the moment. That's what Rohit was asked when he came for the post-match presentation.
Rohit said, It's high time somebody from NCA talks about him. Really, that's our National Cricket Academy where he is doing his rehab. Those guys are the ones who need to come up and give us some kind of update. I understand he's playing a lot of cricket back home. But there have been some complaints about his knee as well."
Shami has been out of action since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He recently featured in the SMAT Trophy for Bengal and is likely to play in the coming Vijay Hazar Trophy, which will begin on Saturday. But the Indian captain admitted that they won't take a risk if he is not 10 percent fit. Rohit added, "So, there's no way we want to take that chance. Unless we are not 100%, 200% sure, we are not going to take any risk."
India are now one win away from retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But their biggest aim is to qualify for the WTC final. There are two matches left to play, and they need to win both games to stand a chance. If they lose one game, their qualification will come under threat.
 Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/wtc-final-scenario-here-s-how-india-can-qualify-for-the-world-test-championship-final-after-the-gabba-draw/">WTC Final Scenario: Here's how India can qualify for the World Test Championship final after the Gabba draw</a>

Mohammed Shami has been out of international action since the 2023 ODI World Cup. He has been recovering from a knee injury.

Mohammed Shami to be available for last two Tests? Rohit Sharma provides major update on Shami's availability

mohammed-shami-to-be-available-for-last-two-tests-rohit-sharma-provides-major-update-on-shami-s-availability

Team India fell to an embarrassing 184-runs defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match versus the Mighty Australians on the 30th of December, 2024. On the fifth day of the contest, a strange celebration of Australian player Travis Head was spotted, the video of which is going viral on various social-media platforms. The batting all-round executed this celebration after picking up the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant. 
<h3>Head's celebration has created controversey</h3>
In the final day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, Head helped the Aussies gain the advantage with this really good bowling display. He gave a massive blow to the Men in Blue by sending Rishabh Pant back to the pavilion who was looking settled out there in the middle. But, soon after dismissing the Indian wicket-keeper batsman, the celebration of the 31-year-old shocked the world of Cricket and Social Media users. 
The kind of celebration which Head excecuted after taking the important wicket of Pant is not easy to understand. Some people believe that his celebration gestures were to show that Pant got caught in his trap, but many spectators were not happy with his celebration. Some called it indecent and unusual but the debate in the world of Cricket still continues regarding his way of celebrating. 
<h2>The reason behind the controversial celebration of Travis Head</h2>
Following the dismissal of Pant, Head's way of celebrating didn't go down well with many Indian Fans. He put one of his fingers in a circular gesture of the other hand. This celebration took the Commentators and audience by surprise. 
James Brayshaw, the Australian commentator explained the action of the elite Australian player and said, "After ending the Test-Match versus Sri Lanka with figures of 4-10 next to his name in 17 deliveries in 2022, he (Head) said that he had to put the digit on the ice. This was a reference to that and he said that I did it again and now I am putting it back on the ice".
Video of his digit on the ice: <a href="https://x.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1873597172471759073?t=JKhvpA_npLGeMo2VWq4Dog&amp;s=19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch here</a>
While Head's actions may seem controversial, his intentions were not negative and he didn't target Pant in any way at all. So it's highly unlikely that the ICC will punish him.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/struggling-rohit-sharma-registers-an-all-time-embarrassing-record-with-his-dismal-performance-at-the-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Struggling Rohit Sharma registers an All-time embarrassing record with his dismal performance at the MCG</a>

Travis Head of Australia celebrated in a controversial manner after getting the wicket of India's Rishabh Pant in the Boxing-Day Test-Match | Image: Getty Images

Travis Head's celebration after getting the wicket of Rishabh Pant has sparked a controversy among the world of Cricket

Travis Head at the risk of getting punished by the ICC due to his controversial Celebration in Melbourne

travis-head-at-the-risk-of-getting-punished-by-the-icc-due-to-his-controversial-celebration-in-melbourne

IND vs AUS: Team India need to sit back and look at what they missed in the Boxing Day Test that they let the game slip away. They had the game under control when Australia was 90/6 in the second innings with a lead of around 200 runs. But eventually, the hosts played better cricket than India.
They won the fourth IND vs AUS test by 184 runs to take an unassailable 2-1 lead. With this, Australia inches closer to winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a wait of ten years and are also a frontrunner to qualify for the World Test Championship 2023-25 final.
India, on the other hand, will have everything on the line when they step on the field for the fifth test at the SCG. That final test will begin on January 03, 2025. India need this win anyhow. Hence, we will talk here about three crucial changes India need to make to win the fifth test.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Three crucial things India need to do to win the fifth and final Test at the SCG</h2>
1. Rohit Sharma should be dropped
Rohit Sharma has been going through a horrid run with the bat. The last couple of months has been horrible for the Indian captain. He has managed only 164 runs in the last 15 innings at a poor average of 10.93. Shubman Gill had to be left out from the fourth test.
Despite his poor form, he is still part of the playing XI and taking up a spot of a deserving player. India won the first test when he was not available under Jasprit Bumrah. Hence, India should drop Rohit and bring Gill back and let Bumrah to lead the side.
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open
The pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul has been pretty decent for India in this series. Both have complemented each other and played well along. Rohit opened in the third test, and India had opening stands of 8 and 25 in two innings.
India need a good start from their openers because losing early wickets exposes other batters against the new ball, which is very hard to face this series. Hence, with Rohit getting dropped, let Jaiswal and Rahul open.
3. Make necessary changes to bowling unit
It will not be wrong to say that Jasprit Bumrah has been the lone warrior for India throughout the series. 30 wickets in four tests at an average of 12.83 is unmatchable. But he has not had support from other fast bowlers. Mohammed Siraj has taken 16 wickets at 31.44, and Akashdeep has 5 wickets at an average of 54.
So, it is time for a change. It is time for India to go with fresh legs and pick Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for the last IND vs AUS test. Both are tall bowlers and quicker in pace. Adding to that, India should stick to two spinners, as the surface at SCG has more help for spinners than other Australian surfaces.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/struggling-rohit-sharma-registers-an-all-time-embarrassing-record-with-his-dismal-performance-at-the-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Struggling Rohit Sharma registers an All-time embarrassing record with his dismal performance at the MCG</a>

Australia are leading by 2-1, and the fifth and final test will begin on January 3, 2025, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. India need to win to retain the BGT trophy.

3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy

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

The 5th &amp; Final Test-Match in Sydney between Fierce-Rivals Australia and India ended today and the home team secured an easy six-wicket win and this win allowed them to secure the series by 3-1.This win of the Aussies has also made some significant changes in the overall standings of the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. 
Talking about the contest, the Jasprit Bumrah-led team were at 124-4 in their 2nd inning and they were looking set to set a big target for the Pat Cummins-led team. However, the Australian bowlers were in deadly mood as their perfect bowling display led to Team India suffering a batting collapse and they lost wickets in quick succession and eventually got bundled out for a mere score of 157 runs. 
Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant fought the lone warrior's battle as he played an impressive inning of 61 runs in just 33 deliveries but he didn't get any kind of support from his fellow batters at the other end and the Kangaroos took full advantage of this and eventually the game turned in the favour of the Defending Champions. 
For the Australian team, Scott Boland took 6 wickets while giving away 45 runs while skipper Pat Cummins also played a good hand with figures of 3-44 next to his name. 
The Aussies were given a target of 162 runs to win the Sydney Test-Match but they lost wickets unnecessarily as Sam Konstas (22 runs in 17 deliveries), Marnus Labuschagne (6 runs in 20 deliveries), and Steve Smith (4 runs in 9 balls) went back to the pavilion cheaply, leaving the Australian team suddenly in a dire position of 58/3.
Next, opening batter Usman Khawaja played a good knock of 41 runs in 45 deliveries which allowed his team to initiate a comeback in the contest. If Bumrah wouldn't have got injured, then Khawaja wouldn't even get the chance to go past the 10 runs mark. 
Without the availability of Bumrah, the Aussie batters started to play their shots freely and theu began creating a lot of pressure on the Indian bowling unit. While Prasidh Krishna did his best to help his team stay alive in the contest, he began to falter and this worked in the favour of the Australians. 
As a result, the duo of Beau Webster &amp; Travis Head got involved in a strong partnership for thethe fifth wicket and added 58 runs in just 53 balls and this turned out to be winning factor. They helped their team reach a score of 162-4 and the Kangaroos won the encounter by a margin of six wickets.
<h2>WTC Final Chance:</h2>
Pat Cummins-led Aussies have successfully qualified for the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) Final after securing the BGT series 3-1. Temba Bavuma-led South Africa have already secured their tickets for the Final after defeating Pakistan in the first Test-Match. 
Keeping the statistics in mind, Team India have failed to qualify for the WTC Final for the first time since 2021. They are ranked third in the overall Standings with a PCT of 50. South Africa are the table toppers with a PCT of 66.67 while the Kangaroos are ranked 2nd with 63.73 PCT next to their name. They are followed by the likes of New Zealand (48.21) and Sri Lanka (45.45) respectively.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-vs-pakistan-will-the-two-rivals-play-a-test-match-versus-each-other-this-english-legend-wants-them-to-play-in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India vs Pakistan: Will the two rivals play a test match versus each other? This English legend wants them to play in</a>

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma couldn't really have a say in the way things panned out in the Sydney Test-Match| Image: Getty Images

Can Team India still qualify for the WTC Final after suffering an embarrassing defeat in the Sydney Test-Match Or have they been eliminated completely?

Team India lost the Sydney Test Match, do they have any chances of qualifying for the WTC Final? Explained!

team-india-lost-the-sydney-test-match-do-they-have-any-chances-of-qualifying-for-the-wtc-final-explained-

The wait for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is all set to be over. The tournament will begin on 19th February, and the final will take place on 9th March. The India team, no doubt, will be one of the hot favourites to win the tournament, which will be played in a hybrid model. 
India will be playing all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 games in Dubai. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be beginning their campaign against Bangladesh on 20th February, and, after that, will be playing Pakistan on 23rd February, followed by New Zealand on 2nd March. 
The departure date of India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 also has been revealed. As per the reports in Times of India, it is learned that the Rohit Sharma-led side will be travelling to Dubai on 15th February. The reports added that more clarity on the same will come in the coming days. 
<h2>India won't be playing any warmup matches ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025</h2>
Not only this, it is learned that India also won't be playing any warmup matches ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This is because all the teams will be in Pakistan, and hence, it will be difficult for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to arrange the warmup match. 
The reports added that India team management is happy with the net session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This is because they will be playing the three-match ODI series against England, which will begin on 6th February across three venues in India. 
Apart from this, it is reported that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 won't be having a captain photoshoot because of the different challenges along with the different arrivals of the team. This means that Rohit Sharma won't be travelling to Pakistan for this and will be staying in Dubai with the team. 
The opening ceremony of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held in Lahore. There were talks of having the event in Karachi but the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to host it in Lahore.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/icc-champions-trophy-2025-babar-azam-s-batting-position-decided-selectors-not-in-favour-of-giving-him-this-role-/#google_vignette">ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Babar Azam's batting position decided; selectors not in favour of giving him this role</a>

India will be playing all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 games in Dubai.

It is learned that India also won't be playing any warmup matches ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India to travel to Dubai on this date; unlikely to play warmup game

icc-champions-trophy-2025-india-to-travel-to-dubai-on-this-date-unlikely-to-play-warmup-game-

India batter Shubman Gill has started his preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The premier batter has returned to nets for the white-ball practice as he was named in the Indian team for the ODI series against England and the ICC tournament. 
Shubman Gill has been under a lot of pressure for his poor outings with the bat, especially in Test cricket. With the emergence of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who delivered consistent performances, there were a lot of questions about the place of Gill, even in the ODIs. 
Several fans and experts also have backed Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 along with Rohit Sharma. However, amid all this Shubman Gill is making sure that he gives his best to train for the tournament. 
With England ODIs and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 around the corner, Shubman Gill was seen batting in the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. He was seen batting with the white-ball ahead of the tournament and the video can be seen at the end of the article. 
Shubman Gill looked in golden touch with the bat as he played a pull towards the four before blocking the balls. The batter would be eager to make a strong comeback and reply to all the criticism in style with his performances in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 
Shubman Gill recently played the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 for Punjab. The batter was the lone warrior for his team as he hit a magnificent century and returned to form after having a poor outing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he played just three games. 
Shubman Gill would want to carry on his form and help a team win. He has been one of the best batters for India in ODIs. He also has been named as the vice-captain of the team for the tournament and with added responsibility under his belt, a lot will be reliant on him.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-dewald-brevis-turns-into-superman-as-he-takes-a-stunner-in-sa20-2025-/#google_vignette">Watch: Dewald Brevis turns into ‘SUPERMAN’ as he takes a stunner in SA20 2025</a> 
<h2>Watch: Shubman Gill begins preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:</h2>

Shubman Gill gets ready for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 {PC:X}

India batter Shubman Gill has started his preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Shubman Gill has been under a lot of pressure for his poor outings with the bat, especially in Test cricket.

Watch: 'Under pressure' Shubman Gill looks solid in nets ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025

watch-under-pressure-shubman-gill-looks-solid-in-nets-ahead-of-icc-champions-trophy-2025-

Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been in the news for the last few days, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 around the corner. The batter's name has been discussed a lot related to making him open, especially with no clarity over Saim Ayub. 
Pakistan is the only team that has yet to announce the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Since the last few days, he has been in the news as there have been a lot of reports that have suggested that there are chances that he might open the innings for the team. 
However, the fresh reports in Cricket Pakistan have revealed that there are no plans to make Babar Azam open the innings. The reports added that the selection committee has not given the green signal to the development as they feel that batter will be best suited in the middle order. 
<h2>Selectors want a proper opener in the role; Babar Azam to at in middle-order</h2>
The reports claimed that selectors want a proper opener in the role. One of the openers that has been finalized by the management is Fakhar Zaman. However, with Saim Ayub likely to miss out, it is learned that Imam-ul-Haq is also in contention to take the role. 
Babar Azam has been the best batter for Pakistan in ODIs. The batter has mustered truckloads of runs for the team in the format while batting at No.3 and he will be extremely crucial for his team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be played in Pakistan with India games to be played in India. 
Babar Azam also has been a decent opener as well. He has been opening for the team in T20Is and has achieved massive success as well. He also opened in Test cricket during the recent South Africa series and aced that challenge as well, slamming two half-centuries in two innings. 
But, in white-ball cricket, Babar Azam has been criticised a lot for opening in T20Is. This is because he has failed to maximise the powerplay and has been batting with a low strike rate. It remains to be seen where he will be batting for the team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-dewald-brevis-turns-into-superman-as-he-takes-a-stunner-in-sa20-2025-/#google_vignette">Watch: Dewald Brevis turns into ‘SUPERMAN’ as he takes a stunner in SA20 2025</a>

Babar Azam has been the best batter for Pakistan in ODIs.

Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been in the news for the last few days, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 around the corner.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Babar Azam's batting position decided; selectors not in favour of giving him this role

icc-champions-trophy-2025-babar-azam-s-batting-position-decided-selectors-not-in-favour-of-giving-him-this-role-

India assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate has provided a massive fitness update about batter Rinku Singh ahead of the fourth IND vs ENG T20I. He mentioned that the left-hander has gained full fitness and will be playing the next match of the five-match T20I series. 
India and England are all set to lock horns with each other in the fourth match of the T20I series. The game is all set to be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Thursday (30th January). The series is currently at 2-1, with hosts in the lead. 
India has been without the services of Rinku Singh for the last two games of the IND vs ENG series. The left-hander sustained a low back spasm while fielding in the first game and was then ruled out of the next two games of the series as he was under the observation of the BCCI medical team. 
In his place, the India team added Dhruv Jurel to the XI, and the move didn't pay off. The keeper-batter batted lower down the order and struggled to get going in both games, and it potentially cost them the last match of the series. 
<h2>Rinku Singh is fit and ready to play tomorrow - Ryan Ten Doeschate</h2>
However, in what will be a massive boost, Rinku Singh has been declared fit for the next two games. The development was confirmed by assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate, who said that the batter hit nets and will be playing. He told reporters. 
"Rinku Singh is fit and ready to play tomorrow. He batted yesterday night" 
Rinku Singh has been India's one of the best batters in the T20Is. His absence was felt in the last two games as well, but now, with him being fit, it is expected that he would walk straight into the XI and is likely to add Dhruv Jurel to the team. 
The fourth IND vs ENG T20I will be a great opportunity for India to to seal the series, but they need to make some corrections before heading into the next IND vs ENG match. 
India faced a disappointing 26-run loss in the last match at Rajkot. Their batting was one of the main reasons behind the loss and they would be hoping to make a strong comeback.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-dewald-brevis-turns-into-superman-as-he-takes-a-stunner-in-sa20-2025-/#google_vignette">Watch: Dewald Brevis turns into ‘SUPERMAN’ as he takes a stunner in SA20 2025</a>

India assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate has provided a massive fitness update about batter Rinku Singh ahead of the fourth IND vs ENG T20I

India has been without the services of Rinku Singh for the last two games of the IND vs ENG series.

Rinku Singh to play fourth IND vs ENG T20I? India's assistant coach makes a massive statement

rinku-singh-to-play-fourth-ind-vs-eng-t20i-india-s-assistant-coach-makes-a-massive-statement-

On Thursday morning, the scene outside New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium was nothing short of extraordinary. A massive crowd had gathered well before the match, eager to witness Kohli in action. Long queues stretched for nearly 2 km, with fans patiently waiting for entry. Given his status as Indian cricket biggest crowd-puller the frenzy was hardly surprising. A huge crowd is gathered to see king kohli in  Arun Jaitley Stadium to watch kohli. Reports says that 2KM long queue was showing outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium for virat kohli.
Ranji Trophy action was peaked on January 30 when Virat Kohli, top  star of Indian crickete team, show in his first Ranji Trophy match after a 12-year. Crowd that was shown 2KM away from Arun Jaitley Stadium to see live playing virat kohli. That shows the fan base that kohli and love for indians.
Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy after more than a decade has ignited immense excitement among cricket fans, drawing fresh attention to India’s premier domestic tournament. Virat Kohli’s played his last match  in 2012, that was named in Delhi’s starting XI for their clash against Railways.
According to ANI sports  reports Vipul Kashyap, more than 15,000 fans showed up to see Kohli playing in a Ranji Trophy match after 12 year . That  momentous was return after 12 years for cricket fans. The crowd erupted in excitement the moment Kohli stepped onto the field with his teammates. The roar of the fans was deafening, a testament to their admiration for the former India captain. Kohli acknowledged their love, expressing his gratitude with a warm gesture to there fans.
Virat Kohli last played in the Ranji Trophy when Delhi still had former players like Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag. In that match against Uttar Pradesh, he scored 57 runs across two innings, falling to Bhuvneshwar Kumar both times.
Kohli has featured in 23 Ranji matches between 2006  to 2012 debut against Tamil Nadu, scoring 1,574 runs at an impressive average of 50.77, including five centuries. His highest score—173—came against Bengal. A stellar 2009-10 season earned him a Test call-up, and in 2011, he made his debut in whites against the West Indies. 
Reports says that Virat Kohli’s plays more domestic tournament matches to do practice for future matchs and inspire young generation as well. In future we see more such matchs and India top player's to plays such a match in domestic ground.

Huge Crowd Coming To See Virat Kohli In Ranji Trophy

Ranji Trophy action peaked on January 30 when Virat Kohli, the star Indian cricketer, featured in his first Ranji Trophy game after a 12-year gap.

Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy after more than a decade