<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2023-schedule-team-venue-time-table-pdf-point-table-ranking-winning-prediction/">IPL 2023</a>&nbsp;KKR vs PBKS:&nbsp;The IPL 2023 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) is defiantly to be a thrilling contest till last bowl. Today?s match will start at 7:30 p.m. sharp at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Here you will get an updated live score, updated news, match details, the result, and all you need to know about the IPL 2023 match no. 53 between KKR vs PBKS today.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">IPL 2023 KKR vs PBKS Match&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cricbuzz.com/live-cricket-scorecard/66379/kkr-vs-pbks-53rd-match-indian-premier-league-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Details</a>.</h2>



Match Date: Match No 53 | Monday| 8th May 2023 Start Time: 7:30 PM Duration: 180Minutes Home Team:&nbsp;Kolkata Knight Riders Away Team:&nbsp;Punjab Kings Stadium: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Location Address:Eden Gardens, Kolkata, Maidan, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700021.



<div class="wp-block-group">
<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/kolkata-knight-riders-kkr-ipl-2023-schedule-full-match-details-time-dates-venues-squad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://icccricketschedule.gumlet.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kkr.png?compress=true&amp;quality=80&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=1.0" alt="Kolkata Knight Riders" class="wp-image-2779" title="IPL 2023: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2nd Match IPL 2023 3"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/plugins/gumlet/assets/images/pixel.png"><img src="https://icccricketschedule.gumlet.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image-9.png?compress=true&amp;quality=80&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=1.0" alt="image 9" class="wp-image-106135" title="IPL 2023: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2nd Match IPL 2023 2"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/punjab-kings-pbks-ipl-2023-schedule-full-match-details-time-dates-venues-squad/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://icccricketschedule.gumlet.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image-8.png?compress=true&amp;quality=80&amp;w=240&amp;dpr=1.0" alt="Punjab Kings" class="wp-image-106134" title="IPL 2023: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2nd Match IPL 2023 1"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Punjab Kings</figcaption></figure>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toss, Scorecard and Match Results</h2>



Toss:?Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bat Scorecard KKR: 182/5 (20) Scorecard PBKS: 179/7 (20) Match Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets Player of the Match: Andre Russell



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Playing 11</h2>



Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy



Punjab Kings:? Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings Possible Playing 11</h2>



Kolkata Knight Riders:&nbsp;Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy



Punjab Kings:&nbsp;Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">News and Twitter reaction:</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1655636269748346880
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1655138144142995458
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Latest Points table:</h2>



[ninja_tables id="103519"]

IPL 2023 KKR vs PBKS: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Live Score, Result | News and updates | IPL 2023 Match No 53

ipl-2023-kkr-vs-pbks-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings-live-score-result-news-and-updates-ipl-2023-match-no-53

IPL 2024 Points Table: IPL just keep throwing insane things and it's sometimes difficult to comprehend and words fall short of expressing that. Another game, another 250 plus total, but this time a successful chase. Punjab Kings (PBKS) have etched their name in history by successfully chasing the highest-ever total in T20 history against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The eight-wicket win over KKR helps them leap over Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 Points Table.



Punjab required 262 runs to win after KKR set the massive total in the first innings. Prabhsimran Singh did the initiation of the hunt with his blitz 20-ball 54-run innings. He and Jonny Bairstow, who had barely picked off his innings, scaled 93 runs in just 6 overs of play. 



Unfortunately, Prabhsimran Singh departed after a horrible mixup between him and Bairstow. However, the tone was already set for the biggest chase in the history of T20s.



Bairstow, who was playing the second fiddle until now, shifted his gears and stitched a quick 83-run partnership in the next 6.3 overs of play. Bairstow, meanwhile, completed his half-century and did the bulk of scoring and Rilee Rossouw kept knocking the singles.



KKR's Sunil Narine kept everything clean at his side with his bowling brilliance. The all-rounder bowled tidy overs and picked Rossouw's wicket in the third delivery of the 13th over.



As KKR looked hopeful of a comeback with the wicket of Rilee Rossouw, the incoming batter Shashank Singh had some other plans for the night. 



Shashank didn't take time to settle down and smashed the bowlers all around the park at his will. While Bairstow at his end was approaching his ton, which he eventually got in the 16th over in just 45 deliveries.



By this time Bairstow had taken a back seat as Shashank was dealing most of the damage. The KKR bowlers had no answer to the mayhem caused by Shashank, who scored his half-century inside 25 deliveries.



Eventually, PBKS got over the line in 18.4 overs and defeated KKR by 8 wickets. Bairstow remained unbeaten at 108 runs off 48 deliveries and Shashank Singh struck a magnificent 28-ball 68 with the help of 8 sixes and two fours.



Earlier in the innings, KKR had done similar damage to the Punjab Kings. Sunil Narine and Phil Salt again produced a box-office partnership to score 138 runs for the first wicket in just 10.2 overs. 



While Narine scored 71 runs in 32 deliveries, Phil Salt played a 37-ball 75-run knock to provide a flying start to the Knight Riders. 



Venkatesh Iyer (39 runs), Andre Russell (24 runs) and Shreyas Iyer (28 runs) played their part in the run-scoring with his handy knocks. Eventually, in 20 overs, KKR scored 261 runs in the loss of 6 wickets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">IPL 2024 Points Table</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/04/PBKS-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-133430" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PBKS defeated KKR by eight wickets | Image: IPLT20</figcaption></figure>



Punjab Kings (PBKS) moves to the eighth spot in the IPL 2024 Points Table following the win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). They have improved their net run rate significantly. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has retained the second spot in the points table with 10 points from eight matches. 



Rajasthan Royals (RR) extends its time at the top of the IPL 2024 Points Table with 14 points in eight matches. They are followed by Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants, all having 10 points.



The bottom half of the points table sees Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>POS</th><th>TEAMS</th><th>P</th><th>W</th><th>L</th><th>D</th><th>PTS</th><th>NRR</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Rajasthan Royals</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>14</td><td>0.698</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Kolkata Knight Riders</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>0.972</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Sunrisers Hyderabad</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>0.577</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Lucknow Super Giants</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>10</td><td>0.148</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Chennai Super Kings</td><td>8</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>0.415</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Delhi Capitals</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>-0.386</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Gujarat Titans</td><td>9</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>8</td><td>-0.974</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Punjab Kings</td><td>9</td><td>3</td><td>6</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>-0.187</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Mumbai Indians</td><td>8</td><td>3</td><td>5</td><td>0</td><td>6</td><td>-0.227</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Royal Challengers Bengaluru</td><td>9</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>-0.721</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">*<a href="https://iplt20.com">IPL</a> 2024 Points Table.</figcaption></figure>



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/pak-vs-nz-5th-t20i-gaddafi-stadium-lahore-pitch-report-weather-forecast-rain-prediction-pakistan-vs-new-zealand/">PAK vs NZ 5th T20I: Gaddafi Stadium Lahore Pitch Report, Weather Forecast, Rain Prediction | Pakistan vs New Zealand</a>

IPL 2024 Points Table after KKR vs PBKS [April 27]: Team?s Standings after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings

ipl-2024-points-table-after-kkr-vs-pbks-april-27-teams-standings-after-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings

RCB fans are crazy, aren’t they? While the BCCI is working with the IPL administration team to finalize the IPL 2025 schedule, we’ve been busy discussing what could be the possible combinations of the playing XI for the best RCB team, based on the pitch and opponent strengths.
Let’s first take a look at the full squad. Then, we’ll explore the Balanced XI, Spin-Heavy XI, and Pace-Dominant XI combinations. Finally, we’ll determine the best possible playing XI for RCB in IPL 2025.
So, friends, what do you say—shall we get started?

<h3>RCB Full Squad for IPL 2025</h3>
<table border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Player Name</th>
<th>Role</th>
<th>Price</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Virat Kohli</td>
<td>Batsman</td>
<td>Retained</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rajat Patidar</td>
<td>Batsman</td>
<td>Retained</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yash Dayal</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>Retained</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Liam Livingstone</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹8.75 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phil Salt</td>
<td>Wicketkeeper-Batsman</td>
<td>₹11.50 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jitesh Sharma</td>
<td>Wicketkeeper-Batsman</td>
<td>₹11 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Josh Hazlewood</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹12.50 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rasikh Dar</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹6 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Suyash Sharma</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹2.60 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Krunal Pandya</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹5.75 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bhuvneshwar Kumar</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹10.75 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Swapnil Singh</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹50 Lakh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tim David</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹3 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Romario Shepherd</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹1.50 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nuwan Thushara</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹1.60 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Manoj Bhandage</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹30 Lakh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jacob Bethell</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹2.60 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devdutt Padikkal</td>
<td>Batsman</td>
<td>₹2 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Swastik Chhikara</td>
<td>Batsman</td>
<td>₹30 Lakh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lungi Ngidi</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹1 Crore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Abhinandan Singh</td>
<td>Bowler</td>
<td>₹30 Lakh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mohit Rathee</td>
<td>All-Rounder</td>
<td>₹30 Lakh</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>Combination 1: Balanced XI</h3>
Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt (WK), Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
<h3>Combination 2: Spin-Heavy XI</h3>
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Bethell, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar
<h3>Combination 3: Pace-Dominant XI</h3>
Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt (WK), Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara
<h2>Best Playing XI for RCB in IPL 2025 [Predicted]</h2>
Virat Kohli Devdutt Padikkal Liam Livingstone Phil Salt (WK) Jitesh Sharma Tim David Krunal Pandya Bhuvneshwar Kumar Josh Hazlewood Yash Dayal Suyash Sharma

Best Playing XI for RCB in IPL 2025 [Predicted]

Predicting the top 3 playing XI combinations for RCB in IPL 2025—Balanced XI, Spin-Heavy XI, and Pace-Dominant XI—and revealing the best XI for ultimate success!

IPL 2025 RCB Playing 11: Top 3 Combinations Predicted, See the Best

IPL 2025: Predicted RCB Playing XI and Top 3 Combos

ipl-2025-predicted-rcb-playing-xi-and-top-3-combos

The crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground has always been under the scanner, especially when the Indian team plays. During the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the fans in Sydney didn't go easy on the Indian players as they made life tough for them. 
During the last Test between India and Australia, Indian players in Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were at the receiving end of racial slurs. The players of the team were abused by the fans, and it turned out to be a big controversy, with Sydney Cricket management banning the particular section of the ground. 
A similar kind of thing unfolded on Day 1 of the ongoing match between India and Australia. Again, a particular section of the crowd came under the radar. The fans were abusing Indian fans in the stadium as they were seen chanting, "Where is your visa?". The video went viral on the internet with many lashing out at fans. 
The people at the Sydney Cricket Ground were also seen booing Indian players as well. They had a go at Virat Kohli and then later Jasprit Bumrah, who was involved in a massive fight with Sam Konstas during the last over of Day 1 of the ongoing Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Coming to the match, Australia started the last day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 on a dominating note. The visitors carried their good form and put India under massive pressure at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. The start with the bat didn't go the way India would've wanted as both the openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, were back early. Shubman Gill, who replaced Rohit Sharma, played a decent hand of 20 runs off 64 balls with two boundaries. 
He, along with Virat Kohli (17), added 40 runs for the third wicket. But both the batters couldn't bat for long as India was left tottering at 72 for four. Rishabh Pant (40) batted with great grit and looked solid before he yet again perished to a wild shot. Ravindra Jadeja (26), too, had a start, but he too couldn't get going for long as India was reduced to 148/8. Captain Jasprit Bumrah (22) hit some shots in the end and took the team to a total of 185. 
Australia, in response, lost Usman Khawaja as Jasprit Bumrah bagged his 31st wicket of the series. At stumps, Australia was 9 for one with 176 runs behind.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/clouds-looming-over-virat-kohli-batter-s-retirement-date-gets-finalised-/">Clouds looming over Virat Kohli! Batter's retirement date gets finalised</a>
<h2>Watch: Australian fans  humiliate Indians at SCG</h2>

The crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground has always been under the scanner, especially when the Indian team plays

Watch: Australian fans humiliating Indians at SCG? Viral video exposes Sydney crowd

watch-australian-fans-humiliating-indians-at-scg-viral-video-exposes-sydney-crowd-

Team India is currently participating in the five-match 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series on Australian soil versus the Mighty Australians. The series is currently led by the Kangaroos, who have a lead of 2-1. 
While the Indians kicked off the BGT series on a positive note, securing a comfortable victory in the Perth Test-Match, they have not been able to replicate that success in the remaining matches of the series. They suffered embarrassing defeats in the Adelaide and Melbourne Test-Matches while the Gabba Test-Match was a rain affected one and ended in a draw. 
The Rohit Sharma-led team fell to a shambolic 184 run defeat verus Pat Cummins and his men in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match and this defeat has made the Men in Blue's chances of qualifying for the WTC Final even more difficult. 
Actually, besides the Indian batters even the bowlers did not live upto expectations except Bumrah. While the Vice-Captain of the Team performed exceptionally well but he turned out to be the lone-warrior with the ball as he didn't get the required support from the other bowlers. 
In the first inning of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, the 29-year-old dismissed four Aussie batters before picking up a fifer in the 2nd inning. This way, he took a total of nine wickets in that match. 
<h2>The other Indian bowlers are not able to support Jasprit Bumrah</h2>
Statistics show that the performance of Bumrah in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC) have been absolutely phenomenal. This fast bowler has trapped many bowlers with his variations and has used countless number of tricks up his sleeve to decieve them but he is just not able to get the required support from the other end. 
In 35 WTC matches, the Indian Vice-Captain has dismissed 155 batters at a remarkable economy of 2.80 and an amazing average of 18.56. He has also dismissed those 155 batters with a strike rate of 39.78.
<h2>Such has been the performance of Jasprit Bumrah in the World Test Championship</h2>
In the 35 matches of the World Test Championship, Jasprit Bumrah has achieved the feat of taking 5 wickets in an innings 10 times. Apart from this, he has taken 4 wickets in an innings 7 times. Cricket experts believe that Jasprit Bumrah did not get the support of other Indian bowlers and that's the reason why the Men in Blue have struggled to dominate the Aussies. 
If Jasprit Bumrah had got the support of other bowlers, then perhaps the path to the World Test Championship would have been easier for the Indian team, but this did not happen. Let us tell you that in the current series against Australia, Jasprit Bumrah has taken 31 wickets at an average of 12.74.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/preview/hardik-pandya-set-to-lead-india-in-champions-trophy-2025-if-rohit-leaves-his-captaincy-role/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hardik Pandya set to lead India in Champions Trophy 2025 if Rohit leaves his captaincy role</a>

Jasprit Bumrah of India has performed in an exceptional manner in the World Test Championship (WTC) but despite his remarkable displays with the ball, Team India has struggled to capitalise.

Jasprit Bumrah has amazing stats in the WTC with the ball but still Team India is not able to perform well

jasprit-bumrah-has-amazing-stats-in-the-wtc-with-the-ball-but-still-team-india-is-not-able-to-perform-well

The fifth and final test between India and Australia started on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The first day has completed, but the biggest story is the Indian captain, Rohit Sharma. The 37-year-old opted to sit out for the final test, and Jasprit Bumrah led in his absence.
His decision has raised concerns over his future in the Indian test team as he is also going through a very bad phase with the bat. However, according to some media reports, Rohit has played his last test for India at the MCG and might not return in white. The report from Indian Express indicates that selectors are looking beyond Rohit in test cricket.
There are chances that the Indian captain might announce his retirement after the ongoing SCG test. If it happens, India need someone to bat at the top or replace him. Here we will talk about three possible replacements for Rohit Sharma in tests.
<h2>Three Players who can replace Rohit Sharma in whites if he retires after the SCG test</h2>
1. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill started as an opener in tests but shifted to no. 3 after India dropped Cheteshwar Pujara. But his numbers at no. 3 haven't done justice to his decision. India might need someone solid at the top, and Gill presents that technique. He can shift to the top of the order if Rohit retires from tests. He will give India a right-hand and left-hand option at the top with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
2. Abhimanyu Easwaran
Just like many Indian stars, Abhimanyu Easwaran is another name that has been knocking on the door of the Indian test side for the last couple of years now. He has been included in the squad many times but is still looking to get his maiden cap. He is a prolific scorer at the domestic level and is a gifted top-order batter. If given a chance, he can be a solid top-order batter. India can groom him into a good option to replace Rohit Sharma.
3. Nitish Kumar Reddy
This could be an out-of-the-box choice, but Nitish Kumar Reddy has certainly shown great composure for India in the ongoing BGT series. He has scored 294 runs at an average of 42 and is the third highest scorer in the series. He has shown that he has good technique to handle the bounce and pace. Currently, Reddy batting at no. 8 is not ideal for a talented batter like him. Just like Sam Konstas for Australia, he can be a fearless top-order batter if given a chance.

Rohit Sharma was dropped from the playing XI for the fifth and final test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

3 Players who can replace Rohit Sharma at the top if he announces his retirement after the SCG Test

3-players-who-can-replace-rohit-sharma-at-the-top-if-he-announces-his-retirement-after-the-scg-test

While all the attention has been going towards Rohit Sharma, the retirement of Virat Kohli might be closer than expected. The reports in Indian Express and PTI have suggested that time is ticking for the senior India batter in the longest format of the game. 
Rohit Sharma getting dropped from the Indian XI for the Sydney Test meant that the captain is no longer in the scheme of things in Tests. However, the report in Indian Express stated that Virat Kohli too might be at the helm of tough things when India is set to undergo transition. 
<h2>Selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar will be sitting with Virat Kohli after the ongoing Sydney Test to discuss his future</h2>
It is learned that the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar will be sitting with Virat Kohli after the ongoing Sydney Test to discuss his future. The premier batter has also been going through a rough patch of form and has struggled to score runs, getting out in similar fashion again and again to the balls outside off. 
In the other section of news, reported by PTI, it is learned that Virat Kohli's lean patch of form is making it very difficult for the Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee to pick him for the England series. India will be playing a five-match series in England later this year, which will mark the new WTC cycle. 
The reports claimed that Virat Kohli had already made the decision to retire at the Oval after the fifth Test against England. However, his ambitions are all set to face a massive setback. This means that the premier batter might be told that he is no longer in plans for the next cycle of the World Test Championship. 
It is also learned that the only senior who will be in plans for the next cycle of the World Test Championship is Ravindra Jadeja. The all-rounder has proved his worth again and again, and there is no chance of removing him from the Test team any time soon as selectors believe there is not much better than him at the moment. 
Coming to Virat Kohli, the India batter has struggled to get going in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The right-hander hit a solid century in the first match at the Perth, and after that, things have been quite tough for him. The premier batter has been getting out to balls outside off.
Virat Kohli faced the same fate in the ongoing Sydney Test. He got out to Scott Boland as he yet again poked at the ball outside off. The batter will have another opportunity in the next innings, and it's fair to say if he fails to get going in the next innings, then it might be curtains for him in the longest format of the game.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/jasprit-bumrah-on-the-cusp-of-rewriting-history-eyes-two-all-time-bowling-records-in-the-final-test-at-scg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jasprit Bumrah on the cusp of rewriting history; eyes two all-time bowling records in the final test at SCG</a>

While all the attention has been going towards Rohit Sharma, the retirement of Virat Kohli might be closer than expected.