India's luck with injuries has been terrible, as yet another star batsman has been ruled out of the three-match T20i series against Afghanistan. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya were already ruled out of the series due to injuries, but opening batter Ruturaj Gaiwad has been ruled out due to a finger injury he suffered during India's second ODI game against South Africa. But good news for Team India: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the Indian T20I squad. Down below, Check out the full India squad against Afghanistan



The three-match T20i series against Afghanistan will start on Thursday, as the first T20i will take place on January 11. While Afghanistan has already announced their squad for the T20i series against India, the Men in Blue today announced their squad.



According to the news report on ESPNcricinfo, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are expected to return to full fitness before the commencement of IPL 2024. SKY injured his ankle in the third T20i against South Africa while fielding, and he recently underwent ankle surgery. He is expected to return to training by February.



The T20i series against Afghanistan is the final T20i assignment of the Men in Blue before the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will start immediately after the end of IPL 2024. The selectors would have liked to have all the players available for selection, including Hardik Pandya, who got injured during India's group stage match of the 2023 ODI World Cup against Bangladesh in Pune.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">India announce their Squad for the T20i series against Afghanistan</h3>



The Selection Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Sunday, January 7, the 15-member Indian squad for the three-match T20 series against Afghanistan. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have made their comeback to the shortest format, with Rohit returning as the captain.



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With the Test series against England set to begin right after the end of the T20 series against Afghanistan, there were doubts regarding the availability of main players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Siraj. The duo of Kohli and Rohit have not played any T20 internationals for India ever since the Men in Blue's exit from the T20 World Cup 2022 with a humiliating defeat against champions England in the semi-final. While Rohit and Virat are back, others such as Rahul, Siraj, Jadeja, and Bumrah have been rested from the T20i series.



Wicket Keeper Sanju Samson has also been included in the squad for the Afghanistan series thanks to the century he scored in the 3rd ODI against South Africa. It remains to be seen whether he will get preference over Jitesh Sharma or not as the first-choice wicketkeeper. Ishan Kishan has not been selected as he continues with the break he took before the Test series against South Africa.



India's T20i squad against Afghanistan: Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar.



Afghanistan?s Squad against India: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Rahmat Shah, Hazratullah Zazai, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Azmaullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sharafuddin Ashraf, FazalHaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">India vs Afghanistan T20I Series 2024:</h3>



<ul>
<li>January 11, 1st T20I, PCA Stadium, Mohali</li>



<li>January 14, 2nd T20I, Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore</li>



<li>January 17, 3rd T20I, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru</li>
</ul>



Read - <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-ms-dhoni-spotted-smoking-hookah-in-an-event-video-goes-viral/#google_vignette">Watch: Ms Dhoni spotted smoking Hookah in an event, video?goes?viral</a>



Visit the?<a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/homepage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC OFFICIAL WEBSITE</a>?for more recent updates.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in the Indian T20I squad, Check out the full India squad against Afghanistan

virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-are-back-in-the-indian-t20i-squad-check-out-the-full-india-squad-against-afghanistan

IND vs AFG: India team is on the road to the <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/groups-fixtures-confirmed-for-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2024" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/groups-fixtures-confirmed-for-icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-2024">T20 World Cup 2024</a>. The tournament will be played in the USA and the Caribbean from 1st to 29th June. The Men in Blue won?t have much opportunity to play together as they will only be playing just one series ahead of the tournament.?



India will be lock horns with Afghanistan in the three-match series, to be played from 11th to 17th January. The three games will be an opportunity for them to get answers to most of the things and they would be hoping to look at the combination for the World Cup.&nbsp;



The senior duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the mix and will be part of the IND vs AFG series. They will be playing the format after 14 long months and it could well be an indication that they will be playing in the T20 World Cup 2024.?



Virat Kohli will be missing the first IND vs AFG T20I due to personal reasons but will be joining the team for the second game. Head coach Rahul Dravid confirmed that they will be opening with Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first game.?



Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-afg-rashid-khan-to-miss-the-entire-t20i-series-against-india/" data-type="post" data-id="125154">IND vs AFG: Rashid Khan to miss the entire T20i series against?India</a>



But this doesn?t mean that they will be opening in future games. A report in the Telegraph has suggested that there could be a possibility that India might open with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and this could be their template for the T20 World Cup 2024.?



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Rohit and Kohli's opening could be a great tactic as it will allow them to fit youngsters in the middle order. The duo has a great record as openers and it could make a huge difference for the team and could allow them to win the title.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">IND vs AFG: Rahul Dravid keeps the option of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli batting at the top open&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/01/Rohit-Virat-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="IND vs AFG: Former selector explains why Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli were picked in Team India's squad for Afghanistan" class="wp-image-125088" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Reuters Photo</figcaption></figure>



India head coach Rahul Dravid also was asked about the possibility of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opening. He, however, kept that option open and stated that they the duo has the ability and skills to be successful against any bowling lineup.?



The upcoming IND vs AFG series is likely to give a lot of answers ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. All the eyes will be on the team as to what combination they play in the first game.&nbsp;

IND vs AFG: Talks of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opening in T20Is under discussion - Reports

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Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from T20 International cricket after guiding India to a historic T20 World Cup title in 2024. Following India's thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final, Sharma decided it was the perfect moment to step back from the shortest format of the game.



Here are some key reasons for his decision:



<ol>
<li>Achieving a Career Milestone: Sharma's primary motivation was the satisfaction of winning the T20 World Cup, a title he had long desired. Securing this victory provided a fitting conclusion to his T20I career.</li>



<li>Focus on Other Formats: By retiring from T20Is, Sharma can now concentrate on Test and ODI cricket, where he continues to play a crucial role for India. This decision allows him to manage his workload and prolong his career in these formats.</li>



<li>Passing the Torch: Like Virat Kohli, who also retired from T20Is around the same time, Sharma believes it's time for the next generation of players to step up and take on leadership roles in T20 cricket. This transition ensures a fresh perspective and new energy in the team.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/06/INDIA-TEAM-WIN-T20-WORLD-CUP-2024-938x1024.webp" alt="Team India celebrates the win in the T20 World Cup 2024." class="wp-image-142072"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Team India celebrates the win in the T20 World Cup 2024.</figcaption></figure>



Reflecting on his decision during the post-match press conference, Sharma said, "This was my last game as well. No better time to say goodbye. I wanted this trophy badly. It?s very hard to put in words. This is what I wanted and it happened. I was very desperate for this in my life. Happy that we crossed the line this time."



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/06/Rohit-Sharma-and-Jay-Hah-with-T20-World-Cup-2024-1024x677.webp" alt="Rohit Sharma and Honorary Secretary, BCCI Jay Hah with T20 World Cup 2024" class="wp-image-142071"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rohit Sharma and Honorary Secretary, BCCI Jay Hah with T20 World Cup 2024</figcaption></figure>



Sharma's retirement from T20Is marks the end of an illustrious chapter in his cricketing career, characterized by significant contributions and leadership in India's journey to becoming T20 World Champions.

Rohit Sharma|Rohit Sharma and Honorary Secretary, BCCI Jay Hah with T20 World Cup 2024|Team India celebrates the win in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Why did Rohit Sharma retire from T20?

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After suffering a humiliating defeat versus the Australian Cricket Team in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, a lot of questions have started to raise on the duo of Rohit Sharma &amp; Virat Kohli. It's believed that both the players will retire from the longest format of the game post the conclusion of the ongoing 2024-25 BGT series but, have both of them really made up their mind to retire? 
Will the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy versus the Australia be the final Test-Series of Rohit and Virat? Former Indian Cricketer and Head-Coach has made a big prediction on this matter. 
<h2>'Kohli still has 3-4 years of Cricket left in him but...'</h2>
Ravi Shastri believes that the legendary Virat Kohli still has three to four years of Cricket left in him, but Rohit Sharma on the other hand is struggling with poor form and technique in red-ball Cricket. Therefore, the Indian captain needs to start thinking about his future. 
He said, "I feel that he (Virat) will carry on playing Cricket for a few more years. Forget the manner in which he's getting dismissed or other things, I feel he will play for atleast three-four years. As far as Rohit is concerned, he needs to take the tough decision. His footwork is not the same anymore".
<h2>What's going on with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma? </h2>
Regarding the poor form of Rohit Sharma in Test Cricket, Shastri said that he probably takes a lot of time while executing his shots at times. So he should take a big call after the ens of this series versus Australia. 
Apart from this, the former Indian Heach Coach also pointed fingers towards the problems in Rohit's batting-technique, especially in the way he moves his front-foot. He said, "We all have witnessed many times in this current series that his front-foot is not going towards the ball as it's supposed to. He needs to find a way to overcome these problems otherwise he needs to move away from Red Ball Cricket".
It will be interesting to see what kind of a decision both Kohli and Sharma take in regards to their future in the longest format of the game. 
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/on-this-day-in-2014-the-legendary-ms-dhoni-played-his-final-test-and-retired-from-the-longest-format-of-the-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On this day in 2014, the legendary MS Dhoni played his final test and retired from the longest format of the game</a>

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma of India chatting with each other in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match | Image: X (Tanuj Singh)

Former Indian Head Coach Ravi Shastri has given a big statement regarding the future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Test Cricket

IND vs AUS: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will retire! Former Indian  Head Coach makes a big prediction

ind-vs-aus-virat-kohli-and-rohit-sharma-will-retire-former-indian-head-coach-makes-a-big-prediction

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

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

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

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

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

In what promises to be an intense and exciting encounter, Fierce-Rivals Australia and India will be witnessed locking horns versus each other for one last time in the 5th &amp; the final Test-Match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series on Australian Soil. Under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah, the aim of the Men in Blue would be to win this forthcoming contest and retain the precious BGT Trophy. We will also be taking a look at the Dream 11 teams ahead of this exciting encounter. 
Currently, the Pat Cummins-led team are ahead in the series as they have a 2-1 lead and this makes the Sydney Test-Match a must win one for the Men in Blue. Winning this test would also keep Team India's hopes of qualifying for the WTC Final alive. 
<h3>IND vs AUS 5th Test: Team Updates of both teams</h3>
Talking about team updates, the Kangaroos have decided to replace all-rounder Mitchell Marsh with 31-year-old Beautiful Webster in the starting 11 for the Sydney Test-Match. India on the other hand, will have to make a forced change as Akash Deep is set to miss the final contest due to a back injury and Prasidh Krishna is expected to replace him in the team.
<h2>IND vs AUS: Head-2-Head Records in Test Cricket</h2>
Fierce-Rivals Australia and India have faced each other 111 times in Test Cricket and out of these 111 encounters, 47 have been won by the Kangaroos while the Indians have finished out on top on 33 occasions. 30 contests between the two teams have ended in a draw while one encounter got tied. 
<h2>IND vs AUS 5th Test: Pitch-Report of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) </h2>
Everyone's eyes are on the pitch of Sydney Cricket Ground. Although it is considered to be the most helpful pitch for spin in Australia. But there is a lot of grass on the pitch a day before the match. Now it will be interesting to see whether the grass is removed on the morning of the match or left as it is. Even after having grass, if the match goes on the fourth and fifth day, then there is every possibility of spin getting help. Three of the top-4 bowlers who have taken the most Test wickets on this ground are spinners.
<h2>IND vs AUS 5th Test: Weather Forecast of the match</h2>
According to AccuWeather's report, there will be no rain for the first 4 days while the threat of rain will loom over the match on the last day. There is an 80% chance of rain in Sydney on the 7th of January. The match may also be a draw due to rain, which will not be good news for Team India. If the Sydney Test is drawn, Team India will lose the series 1-2.
<h2>IND vs AUS 5th Test: Best Dream-11 Team for the Sydney Test-Match</h2>
Batters: Travis Head, Steven Smith and Yashasvi Jaiswal
All Rounders: Nitish Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja
Wicket Keepers: Rishabh Pant
Bowlers: Nathan Lyon, Jasprit Bumrah, Scott Boland, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-aus-rohit-sharma-opts-out-of-sydney-test-massive-updates-about-indian-xi-arrive-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma opts out of Sydney Test, massive updates about Indian XI arrive</a>

Team India players celebrate Australia's first wicket | Image: Cricket Australia

The fifth and the final match of the 2024-25 BGT series is all set to commence from tomorrow i.e 3rd of January between India and Australia and Dream 11 fans looking forward to making a winnable team can reach our article

IND vs AUS 5th Test: Dream 11 Teams, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast and more

ind-vs-aus-5th-test-dream-11-teams-pitch-report-weather-forecast-and-more

India batter Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are all set to play the three-match ODI series against England. As per the reports in Times of India, it is learned that both the senior batters of the team will be playing the series and have no intention to take a rest. 
A few days ago, some reports claimed that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli won't be playing the three-match ODI series against England. The duo were speculated to be rested to manage their workload, especially after the hectic Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
But it raised many eyeballs as to why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be rested, especially with the three-match ODI series against England being the only series ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The ICC event will be taking place in February-March and it will be a crucial tournament for India. 
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have come under massive pump for their poor returns with the bat. And also with them already announcing their retirement from T20Is, the ODIs against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be extremely important for both the stalwarts. 
The ODI series between England and India will get underway from 6th February at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. The second game of the series is scheduled to take place on 9th February in Cuttack, followed by the last match to be played on 12th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 
<h2>Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played a white-ball game during the ODI series against Sri Lanka</h2>
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli last played a white-ball game during the ODI series against Sri Lanka. The two players will have to play a massive part if India needs to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Rohit Sharma-led side will be playing their games in Dubai as the tournament will be played in a Hybrid model. 
Currently, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are playing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. Both the players have struggled to get going. The skipper, in particular, has looked torrid and is all set to be dropped from the team for the last match of the series. 
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, slammed a century in the opening match of the series. But after that, has looked torrid with the bat. It remains to be seen how he will fare in the last game of the series.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gambhir-vs-agarkar-selection-committee-declined-head-coach-s-request-of-cheteshwar-pujara-s-inclusion-for-bgt-2024-25-reports/">Gambhir vs Agarkar? Selection Committee declined Head Coach's request of Cheteshwar Pujara's inclusion for BGT 2024-25: Reports</a>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

India Cricket Team is all set to have massive changes going into the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Showdown will be taking place at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, and it surely will be more than just a match for the visitors. 
As per the reports in Indian Express, it is learned that Rohit Sharma is all set to be rested for the final game of the series. The Indian captain has himself opted out of the Sydney Test and conveyed the same to head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar. 
Both Agarkar and Gambhir accepted Rohit Sharma's decision and the team will be playing the game without their captain. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah will be captaining the team and Shubman Gill will be replacing Rohit in the XI and will be batting at No.3 in the last game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Rohit Sharma opting out of the Sydney Test means that the India captain has played his last game in whites. The reports claimed that he might not be in the scheme of things for the next World Test Championship Cycle, which begins with a tour to England in June-July this year. 
Jasprit Bumrah captained the Indian team in the opening game of the series in Perth and under his leadership team won the match. The reports claimed that Shubman Gill will be batting at No.3 and KL Rahul will open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. 
<h2> Prasidh Krishna will be drafted into the XI in place of Akash Deep</h2>
The reports also added that Prasidh Krishna will be drafted into the XI in place of Akash Deep. The latter got injured in the practice session and has been ruled out of the match. It will be a massive opportunity for Krishna to make an impact and help the team draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 
Also, there were reports which stated that Rishabh Pant will be dropped for Dhruv Jurel but Indian Express has confirmed that the Southpaw will be playing the match. He faced a lot of criticism getting out to wild shots in the last two games and would be hoping to silence all his critics.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-s-record-at-sydney-cricket-ground-before-the-ind-vs-aus-5th-test/">India's Record at Sydney Cricket Ground Before the IND vs AUS 5th Test</a>

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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India captain Rohit Sharma is all set to be dropped from the playing XI for the final Test of the series against Australia. The match between the two teams will be played on Friday (3rd January) at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. 
Rohit Sharma, as per the various media reports, won't be featuring in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This has been quite evident with the way things have been panning out in the practice session a day ahead of the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 
India captain also didn't bat much in the nets and came to bat after batters had their sessions. Various media outlets have suggested that Rohit Sharma will be replaced by Shubman Gill, who got the first preference in the nets and was also seen getting a pat on the back by Gautam Gambhir. 
The India head coach, Gautam Gambhir, was also seen having a conversation with Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, with the fast bowler being actively involved in the conversations with the head coach. This, in all fairness, suggests that fast bowlers will be leading the team. 
But there also has been some section of reports which has stated that Shubman Gill might be leading the team. This is because team management might look at the bigger picture and allow the youngster to take charge of the team. But so far no clarity seems to be there.
<h2>We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow - Gautam Gambhir on Rohit Sharma </h2>
Even head coach Gautam Gambhir said refused to give any clarity about Rohit Sharma playing the final Test. He said that they would be taking the call after looking at the pitch. While speaking to reporters, he explained: 
"Everything is fine with Rohit and I don't think it's anything traditional. The head coach is here and that should be good enough. We are going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it tomorrow. As I just said we are going to have a look at the wicket and announce our playing XI tomorrow. The answer remains the same.” 
Rohit Sharma has witnessed a massive dip in the form. In the last 15 innings, the India captain has scored only 164 runs in 15 innings at a shocking average of just 10.93, with one half-century score. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he has slammed just 31 runs. It remains to be seen now where will his future be heading.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/india-s-record-at-sydney-cricket-ground-before-the-ind-vs-aus-5th-test/">India's Record at Sydney Cricket Ground Before the IND vs AUS 5th Test</a>

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

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

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The Indian Men's National Cricket Team is set to suffer a major setback as it prepares to take on Fierce-Rivals Australia in the 5th &amp; final Test-Match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Fresh Reports are emerging that the Men in Blue may lose the services of fast bowler Akash Deep for the crucial Do-or-Die Sydney Test-Match. There are also reports that have emerged recently which have suggested that the Indian team management are considering the place of wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant in the team. 
28-year-old Akash Deep has been dealt a major setback with a possible back injury. According to the news report of the Indian Express, the players is suffering a lot of pain in his back and will most likely miss out on selection from the Sydney Test-Match. On the other hand, some news reports suggest that the Team management is considering replacing Pant with Dhruv Jurel in Sydney. 
The absence of both players at such a crucial time is surely going to prove to be a major setback for the Indian team. Akash is a player who has performed well with both ball &amp; bat and this was pretty evident in the Melbourne Test-Match, where he saved the Rohit Sharma-led outfit from the follow-on threat by getting involved in a crucial 47 run partnership for the final wicket with fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
<h2>Who will be the replacement of Akash Deep? </h2>
The injury to the 28-year-old seamer has halted the Rohit Sharma-led outfit's preparations for the 5th Test-Match in Sydney. The two time WTC Runner's-up now will be forced to rethink and rework their strategies and they also have to take care of vice captain Jasprit Bumrah's workload. 
With Akash Deep likely to sit out of the 5th Test-Match, Harshit Rana is likely to be given yet another opportunity to prove himself in Sydney and he will be looking to perform at his best and help the Indian Team retain the precious BGT Trophy. 
The Indian Think Tank might also consider the possibility of bringing in Prasidh Krishna into the playing 11 in place of Jadeja Or Sundar, but since the surface of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is known to provide assistance to the spin bowlers, the Men in Blue will likely go ahead with two spinners. Also Jadeja and Sundar are handy batters so the Indian think tank might no want to hamper their batting at the expense of bringing in an extra bowler.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/5-reasons-why-team-india-lost-the-melbourne-test-match-versus-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5 Reasons why Team India lost the Melbourne Test match versus Australia</a>

Akash Deep of India caused a lot of problems for Steve Smith and Travis Head of Australia in the Gabba Test-Match | Image: Getty Images

Team India have been handed a major setback as Akash Deep is suffering back pain issues is likely to miss the 5th Test-Match in Sydney.

India's Akash Deep set to miss the 5th Test Match in Sydney, suffers am injury setback

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The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently going on in Australia between the Mighty Aussies and Team India. The series was tied at 1-1 after the two Fierce-Rivals played out a dramatic 3rd Test-Match in Brisbane but the hosts fought back in excellent fashion, securing a hard-fought victory by 184 runs in the Boxing-Day Test-Match in Melbourne and took a 2-1 lead. 
Except the Test-Match in Perth, Virat Kohli hasn't created any kind of impact with the bat and Rohit on the other hand, has looked completely out of touch since returning in the Adelaide Test-Match. Moreover, all of their shot choices have proven to be poor and mediocre. Even in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match, both players got punished after playing mediocre shots. 
<h2>Gambhir will have the final say in terms of deciding the Playing 11:</h2>
It has been reported that the Indian Team selectors and the chairman of the selection committee Ajit Agarkar have given Gambhir the full authority to select the Starting 11 for the Must-win Sydney Test-Match. 
Since the Sydney Test-Match is going to be a do-or-die one for the Rohit Sharma-led team, it's being said that the out-of-form players will most likely get dropped and the in-form players will be given the opportunity to prove themselves. There is a high possibility that the duo of Kohli &amp; Rohit might get dropped for the Sydney Test. 
During the net practice session, if both the experienced players perform in a satisfactory manner, only then they will be included in the Starting 11.The places of other players will also be decided through the net-practice sessions. 
Therefore, there are high chances of Dhruv Jurel getting a chance to play in the final Test-Match and the return of Shubman Gill is also going to be imminent. Mostly, he will replace the Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the playing 11.Also, there are chances that Nitish Kumar Reddy might get a chance to bat up the order. 
<h2>The Bowling-Attack is likely to see some changes</h2>
Except Jasprit Bumrah, the rest of the Indian bowlers have failed to live upto expectations and this over reliance on the Indian Vice-Captain is proving to be a big problem for the Men in Blue. Bumrah needs to get some support from his fellow bowlers and since he's not getting it, some hard changes are expected to be made. 
Siraj may have dismissed 16 batters in the ongoing BGT series but he has not looked at his best in the first four encounters versus the Aussies and this may be a good time to give some rest to the 30-year-old and bring in Prasidh Krishna. 
The 28-year-old seamer is someone who knows how to use the bouncer well and his deadly bouncers on the pitch of Sydney can prove to be a nightmare for the Australian batters. 
Talking about Akash Deep, he hasn't proven to be effective at all with the ball and while he may have scored some crucial runs as a tailender, they may not be enough to save him from getting dropped. Harshit Rana who took a four wicket haul in the Perth Test-Match is likely to replace Akash Deep in the Starting 11 for the Sydney Test. 
While the former wasn't effective in Adelaide, he can prove his doubters wrong by giving his best in the Sydney Test-Match. 
India's Strongest Playing XI (5th Test) - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Reddy, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant (WK), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah (captain) &amp; Harshit Rana.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/jasprit-bumrah-crushes-ravichandran-ashwin-to-become-the-first-india-bowler-to-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jasprit Bumrah crushes Ravichandran Ashwin to become the first India bowler to...</a>

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma of India | Image: Associated Press

The Sydney Test-Match is going to be a must win for the Indian Cricket Team and some harsh decisions will have to be taken in regards to playing 11 if the Rohit Sharma-led want to have any chance of retaining the BGT Trophy

IND vs AUS 5th Test: Team India's Strongest Playing 11 for the Perth Test Match

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Things are not at all going right for the Indian team currently at the moment in Test cricket. Amid all this, a fresh set of reports has emerged in the media, which has suggested that Virat Kohli might be back at the helm of things as a leader in Test cricket. 
Virat Kohli, who is the most successful Test captain of India, has expressed his desire to take over the Test captaincy of India. As per the reports in RevSportz, it is learned that the senior batter wants to continue playing till 2027 as he wants to give his best for the team and help them. 
There were reports in Indian Express, which claimed that one senior batter in the team, ahead of the series, had made his thought that he would be eyeing the captaincy and had mentioned at the start that he would be doing something special in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
Virat Kohli, who is expected to be that senior player, feels that he can help the team in the transition phase. He has touted himself as the ‘Mr Fix-It’, and he believes that no youngster so far is ready to take the charge and wants to take over the captaincy on an interim basis. 
<h2>Virat Kohli expressing his desire to take over the leadership role means that Rohit Sharma's tenure as the captain of the team is all set to end</h2>
Virat Kohli expressing his desire to take over the leadership role means that Rohit Sharma's tenure as the captain of the team is all set to end. The skipper of the team has come under massive scrutiny following his poor efforts in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
His poor performances with the bat, too, haven't helped his cause, as the captain has scored around 30 runs in the series. There have been several reports that have stated that Rohit Sharma might announce his retirement after the Sydney Test, which will be the last game of the series. 
Things are also not going right in the Indian dressing room. It is learned that senior players of the team aren't on the same page with Gautam Gambhir, and the head coach, too, hasn't been amazed by the way the players have played in the series so far. 
The Sydney Test will be a great opportunity for the entire team to reply to all the criticism. The match will be played from 3rd January and winning there will help the Rohit Sharma-led side to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/jasprit-bumrah-crushes-ravichandran-ashwin-to-become-the-first-india-bowler-to-/">Jasprit Bumrah crushes Ravichandran Ashwin to become the first India bowler to...</a>

Virat Kohli, who is the most successful Test captain of India, has expressed his desire to take over the Test captaincy of India