The WTC 2021-2023 cycle is almost coming to an end. Test cricket is the most loved format of the sport. We have seen a few test matches go down the wire of late. These games are the ones that make sports exciting. Post the announcement of the <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/tag/icc-world-test-championship/">World Test Championship</a>, the test matches have got a meaning and the games are truly very interesting. But who are the top performers of the WTC 2021-2023 cycle??



<h2>Most Runs in WTC 2021-2023 Cycle:&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Name&nbsp;</td><td>Country&nbsp;</td><td>Innings&nbsp;</td><td>Runs&nbsp;</td><td>Average&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Joe Root&nbsp;</td><td>England&nbsp;</td><td>40&nbsp;</td><td>1915&nbsp;</td><td>53.7&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Babar Azam&nbsp;</td><td>Pakistan&nbsp;</td><td>26&nbsp;</td><td>1527&nbsp;</td><td>61.8&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Usma Khawaja&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>27&nbsp;</td><td>1428&nbsp;</td><td>64.9&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Marnus Labuschagne&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>29&nbsp;</td><td>1384&nbsp;</td><td>53.2&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Jonny Bairstow&nbsp;</td><td>England&nbsp;</td><td>28&nbsp;</td><td>1285&nbsp;</td><td>51.4&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Joe Root has Mot Runs in the WTC 2021-2023 Cycle:&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Joe-Root-min-1024x689.jpg" alt="Joe Root WTC 2021-2023 Cycle" class="wp-image-100380"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Joe Root has without a doubt been the top batter in this cycle. IMG SRC: ECB</figcaption></figure>



Joe Root has scored a mountain of runs in this cycle of the World Test Championship. He was the only English batter scoring runs in the first half of the WTC 2021-2023 cycle. It was evident that the<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/category/cricket-team/icc-teams/england/"> England cricket team</a> was struggling but Joe Root was their lone warrior. Root has been an integral part of their success after adopting the Bazzball approach as well. It is because players like Root, bind the team together. His getting sacked from captaincy was a setback but that has worked exceptionally well for him and the team.?



Most Wickets in WTC 2021-2023 Cycle:&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Name&nbsp;</td><td>Country&nbsp;</td><td>Wickets&nbsp;</td><td>Average&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Nathan Lyon&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>69&nbsp;</td><td>28.82&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>James Anderson&nbsp;</td><td>England&nbsp;</td><td>58&nbsp;</td><td>20.3&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Kagiso Rabada&nbsp;</td><td>South Africa&nbsp;</td><td>55&nbsp;</td><td>23.2&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Ollie Robinson&nbsp;</td><td>England&nbsp;</td><td>53&nbsp;</td><td>20.7&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pat Cummins&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>53&nbsp;</td><td>21.22&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Nathan Lyon has the Most Wickets:&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/lyon-kohli.jpg" alt="WTC 2021-2023 cycle Nathan Lyon" class="wp-image-102001"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nathan Lyon has taken Australia to the top of the WTC table. IMG SRC: CA</figcaption></figure>



Lyon has managed to get himself to the top of the charts this time around. He was a class apart from all the other bowlers. Playing in Australian conditions where the ball is generally meant to be given to the pacers, Lyon managed to be the trump card of the Australians. He was the reason behind the success of Australia in this WTC 2021-2023 cycle. His performance against India in Indore was elite. It was one for the ages. Lyon has been a tireless workhorse for the Australian team and has been a part of all the Ashes series since 2013.&nbsp;



<h2>Highest Individual Scores:&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Marnus-Labuschagne-1024x559.jpg" alt="WTC 2021-2023 Cycle. " class="wp-image-22795"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">IMG SRC: CA Twitter</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Player&nbsp;</td><td>Score&nbsp;</td><td>For&nbsp;</td><td>Against&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Tom Latham&nbsp;</td><td>252&nbsp;</td><td>New Zealand&nbsp;</td><td>Bangladesh&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dinesh Chandimal&nbsp;</td><td>206*&nbsp;</td><td>Sri Lanka&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Marnus Labuschagne&nbsp;</td><td>204&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>West Indies&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Steve Smith &nbsp;</td><td>200*&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>West Indies&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>David Warner&nbsp;</td><td>200&nbsp;</td><td>Australia&nbsp;</td><td>South Africa&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



To know more go to &nbsp;<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/tata-ipl-2023-best-5-overseas-players-to-have-played-in-the-ipl/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/tata-ipl-2023-best-5-overseas-players-to-have-played-in-the-ipl/" rel="noreferrer noopener">TATA IPL 2023: Best 5 Overseas Players To Have Played in the IPL.</a>



Read more such articles at<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/tata-ipl-2023-top-5-value-for-money-players-in-the-history-of-the-tournament/" target="_blank" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/tata-ipl-2023-top-5-value-for-money-players-in-the-history-of-the-tournament/" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;TATA IPL 2023: Top 5 Value for Money Players in the History of the Tournament.</a>



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

WTC 2021-2023: Top Performers of the World Test Championship. Most Runs, Most Wickets. Best Scores. All You Need to Know.&nbsp;

wtc-2021-2023-top-performers-of-the-world-test-championship-most-runs-most-wickets-best-scores-all-you-need-to-know

WTC 2023 Final Qualifying Scenario: Australia has qualified for the WTC final following a convincing 9-wicket win against Team India in Indore. Two teams are competing for the last spot in the tournament. One of the four games between South Africa and the West Indies has no chance. This moves the attention to the outcome of the Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand series, which begins on the same day as the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.&nbsp;



<h2>Top Spot for WTC 2023:</h2>



Australia was the first team to secure their place in the Test series against India. Nevertheless, two crushing losses, one by an innings and 123 runs in the first game and one by six wickets in the second, saw Team India emerge as the number one team to clinch the deal. The tables have now flipped, with Australia dominating the third game.



With 68.52 PCT, Australia has risen to the top of the WTC points standings. India is in second place with 60.29 PCT, but they haven't made it to the final yet. Sri Lanka, who is in third place, is a threat to India's qualification.



<h2>India vs. Australia, Fourth Test Match:</h2>



After three dust bowls, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was finally a batting paradise for the India-Australia series. However, the change may not help the hosts much since they are trying to qualify for the finals of the World Test Championship (WTC). Before the series finals, Team India head coach Rahul Dravid said that the choice to play on turners and result-oriented surfaces was made with the WTC final qualifying in mind. Still, when the ICC said that the pitch in Indore was bad, a batting paradise was set up. Australia took advantage of this when they won the toss and scored 480 runs in the first innings. Usman Khawaja scored 180 runs, and Cameron Green scored 114 runs to reach his maiden Test century.



<h2>India Scenario for WTC 2023 Final:</h2>



The type of surface and Australia's talent may jeopardize India's prospects, considering that India must win the current match if they do not want to rely on other outcomes to make the WTC 2023 final. If India wins the current test, their points percentage (PCT) will increase from 60.29 to 62.5. If they lose, the PCT will fall to 56.9. If the game is a tie, India's PCT will be 58.7.



As a consequence, if Sri Lanka wins the match against New Zealand, India's destiny is out of their control. Sri Lanka leads New Zealand by 65 runs (2nd innings) in the series opener in Christchurch and should easily defeat the Kiwis in the next Test match. Sri Lanka's PCT is now at 53.33. If Sri Lanka wins the first game of the series, their PCT will jump to 57.58. Nevertheless, in order for Sri Lanka to qualify for the WTC final, they must win both Test matches since only their PCT will reach 61.1.



Sri Lanka's hopes would collapse if they failed to win even one of the two matches against New Zealand. Sri Lanka's PCT will be 52.77 if they win one and lose the other. If they win one match and tie the other, their PCT will be 55.55. As a result, even if India loses the Ahmedabad Test (or the game is drawn), they will still have a chance to qualify for the final.



<h2>WTC 2021-23 Final Scenarios:</h2>



For Australia vs. India-



India to win the 4th Test, or Sri Lanka to lose or draw one Test match vs. New Zealand.



For Australia vs. Sri Lanka-



Sri Lanka has to defeat New Zealand by 2-0, or India will lose the fourth Test.



Read this: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-aus-india-is-already-in-icc-wtc-final-says-sanjay-manjrekar/" target="_blank" data-type="post" data-id="104135" rel="noreferrer noopener">IND vs AUS: India is already in ICC WTC Final says Sanjay Manjrekar</a>

WTC 2023 Final Qualifying Scenario: What Happens If India Wins Or Loses In The Fourth Test Against Australia?

wtc-2023-final-qualifying-scenario-what-happens-if-india-wins-or-loses-in-the-fourth-test-against-australia

ICC WTC Final 2023 India's Final Squad against Australia: The opponents for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 are locked up as we will see a rematch between India and Australia on the world stage. The two teams will lock horns at Kennington Oval in London from June 7 to get crowned as the World Test Champions for the year 2023.



Australia sealed its position in the ICC WTC Final by defeating India in the 3rd test of the recently completed Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023. The Aussies finished their test run from 2021-23 atop the ICC WTC points table with a 66.67 win percentage. 



Meanwhile, India managed to cross the barrier after retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 and with a little help from New Zealand, who defeated Sri Lanka in the NZ vs SL 1st test. India's purple run in the BGT 2023 helped them to remain second to the Australian side in the ICC WTC 2023 Points Table.



Now that we have got both of our finalists, let's have a look at ICC WTC Final 2023 India's squad against Australia - Prediction.



<h2>ICC WTC Final 2023 India's Final Squad</h2>



Openers - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill



Captain Rohit Sharma has loved the company of Shubman Gill in the recent past. The two have provided India with some solid starts and partnerships. Rohit has been a different batter in the tests ever since he started opening the innings. He has looked more assured and worked his way out to tackle his woes. On the other side, Shubman Gill has taken the world by storm. He has been scoring runs for the team and has even registered three format centuries recently.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rohit-Sharma-Virat-Kohli.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final 2023 India's Squad against Australia - Prediction" class="wp-image-101300" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo Credit: AP</figcaption></figure>



Middle Order - Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), KL Rahul (wk) 



The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer/Suryakumar Yadav will form the Indian middle order. While Pujara has managed to score 140 runs in 4 test matches in 2023, Virat Kohli slammed a century to shut his critics. In the recently held Border Gavaskar Trophy, Virat Kohli remained one of the top run-scorers with 297 runs from 4 matches. 



Shreyas Iyer would be the ideal choice at number 5 for India, but, there are high chances that the batter could get rule out of the WTC Final 2023 due to his back injury. In such case, Suryakumar Yadav can replace him in the team.



Team India can carry two wicketkeeper - KS Bharat &amp; KL Rahul - for the ICC WTC Final 2023. Young KS Bharat was given a long rope in the recently held BGT 2023, however, the glovesman couldn't cement his place in the team. In 6 test innings, Bharat has only managed to score 101 runs at a poor average of 20.20. 



Meanwhile, KL Rahul could be other wicketkeeping option. India will require the services of KL Rahul in England. Keeping in mind how KL Rahul performed in the previous England tour, he will be a crucial player for the Indian team. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Axar-Patel-Ravindra-Jadeja.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final 2023 India's Squad against Australia - Prediction" class="wp-image-102158" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: BCCI</figcaption></figure>



All-Rounders - Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur



Although India would love to have pace bowling all-rounders in England, but, unfortunately, there aren't many options available right now. The likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and R Ashwin are all spinners, who can bat. Only Shardul Thakur is the pace bowling all-rounder available. Interestingly, Hardik Pandya can become a surprise inclusion in the team, however, he recently denied featuring in the test format.



Bowlers - Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav



The bowling unit of the Indian team include - Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Mohamamd Shami and Umesh Yadav. Unfortunately, Jasprit Bumrah won't be available to aid the Indian team in England this time. The pacer has recently undergone a back surgery to cure his long persisting injury.



<h4>ICC WTC Final 2023 India's Final Squad:</h4>



Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wk), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/Suryakumar Yadav, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav.



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To know more head to BCCI's official <a href="https://www.bcci.tv/">website</a>.

ICC WTC Final 2023 India's Squad against Australia - Prediction

icc-wtc-final-2023-indias-squad-against-australia-prediction

ICC WTC Final: After two years of spectacular cricket Test cricket, we have got the finalists for the World Test Championship. India Cricket Team has managed to reach the final as they played a sensational brand of Test cricket over the last couple of years and the hard work of that has paid off. They will now face Australia in the main event at Oval England from the 7th to the 11th of June.&nbsp;



This is the second time India has qualified for the final of the WTC 2023. They lost to New Zealand first time and this time around it?ll be an extremely crucial game for them as they haven?t won any ICC trophy since 2013. They have faced a lot of criticism for that and many are backing them to change their fortunes and bring the trophy home.&nbsp;



On the other hand, Australia was the most dominant team during this cycle of WTC. They thumped every team that they played against apart from India and would be raring to get the title. The English conditions would suit them more as compared to their opponents&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: Ajinkya Rahane is still optimistic about finding a place in the squad for WTC Final</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Ajinkya-Rahane.jpg" alt="I took decisions, someone else took its credit, says Ajinkya Rahane" class="wp-image-65965" /></figure>



ICC WTC Final: With World Test Championship Final around the corner, India batter Ajinkya Rahane hasn?t ruled out his chances to play for India against Australia. He has said that anything can happen and he will not give up.&nbsp;



?Still, a long way to go [WTC final]. Today, I was not sure about my place in the eleven, (and) got to know just before the toss. For me, it is about playing one game at a time and staying in the moment. Anything can happen. I will never give up. For me it is about playing with enjoyment and passion,"&nbsp;he said.&nbsp;



Ajinkya Rahane was dropped from the Indian Test side after his torrid run in the Tests. He has been on the sidelines for almost a year and also was terminated from the BCCI?s annual contract as well. Having played the last Test in January, the right-hander averages just 20.25 in his last 15 Test matches with no hundreds and just three fifties.&nbsp;



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However, with India likely to be without the services of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer for the summit clash against Australia, one name that pops up for the spot is Ajinkya Rahane. The batter has a good track record in England and his experience would be something the team would want to look at.&nbsp;



Ajinkya Rahane is currently playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He played a staggering knock of 61 runs in 27 balls and guided his side Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to the win.&nbsp;



The way he crafted his inning was something to look at. He played classical shots and with the way he timed the ball, BCCI certainly would b having an eye on him. The batter also had a staggering domestic season as he piled up a huge amount of runs.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: Probable Indian Squad for the WTC Final&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/team-India-WTC.jpg" alt="Team India Cricket Schedule for 2023: Full List of Test, ODI &amp; T20I Matches in 2023" class="wp-image-98630" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: Twitter</figcaption></figure>



Here?s the probable Indian squad for the ICC WTC Final:&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1643231724250488832?s=20
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Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Srikar Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan and Kuldeep Yadav.



Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC CRICKET SCHEDULE</a>&nbsp;for more cricketing updates.

ICC WTC Final: India batter Ajinkya Rahane still optimistic about finding a place in the squad for WTC Final

icc-wtc-final-india-batter-ajinkya-rahane-still-optimistic-about-finding-a-place-in-the-squad-for-wtc-final

ICC WTC Final: The second edition of the World Test Championship has reached the business end. After two years of exciting Test cricket, we have got the finalists of the tournament. India and Australia will lock horns with each other in the summit clash in June this year. The final will take place in The Oval, England from 7th to 11th June. The Indian Team has played some exceptional brand of cricket but they will be without a few key players for the game.?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: ?I have noticed faults in the system,? Mohammad Kaif slams NCA&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Jasprit_Bumrah_1630662945267_-1.jpg" alt="Jasprit Bumrah becomes 6th Indian bowler to scalp 100 wickets in SENA Countries" class="wp-image-82820" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: twitter</figcaption></figure>



ICC WTC Final: India will be without the services of Jasprit Bumrah for the World Test Championship Final. Then pacer suffered a back injury and has been out of cricketing action since September 2022. He was named in India?s squad for the series against Sri Lanka early this year but he yet again felt discomfort and was again ruled out.?



His absence will leave a massive void in the Indian side as it?s fair to say that did in English conditions he has proved himself a vital cog. The other Indian pacers on the other hand have been asked by BCCI to practice with the red ball during the IPL as there will be less time to practice.&nbsp;



BCCI recently confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah underwent surgery in New Zealand and will be heading to NCA for rehabilitation. The NCA has been under a scanner for a while as various Indian players, who return from injury have suffered more injuries and have been out of action for while.?



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Mohammad Kaif pointed out the faults in the system, saying that NCA trainers, physios and VVS Laxman should take care of the situation and shouldn?t take things lightly. Speaking to Sportskeeda, he said:&nbsp;



?I have noticed faults in the system. Players have gotten picked in the squad, and then pulled out before the match citing they weren?t fully fit. This happened to Bumrah recently and even Mohammad Shami has done this a couple of times.?&nbsp;



?So the NCA trainers, physios, VVS Laxman and his team have to take care of these situations. Because it is unfair on the fans of cricket who are expecting Bumrah to play the next day. I feel this is a very serious matter and the management shouldn?t take it lightly.?&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: ?Players should be tested properly before being declared fit,? says Mohammad Kaif&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/India-vs-Australia.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final Qualification Scenario! Know, how can India qualify for the 2021-23 WTC final." class="wp-image-103649" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">ICC WTC Final Qualification Scenario! Know, how can India qualify for the 2021-23 WTC final.</figcaption></figure>



ICC WTC Final: Mohammad Kaif further went on to say that there shouldn?t be any grey area left and players should be tested before being declared fit. He added further.?



?There should be transparency and players should be tested properly before being declared fit. There shouldn?t be any grey area left; a player is either fit or more 10-20 days will be needed. As a Bumrah fan, I want to know what injury he has, what is his recovery time, etc. So they should address this transparency bit and put forth the exact matter.?



Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer has also been ruled out of the ICC WTC Final. The batter too has suffered a back injury and has been out of action since Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He will undergo surgery soon.?



Visit?<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC CRICKET SCHEDULE</a>?for more cricketing updates.

ICC WTC Final: ?NCA Should Address Jasprit Bumrah?s Injury,? Mohammad Kaif says there are faults in the system

icc-wtc-final-nca-should-address-jasprit-bumrahs-injury-mohammad-kaif-says-there-are-faults-in-the-system

ICC WTC Final: The countdown for the much anticipated <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=world+test+championship+2023&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=world+test+championship+2023&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8">World Test Championship Final </a>has begun. Australia will lock horns against India in the summit clash of the championship. The two cricketing giants since the last two years played an exceptional brand of cricket and found themselves in the final. The game will be a testimony of their hard work as both of them would be looking to grab the title and win their first Test Championship.?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: Steve Smith Joins Sussex for three games ahead of WTC Final; Will play under Cheteshwar Pujara?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Steve-smith-Aus-1.jpg" alt="Australia vs India: Bowling in good areas will help us retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy says, Steve Smith" class="wp-image-28833" /></figure>



ICC WTC Final: With World Test Championship Final around the corner, Premier Australia batter Steve Smith has joined Sussex County to prepare himself for the game against India followed by the much-anticipated Ashes 2023. The batter, however, will not be there for a full season but will play just 3 games.?



Smith Smith will play under the leadership of Cheteshwar Pujara and it'll be a treat for fans watch two Test Specialists playing together. The duo will clash with each other in the Final of the World Test Championship and it'll be a great opportunity for both of them to take insights from each other's game.?



Cheteshwar Pujara called Steve Smith a great influence and said that he will try to learn from him and how he prepares for his game. He added that it'll be nice to have his input as he has played against him all the time. While speaking to Sussex, he said:?



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"He (Smith) is a great influence to have in the team and the guys will be looking forward to having him in the dressing room and will try and have a chawithto him and learn from him, just to see how he prepares as he has a lot of experience.?



"We are all looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience as he has a lot of knowledge about the game and it will be nice to have his input We have spoken, but most of the time we have played against each other," Pujara said.?



Pujara said that it'll mix feelings for him as he will play against him in the WTC Final. He said that he will try to read his mind. He elaborated:&nbsp;



"It is never for the same team, so it will be exciting and I will try and get his thoughts, try and know him a little better. We will be playing the g WTC final (against each other), so it will be mixed feelings. On the fie, we always have good battles, but off the field, we are good friends."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: Cheteshwar Pujara in red hot form in county Championship?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_7913.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final " class="wp-image-107684" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Cheteshwar Pujara </figcaption></figure>



ICC WTC Final: Indian batter is preparing well for the ICC WTC Final. The right-hander is going through red-hot form and has been smashing runs for fun. He already has smashed two centuries and is the leading run-scorer in the second tier of England's County Championship. He recently score a staggering 151 runs against Gloucestershire and with the way he's going, it's fair to say that he will l crucial foIndia'sa' chances.



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ICC WTC Final: Cheteshwar Pujara to read Steve Smith's mind for WTC Final as he joins Sussex for 3 games?

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ICC WTC Final: After two years of spectacular cricket, <a href="https://www.bcci.tv" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.bcci.tv">India Cricket Team</a> has managed to reach the final of the World Test Championship. They played a sensational brand of Test cricket over the last couple of years and the hard work of that has paid off. They will now face Australia in the main event at Oval England from 7th to the 11th June.?



This is the second time India has qualified for the final of the WTC 2023. They lost to New Zealand first time and this time around it?ll be an extremely crucial game for them as they haven?t won any ICC trophy since 2013. They have faced a lot of criticism for that and many are backing them to change their fortunes and bring the trophy home.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: 2 Players who might be in contention to replace KL Rahul if he gets ruled out of the final against Australia?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Sarfaraz-Khan-min-1024x569.jpg" alt="Sarfaraz Khan" class="wp-image-101316" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">IMG SRC: MCA</figcaption></figure>



ICC WTC Final: With World Test Championship Final around the corner, India might have suffered a major blow as KL Rahul was injured while playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The batter got himself injured while fielding in the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore. 



He was down on the ground and then came to bat at No.11 but couldn't run. He suffered a hip flexor injury and has pain and swelling. It is reported that he will miss the remaining games in the league, which might also be an indication of him missing the WTC Final. In this piece, we will take a look at 2 Players who might be in contention to replace KL Rahul if he gets ruled out of the final against Australia.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sarfaraz Khan?</h2>



Sarfaraz Khan might be the one name popping into the mind of the sectors if KL Rahul gets ruled out of the ICC WTC Final. The batter has been knocking on the doors of selectors with his rollicking performances in the domestic circuit. Many expected him to be in the main squad but he failed to make the cut into the team. He has been put in the standby Players list and it is expected that he can be in the team if KL Rahul gets ruled out of the game. Sarfaraz Khan's record in the domestic circuit is one to admire as he has scored 13 FC tons and has an average of 81.51.?



Read Also:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2023-ranking-all-ipl-10-teams-based-on-their-potential-set-of-all-rounders/">?</a><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2023-ranking-all-ipl-10-teams-based-on-their-potential-set-of-all-rounders/">IPL 2023: Ranking All IPL 10 Teams Based on Their Potential set of All?rounders</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ruturaj Gaikwad?</h2>



As per the reports, it is learned that Ruturaj Gaikwad has been kept in the standby list for the WTC Final. The injury to KL Rahul might be an opportunity for the Maharashtra batter to make his debut for India in the longest format of the game. Gaikwad has been a prolific run-getter in the domestic format and has been touted as the future of Indian cricket. His record in the First Class is staggering as well as he has scored 1941 runs in 28 games at an average of 42.19 to go with 6 hundreds and 9 fifties.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: India Squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/India-vs-Australia.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final Qualification Scenario! Know, how can India qualify for the 2021-23 WTC final." class="wp-image-103649" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">ICC WTC Final Qualification Scenario! Know, how can India qualify for the 2021-23 WTC final.</figcaption></figure>



Here?s India?s Test squad ICC WTC final:?



Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli,?Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul,?KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja,?Axar Patel,?Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav,?Jaydev Unadkat.



Visit?<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICC CRICKET SCHEDULE</a>?for more cricketing updates.

ICC WTC Final: 2 Players who might be in contention to replace KL Rahul if he gets ruled out of the final against Australia?

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<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/category/icc-wtc/" rel="nofollow">WTC Final 2023</a>:&nbsp;As per the report, Team India is set to travel to England for the WTC Final 2023. The BCCI prepared a plan for players to travel to England for the World Test Championship 2023. Team India will go to England in two batches due to the IPL. From 7th June to 11th June, Team India will Play the WTC Final against Australia at The Oval Cricket Ground, England.&nbsp;



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Indian team will travel to England in two separate batches.</h3>



As per the report, BCCI prepared a schedule for players to travel to the U.K. for the upcoming WTC Final 2023. BCCI divided players into two batches as per their availability after the completion of the League stage of IPL 2023. 



The first batch will travel to England on 23rd May, whereas the final batch will travel to England on 29th May after IPL 2023 gets completed. BCCI wants to conduct a few practice matches before the Final match to help Indian Team so that they get used to the English conditions ahead of WTC Final 2023.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The first batch will depart on 23rd May, followed by the rest of the team after the IPL.</h3>



Team India is ready to travel to England for the World Test Championship Final at Oval Ground in London. On 23rd May, the first batch of Team India will fly from India to England. 



In the first batch, Players like KS Bharat, Cheteshwar Pujara, Jaydev Unadkat and head coach Rahul Dravid will leave for England with them Players like Virat Kohli, Mohd. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Umesh Yadav will also leave for England on May 23rd as their respective IPL teams are now eliminated from IPL 2023 Playoffs.



In the last batch, Skipper Rohit and Rest of the team players will leave for England on 29th May after the completion of IPL 2023. This decision will help players adopt the English Condition before the WTC Final.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WTC Final 2023 India Squad:</h2>



Rohit Sharma(C), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishan Kisan, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, KS Bharat (Wk), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat



Read This Also:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-2023-virat-kohli-breaks-the-record-of-chris-gayle-for-most-hundreds-in-ipl/" rel="nofollow"> IPL 2023: Virat Kohli breaks the record of Chris Gayle for most hundreds in IPL</a><a href="https://www.lolcricket.com/wtc-final-2023-date-india-squad-venue-australia-squad-table-schedule/">.</a>



For More Check Official Site: <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/homepage">ICC</a>

WTC FINAL 2023: Virat Kohli &amp; Others will leave for England on May 23rd(Tomorrow)

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ICC Test Players Ranking 2024: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the latest Test Rankings, and King Kohli has started 2024 on a positive note. Thanks to his outstanding fighting knock of 76 runs in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test match at Centurion and a decent knock of 38 runs in the first innings, the RCB batter has made his way into the top 10 of the ICC Test Rankings after a gap of more than a year.



Virat has jumped to the 9th spot in the Test Rankings with 761 rating points next to his name after spending a lot of time in the 13th position, and the 35-year-old is the only Indian batsman who is in the top 10 of the Test Rankings currently. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who was at the number 10 spot in the rankings, has dropped down to the 14th spot after finishing the Centurion test with scores of 5 runs in the first inning and a duck in the second inning. KL Rahul, who scored a century in the first test against South Africa, has made a jump to the 51st spot in the rankings, while stand-in skipper Dean Elgar's knock of 185 runs in the Boxing Day Test has helped him move to the 17th spot with 680 rating points next to his name.



New Zealand Skipper Kane Williamson is currently leading the ICC Test Rankings with 864 rating points next to his name, followed by Joe Root at number 2 with 859 rating points and Steve Smith at number three with 820 rating points next to his name. Usman Khawaja, who managed to score just 42 runs in the second Test match against Pakistan, has been displaced by Daryl Mitchell in the 4th spot, while Babar Azam and Travis Head have dropped to the 6th and 10th spots in the Test Rankings after repeated failures in the ongoing Australia-Pakistan Test Series.



Talking about the bowling rankings, Indian Off-Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continues to be at the top with 872 ranking points, while Proteas Seamer Kagiso Rabada is at the number 2 spot in the Test Bowling rankings with 854 rating points, and the number 3 spot is occupied by Aussie Skipper Pat Cummins, who has 841 rating points next to his name. The possibilities of Pat Cummins displacing Ravi Ashwin at the number one spot in the ICC Test Rankings are pretty high, as the 30-year-old has managed to get three five- wicket hauls against Pakistan in the ongoing Test series.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC Players Rankings</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Test Betters</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Country</th><th>Rating</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>K Williamson</td><td>NZ</td><td>864</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>J.E. Root</td><td>ENG</td><td>859</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>S Smith</td><td>AUS</td><td>820</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>D Mitchell</td><td>NZ</td><td>786</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>U Khawaja</td><td>AUS</td><td>785</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Babar Azam</td><td>PAK</td><td>782</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>M Labuschagne</td><td>AUS</td><td>777</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>H Brook</td><td>ENG</td><td>773</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Virat Kohli</td><td>IND</td><td>761</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>T Head</td><td>AUS</td><td>754</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Test Bowlers</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>Country</td><td>Rating</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>R Ashwin</td><td>IND</td><td>872</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>K Rabada</td><td>SA</td><td>854</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>P Cummins</td><td>AUS</td><td>841</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>R Jadeja</td><td>IND</td><td>774</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>J Bumrah</td><td>IND</td><td>767</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>O Robinson</td><td>ENG</td><td>762</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>J Anderson</td><td>ENG</td><td>761</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>M Starc</td><td>AUS</td><td>754</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>N Jayasuriya</td><td>SL</td><td>751</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>N Lyon</td><td>AUS</td><td>749</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Test All-Rounders</h4>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Name</th><th>Country</th><th>Rating</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>R Jadeja</td><td>IND</td><td>446</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>R Ashwin</td><td>IND</td><td>348</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Shakib al-Hasan</td><td>BAN</td><td>320</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>B Stokes</td><td>ENG</td><td>307</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>A Patel</td><td>IND</td><td>291</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Joe Root</td><td>ENG</td><td>286</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Jason Holder</td><td>WI</td><td>280</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>M Jansen</td><td>SA</td><td>268</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Kyle Mayers</td><td>WI</td><td>240</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>M Starc</td><td>AUS</td><td>235</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/aus-vs-pak-3rd-test-pakistan-all-out-for-313-runs-on-day-1-jamal-shines-with-his-maiden-half-century/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/aus-vs-pak-3rd-test-pakistan-all-out-for-313-runs-on-day-1-jamal-shines-with-his-maiden-half-century/"> AUS vs PAK 3rd Test: Pakistan ALL OUT For 313 Runs On Day 1</a>



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

Check the latest ICC Test Players Ranking: Batsmen, Bowlers and All-Rounders | ICC Test Players Ranking 2024

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The time is ticking for India captain Rohit Sharma in Test cricket. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that the opening batter is all set to play his last match in red-ball cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which will be the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, provided few conditions. 
Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar is in Melbourne, and he will soon be having a conversation with Rohit Sharma related to his future in Tests. As per the reports, if India fails to reach the final of the series, then the last match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will be the last match for India's captain.
This comes after Rohit Sharma's struggles in the Test cricket of last. In the last 8 games, the opening batter has scored just 155 runs at an average of 11.07 and his struggles are visible in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he has managed just 22 runs from 5 innings. 
After playing two games in the middle order, Rohit Sharma moved back to the top order in the ongoing Melbourne Test. However, the move didn't pay off, as the skipper was back in the hut after facing just 5 balls. He attempted a half-hearted pull shot and was caught by Scott Boland with ease. 
<h2> Rohit Sharma felt uncomfortable while batting in the middle order in the second and third Test matches</h2>
The reports also added that Rohit Sharma felt uncomfortable while batting in the middle order in the second and third Test matches. However, to accommodate him back as an opener, Shubman Gill was dropped from the team for the ongoing game as Washington Sundar replaced him as an all-rounder. 
With their place for the ICC World Test Championship very far away, it is fair to say Rohit Sharma won't be playing any more Tests after the ongoing game. To make it into the final, India will have to win both the remaining games. However, with the way things are going in the ongoing match, Australia look like clear favourites. 
There also have been some other sections of reports that have claimed that a big announcement will be around the corner after the Melbourne Test concludes. It is learned that there will be some big news coming from Indian cricket, especially if the team loses the game. 
If the reports related to Rohit Sharma's retirement after the Sydney Test are true, it's safe to say that the batter will have a great opportunity to turn things around in the remaining three innings. If he sets the stage on fire in three innings, chances are he will continue leading the team.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/how-much-is-virat-kohli-s-match-fee-what-will-he-get-after-a-20-percent-penalty-at-the-mcg-/#google_vignette">How much is Virat Kohli's match fee? What will he get after a 20 percent penalty at the MCG?</a>

As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that Rohit Sharma is all set to play his last match in red-ball cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Rohit Sharma to retire after Sydney Test, Ajit Agarkar set to talk to captain about his future

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It's really hard to imagine Pakistan's test team without the presence of Shaheen Shah Afridi and it's a situation which is really hard to occur. However, a shocking call was taken by the National Team's selectors and despite being in excellent form with the ball, elite Pakistani seamer was not considered for selection in Pakistan's two-match Test-Series verus the South Africans.
Afridi delivered am exceptional performance in the One Day International series versus the same opposition, dismissing the highest number of batters (7) and his role with the ball was crucial in his team's success. 
But despite all this, the pacer wasn't even considered for selection for the two-match Test-Series versus the Proteas. According to some news reports, prior to the squad-announcement of the Shaheens, a selector reportedly asked the 24-year-old to take part in a practice Four-day match before the commencement of the Test-Series. 
Due to some personal reasons, Shaheen wasn't able to comply with the instructions of the Pakistani selectors. This was comprehended as "disobedience" by the selectors which led to his eventual exclusion from the Test team. Notably, a similar instruction was given to former skipper Babar Azam too, who also didn't comply with the instructions but was still included in the Test team.
According to some inside sources of Pakistani Men's National Cricket Team, it's believed that the dominating behavior of a certain selector has caused a feeling of dissatisfaction among the national team players. The selector, who recently announced his retirement from Cricket, reportedly maintains a dominating attitude even towards former players. It's believed that the selector is none other than Aleem Dar who was drafted in the selection committee just a few months back. 
According to some close sources of Shaheen, the pacer still has the passion in him to represent Pakistan in the longest format of the game and he was pretty disappointed by the selectors' decision to exclude him from the Test Team for the South Africa series. 
Post the conclusion of the One-Day International series, the 24-year-old even gave the offer to stay in South Africa for the upcoming Test-Series if the national team selectora felt the need to include him in the squad, but no initiative was taken to select him. 
The Shan Masood-led team desperately felt the absence of a left-handed pacer and this was pretty evident in the Centurion Test-match versus the Proteas. Another left-arm seamer Mir Hamza, who is known for his speed and variations, was not considered for selection too. 
Talking about Shaheen Shah Afridi again, the reason for not selecting him was given as workload management but shockingly, he was allowed to participate in the upcoming edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He is a part of the team of Fortune Barishal and the 24-year-old is anticipated to play in five contests for the franchise.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/watch-irfan-pathan-and-sanjay-manjrekar-get-involved-in-a-heated-argument-over-the-run-out-of-yashasvi-jaiswal-on-live-tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch:Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar get involved in a heated argument over the run out of Yashasvi Jaiswal on live TV</a>

Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Mitchell Starc | Image: AFP

Shaheen Shah Afridi was shockingly not considered for selection in Pakistan's Test Team for the South Africa series and Aleem Dar is reportedly considered the main reason behind his exclusion from the team.

Shaheen Afridi neglected the orders of the selectors and this led to his exclusion from the Test Team

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Jasprit Bumrah bowled the worst spell of his career in the Tests during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The match between the teams is taking place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. 
Jasprit Bumrah was taken for a lot of runs in the Tests against Australia. The fast bowler returned with the figures of 4/99 in the 28.4 overs. This saw him achieving a wanted record to his name as, for the first time, he gave away more than 90 runs in an innings in his career in Tests. 
Jasprit Bumrah also was hit for four sixes during his spell. It was for the first time in 4562 deliveries that six was hit against him. Sam Konstas slammed the fast bowler for two sixes, while Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc also hit one six each against the premier fast bowler. 
This was only the second time that more than one six in an innings (after England's first innings in 2018 at the Oval) was hit against the fast bowler. This was the first time three or more sixes were hit against the fast bowler. 
<h2>Jasprit Bumrah has been the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25</h2>
Jasprit Bumrah has been the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The fast bowler has looked a class apart in the series. He picked fifer in Perth and followed it up with the four-fer in Adelaide. The pacer picked 6-fer wickets in Gabba and then four-fer in Melbourne.
Jasprit Bumrah, in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, has taken 25 wickets at an average of 13.12 with five-wicket hauls. With the way he is going, he is expected to take more wickets in the series and it won't be a surprise if he goes past 35-mark in the series. 
Coming to the match, Australia had another dominating outing in the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. 
They came up with a terrific effort with bat and ball on Day two to put India under pressure. The hosts ended their first innings on 474 and then took five Indian wickets. At stumps, India was 165 for five and is still behind 310 runs.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/gautam-gambhir-and-rohit-sharma-ordered-to-drop-mohammed-siraj-following-his-worst-performance-/">Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma ordered to drop Mohammed Siraj following his worst performance</a>

Jasprit Bumrah bowled the worst spell of his career in the Tests during the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Shocking! Jasprit Bumrah bowls the worst spell of his career and achieves two unwanted feats

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Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has ordered skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir to drop Mohammed Siraj for the next game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He said that the team should include Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna in the team at Sydney. 
Mohammed Siraj has been one of the poor performers for India in the ongoing series against Australia. The fast bowler has failed to provide support to Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing series, which has been the main reason behind the team's struggles with the ball. 
With Mohammed Siraj failing to take wickets and restrict run flow, all the burden has come on Jasprit Bumrah. The fast bowler has been single-handedly carrying the bowling lineup of the team and is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with 25 wickets to his name. 
Mohammed Siraj has also leaked a lot of runs and his poor effort is the reason why Australia has piled up over 400 runs in the last two games. In the Melbourne Test, he failed to take a single wicket and gave away 122 runs in the 23 overs that he bowled. 
Sunil Gavaskar feels that Mohammed Siraj needs a break and team management needs to tell him that they are dropping him on the basis of his poor performances. While speaking to Star Sports, he explained: 
"I think Siraj, perhaps, needs a little bit of a break. In the sense that, I am not saying a break, he needs to be told that he is left out of the team for non-performance. There has to be a situation where you can’t beat around the bush." 
<h2>If you want to make two changes. Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana to support Jasprit Bumrah - Sunil Gavaskar wants Mohammed Siraj to be dropped </h2>
Sunil Gavaskar mentioned that Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma need to directly say to Mohammed Siraj they are dropping him. The batting great also batted for the inclusion of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana. He explained: 
"But I think Siraj needs to be told ‘look, you are not bowling as well as we expected you to on pitches that have been helpful’. That is something that needs to be told. If you want to make two changes. Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana to support Jasprit Bumrah. By all means, do that," he concluded.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/yashasvi-jaiswal-went-past-virat-kohli-to-join-sachin-tendulkar-in-an-elite-list-of-indians-with-his-glorious-82-at-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yashasvi Jaiswal went past Virat Kohli to join Sachin Tendulkar in an elite list of Indians with his glorious 82 at MCG</a>

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has ordered skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir to drop Mohammed Siraj for the next game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma ordered to drop Mohammed Siraj following his worst performance

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In the 2nd day of the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, the Indian Cricket Team has hit the axe on their own feet. In reply to Australia's first inning score of 474 runs, the Indian batters helped their team reach the score of 153-2 at one point and they were on course of reaching a big score in their first-inning. 
However, in the 41st over, young Indian opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal got run out after playing a good knock of 86 runs. Lack of co-ordination with Virat Kohli on the other end meant he youngster missed out on the opportunity to slam his 2nd ton versus the Aussies in the ongoing BGT series. On one hand, the threat of a follow on being enforeced is looming over the Indian Team while on the other hand, the run out of Jaiswal sparked a heated argument between Cricket experts Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar and the video of the same has gone viral on social media platforms. 
The Men in Blue ended the 2nd day of the Melbourne test at the score of 164 runs for the loss of five wickets and they are still trailing the Kangaroos by 310 runs. Post the conclusion of the 2nd day, Sanjay Manjrekar and Irfan Pathan were discussing the run out of Jaiswal in the post match show of Star Sports. Manjrekar on one hand was seen criticising Kohli while the opinions of Irfan were completely opposite.
Watch the full video <a href="https://x.com/Musafirr_hu_yar/status/1872543107272806770?t=08VDV_x1Pzgs82fX6qIX2g&amp;s=19">here</a>
<h2>Manjrekar had some harsh words to say about Kohli</h2>
First, Sanjay Manjrekar put forward his perspective and said, 
<blockquote>
"The ball was coming at a slower speed, I don't think that Virat would have got run-out in that situation. It was the call of Jaiswal and this run was probably not a free one but Jaiswal was the one who was running at the danger-end not Virat. It was his (Virat's) childish mistake that he looked back and decided that it was not a run. If Yashasvi's judgement was wrong then he would have got dismissed on the non-striker's end."

</blockquote>
<h2>Irfan Pathan hit back at the comments of Manjrekar</h2>
Initiating a counter attack on the views of his fellow commentator, Irfan said, 
<blockquote>
"He (Kohli) was probably not confident about taking that run because the ball went to fielder in a quick manner. Kohli, who was standing at the non-striker's end also has the right to deny a run call if he feels he's at the risk of getting run-out."

After this, Manjrekar said, "If you don't want to let me talk, then it's okay.
</blockquote>
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/steve-smith-goes-past-sachin-tendulkar-and-kohli-sets-the-record-for-the-most-number-of-centuries-in-border-gavaskar-trophy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Smith goes past Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli, sets the record for the most number of centuries in Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

Irfan Pathan (L) and Sanjay Manjrekar (C) in the post match show of Star Sports alongside Jatin Sapru (R) | Image: X (Cricket NDTV)

Cricket Experts Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar got involved in a heated exchange with each other on live television following the run out of Yashasvi Jaiswal

Watch:Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar get involved in a heated argument over the run out of Yashasvi Jaiswal on live TV

watch-irfan-pathan-and-sanjay-manjrekar-get-involved-in-a-heated-argument-over-the-run-out-of-yashasvi-jaiswal-on-live-tv

India batter Virat Kohli has been the centre of attraction in the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. The match between the teams is taking place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne. 
Virat Kohli has become the target of Australian media ever since India has reached the Melbourne. He was involved in a fight with Australian media and then, during the ongoing match, was also seen having a heated exchange with young opener Sam Konstas. 
Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas bumped shoulders while moving across the pitch between over, and after that, were seen having a heated argument. This saw Batter facing a lot of criticism for having a go at a young player who was making his debut for Australia. 
The Australian media, along with various Australian experts and former cricketers, went hard at Virat Kohli. Not only this, even the crowd was against the senior India batter as he got boos when the premier batter walked out to bat on the Day Two of the ongoing Test. 
<h2>Virat Kohli looked very solid at the crease and it seemed that he would reply to all the critics in style</h2>
Virat Kohli looked very solid at the crease and it seemed that he would reply to all the critics in style and with his bat. He looked in great touch as he played some crisp shots in his innings and with the way he was going, it was expected that he would get a big score.
Virat Kohli was highly cautious against the balls outside off early on his innings and, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, added over 100 runs partnership. But the demons of the outside off stump came to haunt him again as he was back in the hut after a valuable start. 
Virat Kohli was removed by Scott Boland as he poked at the ball outside off and was caught by Alex Carey behind the stumps. The premier Indian batter was back in the hut after 36 runs, but what caught the attention of many was he fought with the crowd on his way back. 
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/yashasvi-jaiswal-went-past-virat-kohli-to-join-sachin-tendulkar-in-an-elite-list-of-indians-with-his-glorious-82-at-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yashasvi Jaiswal went past Virat Kohli to join Sachin Tendulkar in an elite list of Indians with his glorious 82 at MCG</a>
As he was going inside the dressing room, some of the fans near the entrance told him something. The batter, however, came up back and shared some words with the fans before going back in extreme anger. You can see the video below:

India batter Virat Kohli has been the centre of attraction in the ongoing fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia

Watch: 'Angry' Virat Kohli fights with fans at MCG after getting out for 36 runs

watch-angry-virat-kohli-fights-with-fans-at-mcg-after-getting-out-for-36-runs-

In what proves to be a massive and a remarkable achievement, Australian Cricket Team's elite batsman Steven Smith has broken the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's prestigious record following his splendid hundred in the ongoing 4th test-match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Batting at the fourth spot in the batting-order, the former Aussie skipper slammed an incredible ton, helping the Kangaroos gain the upper-hand in the do-or-die encounter at the iconic stadium. 
The 35-year-old who failed to meet the expectations of the Australian fans in the Adelaide and Perth Test-Matches, rediscovered his magic with the bat with the help of a wonderful ton in the Gabba Test-match. He didn't let his good momentum go away, slamming yet another important century and helped the Kangaroos post a huge first inning score in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-match. In this process, the former Australian skipper also broken Tendulkar's record of slamming the highest number of centuries in the history of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
<h3>List of batters to have slammed the highest number of centuries in the history of Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series</h3>
<table id="table-m561o8g4" border="1" style="width: 100.732%; height: 112px;">
<tbody>
<tr id="row0" style="height: 10px;">
<th id="col0" style="width: 46.9242%; height: 10px;">Batter</th>
<th id="col1" style="width: 23.0329%; height: 10px;">Innings</th>
<th id="col2" style="width: 30.0429%; height: 10px;">Hundreds</th>
</tr>
<tr id="row1" style="height: 20px;">
<td id="col0" style="width: 46.9242%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">Steve Smith</td>
<td id="col1" style="width: 23.0329%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">41</td>
<td id="col2" style="width: 30.0429%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">10</td>
</tr>
<tr id="row2" style="height: 20px;">
<td id="col0" style="width: 46.9242%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">Sachin Tendulkar</td>
<td id="col1" style="width: 23.0329%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">65</td>
<td id="col2" style="width: 30.0429%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr id="row3" style="height: 20px;">
<td id="col0" style="width: 46.9242%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">Virat Kohli</td>
<td id="col1" style="width: 23.0329%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">47</td>
<td id="col2" style="width: 30.0429%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr id="row4" style="height: 20px;">
<td id="col0" style="width: 46.9242%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">Ricky Ponting</td>
<td id="col1" style="width: 23.0329%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">51</td>
<td id="col2" style="width: 30.0429%; height: 20px; text-align: center;">8</td>
</tr>
<tr id="row5" style="height: 22px;">
<td id="col0" style="width: 46.9242%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">Michael Clarke</td>
<td id="col1" style="width: 23.0329%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">40</td>
<td id="col2" style="width: 30.0429%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">7</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Prior to his inning of 140 runs at the MCG, Smith had scored the same number of BGT tons as Kohli &amp; Tendulkar. So, elite Indian batter Virat Kohli also has an opportunity to go past the little master and match Smith if he slams a hundred in the Boxing-Day Test.
<h2>Steve Smith goes past Joe Root with his century in Melbourne</h2>
Records keep flowing from the bat of Elite Australian batter Steve Smith and with the help of 34th Test ton in Melbourne, he has now become the player who has scored the most centuries in the history of Test cricket versus the Indian Team i.e 11 centuries.
Before Smith, this record was in the name of England's Joe Root who has slammed 10 incredible tons versus the Men in Blue. Apart from him, the likes of Ricky Ponting, Vivian Richards and Gary Sobers have also scored 8 centuries each against India.
Also, Smith has now equalled Brian Lara, Sunil Gavaskar, Younus Khan and Mahela Jayawadene in terms of scoring the most centuries in the history of the five-day format. All of these legendary players had scored 34 centuries in Test cricket. This is also Smith's 46th century in his international career.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/yashasvi-jaiswal-went-past-virat-kohli-to-join-sachin-tendulkar-in-an-elite-list-of-indians-with-his-glorious-82-at-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yashasvi Jaiswal went past Virat Kohli to join Sachin Tendulkar in an elite list of Indians with his glorious 82 at MCG</a>

Steven Smith of Australia celebrates scoring his 34 test ton in the Boxing-Day Test-match versus India at the MCG | Image: Getty Images

Steven Smith of Australia has broken multiple records with the help of his 34th Test century in the Boxing-Day Test-match versus Team India

Steve Smith goes past Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli, sets the record for the most number of centuries in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

steve-smith-goes-past-sachin-tendulkar-and-kohli-sets-the-record-for-the-most-number-of-centuries-in-border-gavaskar-trophy

Yashasvi Jaiswal was leading the Indian batting and brought the visitors back into the game. He stitched an important 102-run partnership with Virat Kohli for the third wicket, and Team India were looking good until there was a miscommunication between the two. Jaiswal was looking good for another big score and was going very well.
But on the last ball of the 41st over, he drove a ball to mid-on and was out of the blocks for a run. Virat, who was watching the ball, didn't respond, and Jaiswal got run out. That was the turning point in the Indian batting innings so far.
That run out also must have broken Virat's concentration, and he got out once again trying to poke at the ball outside off stump. Before that, he was leaving it pretty well. Jaiswal scored his ninth test fifty and made 82 runs off 118 balls, with 11 fours and one six. However, before getting out, he achieved a special feat.
<h2>IND vs AUS 4th Test: Yashavi Jaiswal joins Sachin Tendulkar among the Indian players with most Test runs in a calendar year.</h2>
Jaiswal has had a tremendous year with the bat for India. He has scored the most runs for India in tests this year, and overall, he is the second-highest scorer in 2024. Jaiswal has scored 1394 runs in 28 innings at an average of 53.61 with three centuries and 8 half-centuries. He has hit 36 sixes this year.
Earlier, Jaiswal broke the long-standing record of Brendon McCullum for most test sixes in a year. McCullum struck 34 sixes in 2014, and Jaiswal has already hit 36 in 2024. Apart from that, Jaiswal has joined Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Sunil Gavaskar in an elite list of Indian batters with the most test runs in a calendar year.
In his 82-run innings, he went past Rahul Dravid (1357), Gundappa Viswanath (1388), and Virat (1322). Jaiswal has now scored the fifth-most test runs by an Indian in a calendar year. Sachin holds the Indian record with 1562 runs in 2010. Jaiswal still has one more innings in the MCG test, and he needs another 169 runs to break that record.
Speaking of the game, India finished Day 2 at 164/5. They were at 153/2 at one point and then lost three quick wickets for six runs. The visitors are still 111 runs behind to avoid the follow-on. Rishabh Pant (6) and Ravindra Jadeja (4) are at the crease, and India need a special effort from their lower order to do something.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/how-much-is-virat-kohli-s-match-fee-what-will-he-get-after-a-20-percent-penalty-at-the-mcg-/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How much is Virat Kohli's match fee? What will he get after a 20 percent penalty at the MCG?</a>

Yashasvi Jaiswal was unlucky to get run out after a well-made 82 in the first innings of the ongoing Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Yashasvi Jaiswal went past Virat Kohli to join Sachin Tendulkar in an elite list of Indians with his glorious 82 at MCG

yashasvi-jaiswal-went-past-virat-kohli-to-join-sachin-tendulkar-in-an-elite-list-of-indians-with-his-glorious-82-at-mcg

IND vs AUS DAY 2: Australia continued from their strong overnight score of 311/6 and completely dominated India in the first session of the day. Australia crushed India’s bowling, scoring 474 with Smith’s brilliant 140. India now faces a tough challenge on a tricky pitch.
Here’s how the action unfolded on Day 2:
<h2>Session 1: Australia Tightens the Grip</h2>
It was all about Australia in the morning session. In just 27 overs, they smashed 143 runs and lost only one wicket. India’s bowlers looked clueless as the Aussies made merry. Akash Deep, who shone yesterday, had a rough time today, giving away runs, while Jasprit Bumrah kept toiling but couldn’t find the breakthrough early on.
Steve Smith, looking every bit like the run-machine he is, played with ease and elegance. He kept the scoreboard ticking with clever singles and sharp boundaries, leaving no scoring chance behind. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins supported him brilliantly, finding the ropes regularly and frustrating the Indian bowlers.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_676e141bad740.jpg" alt="">
The big moment came when Smith brought up his fifth Test century at the iconic MCG. The 112-run partnership between Smith and Cummins left India reeling. Cummins eventually fell to Ravindra Jadeja, trying to attack, but by then, the damage was done. India’s bowlers seemed tired and out of ideas, with their short-ball strategy failing on a pitch that wasn’t offering much pace or bounce.
<h2>Session 2: India Strikes Back, But Australia Posts a Mammoth Total</h2>
After lunch, India finally had something to cheer about. Ravindra Jadeja struck early, dismissing Mitchell Starc, and the very next ball saw the end of the brilliant Steve Smith, who was trapped on 140. It was a knock that reminded everyone why Smith is considered one of the best in the world—two centuries in two matches, first in Brisbane and now here at the MCG.
<img class="img-additional" src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/images/202412/image_430x256_676e1417aedc4.jpg" alt="">
Jasprit Bumrah then wrapped things up, dismissing Nathan Lyon, but not before Lyon and Scott Boland added 19 valuable runs for the last wicket. Australia finished their innings with a massive 474 runs on the board.
<h2>Australia’s Commanding Total</h2>
474 runs is a huge score on this pitch. With the surface offering something for both pacers and spinners, it’s going to be a big test for the Indian batters.
The foundation of this innings was laid by debutant Sam Konstas’ brilliant knock on Day 1, followed by good and moving innings from Manus, Khwaja, Carey, and not to mention a masterclass from Steve Smith today. His knock had shades of his golden form from 2019, leaving the Indian bowlers scratching their heads.
India’s bowling attack had very few bright spots. Bumrah was once again the standout, fighting hard to contain the Aussie batters. Jadeja kept things steady, but Akash Deep struggled to replicate his heroics from yesterday.
Can India’s batters rise to the occasion and fight back, or will this Australian total prove too much to handle? The challenge is massive, and the MCG is set for another gripping chapter in this Test series!

Australia dominated on Day 2, piling up 474 runs with Steve Smith’s masterful century. India’s bowlers struggled, while brief resistance from Bumrah and Jadeja couldn’t stop the Aussie charge on a challenging pitch.

Steve Smith’s century and Australia’s 474-run total leave India facing an uphill battle on a pitch favoring both spinners and pacers.

IND vs AUS: Australia managed to put up a huge 474 First Innings score

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Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he is one of the best in the business. Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground saw the Australian batters dominating the Indian bowlers.
The counterattack started when the debutant Sam Konstas took on Bumrah and slammed him for two sixes in an over. They set the tone for the hosts, and they had a great batting display in the first sessions. All four top Australian batters marked a fifty each.
But it was once again Bumrah who brought India into the game. He dismissed dangerous Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh in quick succession, which dented the Australian scoring rate. Bumrah ended the day at 3/75. He once again proved to be the real threat for the hosts.
<h2>IND vs AUS 4th Test: Jasprit Bumrah on verge of reaching 200 wickets in Test cricket on Day 2</h2>
Jasprit Bumrah, with his three wickets, registered a couple of great records. He dismissed Head for a duck and became the first Indian bowler to dismiss the Australian batter for a duck against India. Apart from him, with his three wickets, he also went past Anil Kumble (15) to take the most wickets at the MCG.
Bumrah now has 18 wickets at this iconic venue. But as he steps on the field on Day 2, Bumrah eyes a major record. Notably, Bumrah has 197 wickets now, and he has a chance to complete 200 wickets in the first innings itself. Australia still have four wickets left in the bank, and if the Indian pacer can take three wickets on Day 2, he will become the fastest Indian to reach this milestone.
Currently, Kapil Dev holds the record for the fastest Indian pacer to take 200 wickets in 50 tests. Jasprit Bumrah is currently playing his 44th Test, and he still has the second innings, but he can achieve this feat on Day 2 itself. Overall, Ravichandran Ashwin holds this Indian record in 37 tests.
Meanwhile, India need to make sure that they take the remaining four wickets early on Day 2 and try to bat long. India have dropped Shubman Gill, so they are one batter short. Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Reddy are three all-rounders in the lower middle order who need to take responsibility. Rohit Sharma is likely to open the innings, and KL Rahul will bat at no. 3.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/how-much-is-virat-kohli-s-match-fee-what-will-he-get-after-a-20-percent-penalty-at-the-mcg-/#google_vignette">How much is Virat Kohli's match fee? What will he get after a 20 percent penalty at the MCG?</a>

Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets as Australia finished 311/6 at the stumps on Day 1 of the fourth test at Melbourne Cricket Ground.