ICC WTC Final: The clock is ticking for the World Test Championship Final. After displaying an exceptional brand of cricket, the Indian Cricket team has managed to reach the final of the tournament for the second consecutive time. They will now face Australia in the main event at Oval England from the 7th to the 11th of June.?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: 2 players who might not get a chance in the Indian XI for World Test Championship Final against Australia</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Axar-Patel-in-test-1.jpg" alt="Axar Patel" class="wp-image-82393" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: Twitter</figcaption></figure>



BCCI recently announced the squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia. With only 11 players to take the field out of 15 players, we will take a look at players who might not get a chance in the Indian XI for the summit clash against Australia.?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Axar Patel&nbsp;</h2>



All-rounder Axar Patel might be one of the players who have to warm the bench for the ICC WTC Final against Australia. In English conditions, we have seen that the Indian team goes with the combination of 4 pacers and 1 spinner, which potentially will be R Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja. Even if India opts to go for two spinners, Axar won?t get a chance as falls third in the pecking order. The all-rounder has been going through a purple patch in his career as has been contributing equally well with both bat and ball. But it?ll be very unfortunate that he might have to sit on the bench for the final.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&nbsp;2. Jaydev Undakat&nbsp;</h2>



Jaydev Unadkat recently made a comeback into the Indian squad after his stellar performances in the Bangladesh series. He played a Test match against Bangladesh but warmed the bench for the entire series against Australia. There?s no brainer that Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be the three front-line pacers and Jaydev?s tussle will be with Shardul Thakur for the fourth seamer. But with the kind of performance Shardul has exhibited in the overseas conditions both with bat and ball, it?s likely that he will get the nod ahead and Unadkat might have to sit out.?



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">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>



BCCI on Tuesday (25th April) announced the squad for the WTC final. Ajinkya Rahane was recalled into the team whereas the rest of the squad is pretty similar to what they fielded against Australia.?



Here?s India?s Test squad WTC final:&nbsp;



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.



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ICC WTC Final: 2 players who might not get a chance in the Indian XI for World Test Championship Final against Australia

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ICC WTC Final: BCCI surprised many when they picked Ajinkya Rahane in the team for the World Test Championship Final. There were many mixed reactions and the reason behind his getting picked has been revealed. The final of the Test Championship will take place at Oval England from the 7th to the 11th of June. Both India and Australia be eager to lift the trophy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: Revealed! Why Ajinkya Rahane was Picked in the Indian Squad for World Test Championship Final</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ajinkya-Rahane.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Finals: Indian Vice-Captain Ajinkya Rahane left hints on possible team combination for WTC Final" class="wp-image-64958" /></figure>



The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (25th April) named the Indian squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final. The squad had some petty familiar names in it but one name that caught the attention of many was Ajinkya Rahane.?



The batter was dropped from the Indian side in January last year due to his poor form of run and also was terminated from the BCCI annual contracts. However, he showed great form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, which potentially can be the reason behind his selection.?



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Not only this, he showed great form in the domestic season as he scored over 600 runs. But with Sarfaraz Khan also piling up huge amounts of runs, many didn?t like the decision to add Rahane to the team as they felt that the latter deserved a chance.&nbsp;



But the reason behind picking Rahane has been revealed. It is learned as per the reports in Telegraph that skipper Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid were very keen to have Rahane in the WTC final for his experience. It is also learned that both management and selectors were in talks with his name as injury for few players and lack of options.&nbsp;



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Team-India-1.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final 2023 Schedule, IND vs AUS Playing XI, Squads, Tickets, Points Table, Live Streaming Full Details" class="wp-image-110119" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: Twitter</figcaption></figure>



Ajinkya Rahane was recalled into the team in the absence of Shreyas Iyer whereas the rest of the squad is pretty similar to what they fielded against Australia.?



Here?s India?s Test squad WTC final:&nbsp;



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: Revealed! Why Ajinkya Rahane was Picked in the Indian Squad for World Test Championship Final

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Ajinkya Rahane: The upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final will be a great opportunity for Indian Cricket Team to win its first ICC title since 2013. They played an exceptional brand of cricket in this cycle and are just one win away from scripting history. The Final will be played between 7-11th June at The Oval, England and it's fair to say that with the kind of squad they have if they play to their potential, they can win the title.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: "They must've been on holiday when...," Ravi Shastri slams people touting Ajinkya Rahane's selection on the basis of IPL form?</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>



The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final (WTC) against Australia. The squad will be captained by Rohit Sharma whereas one surprising name in it was of Ajinkya Rahane.?



The right-hander was dropped from the Indian after his poor run of form in the Tests. He last donned an Indian jersey in the game against South Africa in January 2022. And since then has been on the sidelines of the national team.&nbsp;



Not only this, he was also terminated from the BCCI's annual contract recently and not many expected that he would make a comeback in the team. But he didn't let his omission affect his game as he went back to the domestic circuit and grinded hard.



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Ajinkya Rahane scored over 600 runs in the Ranji Trophy and caught the attention of selectors especially with Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant being ruled out due to injury. The batter also has shown great form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.&nbsp;



He has been timing the ball really well and has shown pure class. Many feel that selectors have him into the Test squad because of his performances in the league as Sarfaraz Khan and others were more deserving.&nbsp;



But former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has lashed out at these people. He said that they must've been sleeping when he scored over 600 runs in the domestic circuit. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he said:&nbsp;



"People think Ajinkya Rahane has just played 2-3 IPL games and that's why he's in the WTC Final side. They must've been on holiday for 6 months when he was playing FC cricket and scored those 600 runs".



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With not many batters in the squad, Ajinkya Rahane will likely play the game. It'll be a great opportunity for him to silence his critics and stake his claim back in the side.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ICC WTC Final: Indian squad for the ICC World Test Championship?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="http://www.icccricketschedule.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Team-India-1.jpg" alt="ICC WTC Final 2023 Schedule, IND vs AUS Playing XI, Squads, Tickets, Points Table, Live Streaming Full Details" class="wp-image-110119" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Source: Twitter</figcaption></figure>



Ajinkya Rahane was recalled into the team in the absence of Shreyas Iyer whereas the rest of the squad is pretty similar to what they fielded against Australia.?



Here?s India?s Test squad WTC final:&nbsp;



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: "They must've been on holiday when...," Ravi Shastri slams people touting Ajinkya Rahane's selection based on IPL form?

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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?

icc-wtc-final-cheteshwar-pujara-to-read-steve-smiths-mind-for-wtc-final-as-he-joins-sussex-for-3-games

WTC Final: On June 7 at the Oval Ground in England, India, and Australia will play in the World Test Championship 2023 match. On Wednesday, Mohammad Siraj and Virat Kohli departed for England. At the airport, Anushka Sharma, Kohli's wife, was also spotted.



A total of 10 Indian players, including Mohammad Siraj and Virat Kohli, departed for England. Along with this, Rahul Dravid, the head coach of the Indian squad, was with him. For the second consecutive year, the Indian team has advanced to the World Test Championship final.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">When the rest of the players will reach?</h2>



It is anticipated that Cheteshwar Pujara, who is currently playing county cricket for Sussex in England, would join Team India this week. After the IPL playoffs, players like Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, and KS Bharat will go for England. In the World Test Championship final, the Indian squad will hit the pitch without Rishabh Pant, Jaspreet Bumrah, and KL Rahul. The issue of injury is causing these guys difficulty. In reality, since 2013, the Indian squad has not taken home an ICC title. Team India will focus on ending the 10-year drought for the time being. In the most recent World Test Championship championship game, the Indian side had to concede a?loss against New Zealand.



Indian captain Rohit Sharma had clearly said before the start of IPL that as soon as the team is out of the playoff race, all those players will be sent to England.



READ -<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/wtc-final-indias-strongest-predicted-playing-11-for-world-test-championship-final-2021-23/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/wtc-final-indias-strongest-predicted-playing-11-for-world-test-championship-final-2021-23/"> India?s Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for World Test Championship Final 2021-23</a>



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WTC Final: Virat Kohli and Siraj left for England, know when the rest of the players will reach?

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AUS vs IND: The world's number one Test bowler, India's highest wicket-taker in the World Test Championship is not a part of the WTC final. Dropping Ravichandran Ashwin in the final looks like a move that will cost Rohit Sharma a long time. All the conditions of this match were favorable for Ashwin, as Australia had four left-handed batsmen in the top order, a pitch which is most beneficial for spinners in England, the result of not playing there, you will see on the scorecard.



But it is not the fault of Rohit Sharma. When the match started, there was a cloud in the sky at that time. Rohit felt that the advantage could be taken by bowling first and hence included four fast bowlers in the team. His decision seemed absolutely correct till the first half as Australian top-order batsmen were seen struggling in front of Indian fast bowlers.



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There was a good partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Warner, but by the end of the first session, the Australian team's score was 73 runs and their two wickets had fallen. The match was going on very evenly but then after the dismissal of Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head scored a lot of runs against the Indian fast bowlers.



The Australian squad finished the first day with 327 runs in 85 overs, losing only three wickets. With the help of 14 fours, Smith has 96 runs in 227 balls and is still not out. However, Travis Head, a left-handed batsman, is at the crease and has scored 146 runs in just 156 balls while using 22 fours and a six.



The Australian team is leading in the match. They Were thinking to score more than 500 runs in the first innings itself so that he does not need to bat in the second innings.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AUS Vs IND Playing 11</h2>



Australia: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland



India: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Srikar Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj



READ - <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-pak-pakistan-refuse-to-play-icc-cricket-world-cup-2023-in-ahmedabad-propose-alternate-venues/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ind-vs-pak-pakistan-refuse-to-play-icc-cricket-world-cup-2023-in-ahmedabad-propose-alternate-venues/">IND vs PAK: Pakistan refuses to play ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad, Propose alternate venues</a>

AUS vs IND: Indian team may lose the WTC final due to Ashwin not being part of the playing 11

aus-vs-ind-indian-team-may-lose-the-wtc-final-due-to-ashwin-not-being-part-of-the-playing-11

In what comes as a massive development, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has provided a huge update regarding the venue for the final of the World Cricket Championship.



Speaking to the Indian Media, Shah said that BCCI is in talks with the ICC to host the 2027 WTC Final at a different venue and not in England.



Till now, both the World Test Championship finals have been held in England and the final of the ongoing 2023-25 WTC cycle will be played at London's Lord's Stadium, also known at the home of Cricket.



The 35 year old acknowledged that it will be tough to hold the WTC final at a different location which can conduct the final in the month of June or in a different time slot, but he went on to mention that the BCCI have discussed potential alternate venues with the apex body.



The Men in Blue faced humiliating defeats at the hands of New Zealand and Australia in the 2021 and 2023 World Test Championship Finals and both of those finals were held in England. The third edition will also be held in England.



"The BCCI have spoken to the ICC about organising the 2027 WTC final at a different venue. They will consider changing the venue from England. There are just three main Test Centres, England, India and Australia. You cannot hold the final in Australia in June and even in India, the Monsoon period is at its peak during that time. Even in the city of Bangalore, there is constant rainfall in the month of June," Jay Shah said in a media interaction held at the headquarters of the BCCI.



The Indians are currently sitting at the top of the World Test Championship 2023-25 points table with 74 points and a points percentage of 68.52%. The 2023 winners Australia are not that far away from the Men in Blue as they have occupied the second spot with 90 points in 12 games and a points percentage of 62.50%. 



The Rohit Sharma led team will be looking to solidify their number one position in the overall standings by winning their remaining two home series in the current WTC cycle.



READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/t20-world-cup-2024-rahul-dravid-to-be-sacked-as-head-coach-jay-shah-gives-a-massive-statement/#google_vignette" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/t20-world-cup-2024-rahul-dravid-to-be-sacked-as-head-coach-jay-shah-gives-a-massive-statement/#google_vignette">Rahul Dravid to be sacked as head coach?</a>

WTC 2027 Final: "The WTC 2027 final won't be held in England" - Jay Shah

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The ICC has finally made an official announcement on when the World Test Championship, WTC 2023-25 will be held. They have scheduled it to be held from the 11th of June till the 15th, with the 16th kept as the reserve day. Currently, India and Australia are placed as the top two teams in the WTC points table, with 68.52 and 62.50 percentage points, respectively; however, no one has been fixed as the finalists as of yet. India, who are the two-time losing finalists, had played the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand while Virat Kohli could not lead his team to glory. In the second cycle of the World Test Championship, India was again the table toppers, as they were at the top of the table before moving into the finals against the Aussie side. The Australian young skipper, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Cummins">Pat Cummins</a>, led his team to a major outing for the first time globally, while he emerged as a champion in the same, and they are hence the defending champions. 



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.icccricketschedule.com/uploads/2024/09/Pat-Cummins-and-the-defending-champions-Australia-1024x614.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-146610" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pat Cummins and defending champions Australia (Image Credit: The Hans India)</figcaption></figure>
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 India have their next Test matches scheduled to be played at home against the visiting Bangladesh and New Zealand sides. Also, they have the highly anticipated red ball return awaited with the Border-Gavaskar series to be played in Australia, a series which they have won 3 times. After Bangladesh?s historic title win against Pakistan, they have risen to the 4th position on the points table with a percentage point of 45.83. New Zealand, who have been placed in the No. 3 position with 50% wins, still remain in contention for the WTC final. 



ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/updated-wtc-points-table-after-bangladeshs-amazing-test-series-win-over-pakistan/">Updated WTC Points Table after Bangladesh?s amazing test series win over Pakistan</a> England, who are having an absolutely stunning summer, might look for a clean sweep in the test series against Sri Lanka and then also emerge further to the WTC final, though that is not recently in sight for them. They will next be touring Pakistan from October 7th, though the Asian giants have been practically ruled out of the WTC. The summer will find Lord?s holding two of their test matches, as after the WTC final, the iconic English ground will hold the Third Test of India?s 5-match red-ball series that begins with Headingley in June.

Lord's to hold WTC final 2023-25 from June 11

lords-to-hold-wtc-final-2023-25-from-june-11

The Indian tailenders showed a fighting spirit, which helped the visitors end the third test against Australia at the Gabba in a draw. It has left the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at 1-1 with two matches left to play. Now, these two teams will lock horns in the fourth match at the MCG on December 26, which will be the Boxing Day Test.
India were under so much pressure, but the lower order helped India to avoid the follow-on, which made a big effect on the result. Australia made a bold declaration on Day 5, but the rain had something different to offer.
The bad light and rain had the last laugh, and the game ended with a draw. It must be a confidence booster result for the Indians after the way their top order failed in the first innings. This draw has certainly helped India to stay in the race for the World Test Championship 2023-25. But still, the way to the final is very difficult.
<h2>WTC Final 2023-25: Here's how India can qualify for the World Test Championship Final after the Gabba Draw</h2>
India would accept the result of the third test because at one stage they were on the way to losing the game. That would have been the end of roads for Rohit Sharma and his men for the WTC final. But after this draw, India have two more games left in this cycle. They will play two matches against Australia in Melbourne and Sydney.
After this draw, India have retained their third position on the WTC cycle with a percentage of 55.89. South Africa (63.33) are at the top while Australia (58.89) are on the table. The final fight is between these two teams. If India can sneak past Australia in the last two games and win those matches. They will take their percentage to 60.52, and Australia will be out even if they win against Sri Lanka 2-0.
That means India and South Africa will qualify for the WTC final. However, if India win one and draw one, they will jump to the second place above Australia. In that case, India need Sri Lanka to draw one of two tests against Australia.
But if India lose one of two remaining matches, then Sri Lanka beating Australia 2-0 will be the only way for India to reach. Meanwhile, South Africa have two tests against Pakistan. If they win one game, they will qualify. But if they lose both matches, then India need one win against Australia to qualify.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/is-playing-at-no-5-hurting-rohit-sharmas-game-cheteshwar-pujara-reveals-reason-behind-rohits-struggles-150339/">Is playing at no. 5 hurting Rohit Sharma's game? Cheteshwar Pujara reveals reason behind Rohit's struggles</a>

The third test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw after the rain on the final day of the game. Both teams will now play the fourth match on December 26 at the MCG.

WTC Final Scenario: Here's how India can qualify for the World Test Championship final after the Gabba draw

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After a rained-out draw at the Gabba in Brisbane, the ongoing Boxing Day Test between Australia and India looks to be heading towards a draw. After the stumps on Day 3, India are 358/9, trailing by another 116 runs. The weather spoiled the play in the final sessions, and similarly there is a prediction of rain for the remaining two days.
Australia are currently ahead in the game and will look to take the remaining Indian wicket and have a good first-inning lead and bat early on Day 4. That is the only chance that they can try to force the result from this game. But as predicted by the weather forecast, there might be rain in the coming two days.
If it happens, it will eat the time out of this game, and the result will be very difficult. Hence, there is a chance that the Boxing Day Test can end in a draw. Well, both teams need this win to take an unassailable lead in the series and also to inch closer to a place in the World Test Championship. But what will happen if the game ends in a draw?
<h2>WTC Final Scenario: Here's how India can qualify for the final of the World Test Championship if the MCG test ends in a draw</h2>
Although India need to win the fourth and fifth tests to make a clear progression to the WTC final. But if in case the ongoing test ends in a draw, then the WTC final qualification scenario will be totally different. The draw at the MCG means that India will have to depend on the other teams.
Firstly, they need to win the fifth and final test at the SCG, and they will end with a scoreline of 2-1. Notably, Australia have two tests in Sri Lanka, and South Africa have two tests (one is underway) against Pakistan. If India win the BGT series 2-1, then they will hope that Sri Lanka can draw one of two tests against Australia or Pakistan beat South Africa in one game.
Secondly, if the BGT series ends at 2-2, then for India's qualification, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have to beat Australia and South Africa in both games. If the BGT series ends at a scoreline of 1-1, then the scenario will be Sri Lanka beating Australia in one game or Pakistan winning both matches against South Africa to help India qualify. Notably, if India lose the BGT series, they are out.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/nitish-kumar-reddy-scripts-history-breaks-multiple-records-with-his-boxing-day-ton-at-mcg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nitish Kumar Reddy scripts history; breaks multiple records with his Boxing Day Ton at MCG</a>

The Boxing Day Test between India and Australia is underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia are ahead, but India are fighting hard for survival.

WTC Qualification Scenario: How can India qualify if the Boxing Day Test ends in a draw?

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India captain Rohit Sharma bid adieu to 2024 in a staggering Instagram post. The senior batter posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday, December 31, of his best and worst moments of 2024. This comes amid the talks related to his retirement. 
Rohit Sharma had a roller coaster ride in 2024 as the captain had his best and worst part of his career. The India captain started the year on high as under him India won the Test match at Centurion and went on to draw the series. After that, he was at his best in the Test series against England. 
Rohit Sharma with the team full of youngsters won the Test series against England. Under his leadership, India won the five-match series by a massive margin of 4-1. He led from the front and also slammed two centuries in the series, helping the team win. 
After that, Rohit Sharma was at his best in the IPL as he was amongst the highest run-getters for Mumbai Indians. He also slammed the century there. He also returns to the T20Is before the Tests as slammed a century there as well. 
<h2>The best moment for Rohit Sharma was in June when under his leadership India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.</h2>
The best moment for Rohit Sharma was in June when under his leadership India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He was the leading run-getter for the team in the tournament as he top-scored and helped the India team end their ICC title drought. 
Things didn't go well for Rohit Sharma after that. Since then has been going through a rough patch in the Tests. The India captain has failed to get going and under his leadership team faced the whitewash first time at home as they lost the series to New Zealand by the margin of 3-0. 
He is currently in Australia but things have been poor for him as well. The batter has scored just 31 runs in the three games and also under him India is behind in the series by 2-1. He has registered scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9 and following this, there have been a lot of talks related to his retirement as well. 
He posted the video with caption: "For all the ups &amp; downs, and everything in between, Thank you 2024."
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEPoz8Ah2oV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">You can watch video here: </a>
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

"For all the ups & downs" - Rohit Sharma bids adieu to.....

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India is all set to lock horns with England in the three-match ODI series. This will be the only series for the Men in Blue before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and it will be extremely important for the team as they would want to look at their combination for the tournament. 
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. 
There have been several reports that have claimed that India will be playing the series in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. This is because BCCI wants their premier players to be rested and fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy 2024, which will be a crucial event for the team. 
If the reports emerge to be true, then it will be a massive problem for the Indian team that they will be playing without their captain. This has raised speculations about who will be leading the team in the three-match ODI series against the full-strength England team at home. 
<h2>Who will captain India in the absence of Rohit Sharma during England ODIs </h2>
With Rohit Sharma being rested for the three-match ODI series, it is expected that Shubman Gill will be captaining the team against England. The young batter was recently appointed as the vice-captain of the team in the white-ball format after the team went through the transition. 
It is expected that the squad for the England series will be similar to what India will be named for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Therefore, it will be a great opportunity for the young players who will be picked to make their case strong for the tournament. 
Shubman Gill, since the last few years, has been the best batter for India in the ODIs. He has shown his real class with the bat and would want to carry on the same form. He also was captain of the team during the T20I series against Zimbabwe and will be keen to replicate the same performance.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

There have been several reports that have claimed that India will be playing the series in the absence of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah

Who will captain India if Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli will be rested for England ODIs

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Team India are currently in Australia for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The fifth and final test will end on January 7; after that, India will play three T20Is and three ODIs against England at home between January 22 and February 12.
This will be the last three ODIs for India ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, and India will look to prepare for the upcoming mega event. However, there has been news that India might rest Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
Being India's premier pacer, Bumrah has been doing too much in Australia, but resting out-of-form Virat and Rohit might not be ideal. Hence, we will talk about three reasons why India should not rest Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from England ODIs.
<h2>Three reasons why India should not drop Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from England ODIs ahead of ICC Champions Trophy 2025</h2>
1. Form of both players
Dropping a player who is struggling with form might not do good for the team. Both Virat and Rohit have struggled in Australia, and they are searching for runs badly. Consistent failures must have hurt their confidence as well. Hence, at home on Indian batting pitches, it can be ideal to get back to form. But if India rest them, they won't have the time to get back to form and will enter the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after a string of low scores.
2. Only ODIs to prepare for Champions Trophy 2025
Since the ODI World Cup 2023 at home, Rohit and Virat have only played three ODI matches. Though they have played test cricket consistently, ODI format is a different game altogether. Hence, to get back into rhythm, the upcoming ODI series against England can be perfect. At least England are going with the same team that will feature in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. That is why India must need to do and give the game time to their main batters whom you expect to fire in the mega event.
3. Managing Replacement
The form of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is under scrutiny, and many questions have been raised about their position in tests. However, ODI cricket is a totally different format. But loss of form can sometimes hurt the confidence, and it can affect other formats as well. Hence, India should play them in England ODIs because if they fail, then they can pick the backup batters for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. That means if these two don't score runs against England, then India can take some hard decisions and pick other players as replacements.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy/">3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

The Indian management is looking to rest Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from England ODIs ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

3 Reasons why Resting Virat and Rohit from England ODIs can be blunder ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

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Batting great Sunil Gavaskar gave a massive suggestion to the Indian team going forward in Test cricket. He said that the Rohit Sharma-led should keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer for the red-ball cricket as he can be handy for the team. 
India hasn't been blessed with as many fast-bowling all-rounders as they would've wanted. After Kapil Dev, it was Hardik Pandya who took the mantle and has been doing a staggering job for the team in the white-ball cricket but his fitness hasn't supported him at all. 
Hardik Pandya played a few Tests for India but couldn't carry on in the format. The all-rounder last played in 2018 and, after that, has been focusing on white-ball cricket after that, India tried Shardul Thakur, and although he did a decent job, the quality wasn't there, and he was dropped. 
India now has included Nitish Kumar Reddy in the team and the all-rounder has been doing a great job in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He has shown great promise with the bat as he also slammed a magnificent century and helped the team tackle the trouble. 
But it's fair to say that the quality of the ball still has been lacking. Nitish Kumar Reddy hasn't been the best with the ball and hasn't bowled well, which has put an extra burden on Jasprit Bumrah, who has bowled around 140 overs in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. 
<h2>India must also keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer, who can be another fine all-rounder and is a left-hander to bat - Sunil Gavaskar</h2>
Amid the debate around all-rounder, Sunil Gavaskar has suggested the name of Venkatesh Iyer, claiming that he can be a fine all-rounder for the team. He also pointed out that he played in the county. Writing in his column, he explained: 
"India must also keep an eye on Venkatesh Iyer, who can be another fine all-rounder and is a left-hander to bat. His bowling too can do with some work, but he has played in England and can be a very good option to have there," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. 
Venkatesh Iyer has already made his India debut, having played two ODIs and nine T20Is. He also played for Lancashire in the England summer earlier this year.
Also Read:<a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indian-cricket-team-india-s-full-test-cricket-schedule-in-2025-they-will-face-these-teams/#google_vignette"> </a><a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/indian-cricket-team-india-s-full-test-cricket-schedule-in-2025-they-will-face-these-teams/#google_vignette">Indian Cricket: Team India's full Test Cricket schedule in 2025, they will face these teams</a>

Batting great Sunil Gavaskar gave a massive suggestion to the Indian team going forward in Test cricket.

Not Hardik Pandya or Nitish Reddy, Sunil Gavaskar wants this fast-bowling all-rounder for Tests

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After the end of the 2025 IPL Mega-Auction, a lot of teams have strengthened their respective batting units. The dominance of the batters is going to increase even more this time around in the Biggest T20 tournament in the entire world and it's going to be really interesting to see which teams walks out on to the field with the strongest batting unit. 
Every year, the batsmen create new records in the IPL and now the runs figure of 250 is looking pretty common these days. Not just this, scoring centuries has also become pretty common for the batters. In such a situation, let's take a look at 3 teams who have the strongest batting-unit in IPL 2025
<h3>Three IPL Teams who have the strongest batting-unit in IPL 2025:</h3>
<h3>1. Sunrisers Hyderabad</h3>
Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad will once again walk out on the field in the IPL with the strongest batting unit. The likes of Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen are a part of the squad of SRH and these players have the potential in them to dominate any opposition bowling unit. 
While Kishan is a new addition, the other four players were a part of the Hyderabad team in the previous edition of the tournament too and they wrecked havoc in the 2024 edition of the IPL as they crossed the 260 run mark twice verus the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and five time winners Mumbai Indians (MI).The presence of these four players and the addition of hard hitting Indian batter Ishan Kishan makes the IPL 2024 runners-up a force to reckon with. 

<h3>2. Kolkata Knight Riders</h3>
IPL 2024 winners and reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are blessed to have a solid and a strong batting unit ahead of IPL 2025. The presence of the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock and Ajinkya Rahane can target any bowler from the word go. The aggressive batting nature of Gurbaz, De Kock, Narine and Venky Iyer along with the solid middle order presence of the duo of Russell and Rinku make the team of KKR look like a complete and a really formidable one. The Reigning Champs are surely going to be a dangerous side to bowl against.

<h4>3. Delhi Capitals </h4>
After the conclusion of the 2025 IPL Mega-Auction, the Delhi Capitals managed to include some really incredible batters in their squad which consists of the likes of KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Jack Fraser McGurk and Harry Brook. Besides them, the presence of experienced all-rounder Axar Patel provides a lot of stability to their middle-order. This time around, the Delhi franchise have set up themselves as a batting-heavy team, which will create a lot of difficulties for the opposition bowlers.

Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/ipl-csk-s-strongest-playing-11-if-conway-and-ravindra-miss-the-start-of-ipl-2025/">IPL: CSK's strongest Playing 11 if Conway and Ravindra miss the start of IPL 2025</a>

Many IPL teams have strengthened their squads after the end of the 2025 Mega-Auction and three teams have the strongest batting-unit ahead of IPL 2025. We will be taking a look at those three teams in this article.

IPL 2025: 3 Teams who have the strongest batting unit, they can blow away any bowling attack

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It has been a great year for India's ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, as he has been at the top of his game and has proved it in all three formats. The ace pacer played a big role in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, winning the Player of the Tournament award. Bumrah has taken the most wickets in 2024 across all three formats.
But his best came in the red-ball cricket, where he has taken most wickets in 2024. That is why Cricket Australia (CA) has honored him and picked him as the captain of the Test XI of 2024. Interestingly, CA has not picked Pat Cummins and has picked Bumrah to lead the team.
CA has picked three English players, two each from Australia, India, and New Zealand, and a player each from South Africa and Sri Lanka. Apart from Bumrah, the Indian opener Yashavi Jaiswal also features in the exclusive Best Test XI by Cricket Australia.
<h2>Jasprit Bumrah picked as captain to lead Best Test XI of 2024 by Cricket Australia</h2>
Indian ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah led India in the first game of the ongoing BGT series in Perth and played a crucial role in winning. Hence, CA has picked Bumrah to lead this exclusive Test XI. The 31-year-old has taken 71 wickets in just 13 games at an average of 14.92 and a strike rate of 30.16, with five fifers.
Jaiswal and Ben Duckett have been picked to open the innings. Both left-handers had a tremendous year. Jaiswal has scored 1478 runs and is the second-highest scorer in 2024, while Duckett has scored 1149 and is below Jaiswal at three for this year. Former English captain Joe Root, who is leading the run scoring chart with 1556 runs in 17 tests, is picked to bat at no. 3.
<h2>Harry Brook to lead the middle-order batting in the Best Test XI by Cricket Australia</h2>
The middle order is filled with some exceptional performers. Harry Brook, who was the No. 1 ranked test batter, has scored 1100 runs this year in just 12 games with four centuries, including a triple hundred, and is at No. 4. He is followed by New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, who has 984 runs in 12 tests.
At no. 6, Sri Lanka's emerging star Kamindu Mendis, who became one of the fastest to reach 1000 test runs. Mendis has scored 1049 runs in just nine tests, with five centuries and three half-centuries. Australia's Alex Carey is picked as the wicketkeeper, who has scored 440 runs in nine tests.
Bumrah will lead the team. The other two pacers are England's Gus Atkinson and New Zealand's Matt Henry. Atkinson has taken 52 wickets in 11 tests, while Henry has taken 48 wickets in nine tests. South Africa's Keshav Maharaj is the only spinner in the team, who has 35 wickets in seven tests.
Cricket Australia's Best Test XI of 2024: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Rachin Ravindra, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Alex Carey (wk), Matt Henry, Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Keshav Maharaj
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/mitchell-starc-ruled-out-of-sydney-test-australian-coach-makes-a-big-revelation-ahead-of-5th-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Starc ruled out of Sydney Test? Australian coach makes a big revelation ahead of 5th Test</a>

Cricket Australia announced the Best Test XI of 2024, picking two Indian players. Jasprit Bumrah has been picked as the captain of the team.

Cummins dropped as Jasprit Bumrah to lead as Cricket Australia released Best Test XI of 2024

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Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian Cricket Team is set to take the big decision of retiring from Test Cricket following the conclusion of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series versus the Australians. According to a media report, Rohit will be taking a big decision regarding his career after the conclusion of the ongoing series. 
Let us tell you that the Men in Blue have failed to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, a series which the Indians have won on the previous four occasions. On the other hand, the personal performance of the 37-year-old with the bat have been poor too, managing to score just 31 runs in five innings versus the Aussies in the current edition of the BGT. 
According to the news report of Times of India, the top officials of thr BCCI and the National Team selectors have already talked to Rohit and it looks like the 'Hitman' will not be changing his decision of retiring. While the date of his retirement has not been revealed yet, some news reports suggest that the 37-year-old will be taking the tough decision after the conclusion of the Sydney Test-Match. 
If the two time WTC runners-up manage to qualify for the 2023-25 WTC Final, then Rohit can carry on as the captain of the team for some more time and he will most likely have a discussion with the selectors regarding staying on as the skipper. 
Following the team's defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test, the Indian captain was deeply hurt by the defeat. On one hand, elite seamer Jasprit Bumrah has single handedly dismissed Australian batters 30 times in the ongoing series while Rohit on the other hand, has managed to amass just 31 runs. It's possible that the retirement of the 'Hitman' is not that far but he won't be moving away from Red-ball Cricket without fighting back in the Sydney Test-Match.
<h2>What did Indian Captain Rohit Sharma say following the team's embarrassing defeat in Melbourne? </h2>
The Indian Team fell to an embarrassing 184 runs defeat in the Melbourne Boxing-Day Test-Match versus the Australians and this defeat meant that the home team have taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. After the defeat, Skipper Rohit Sharma that there are many things that are not happening according to his wishes. He also said that this defeat is mentally disturbing. 
"It's evident that we have had a few unfavorable-outcomes, and as captain, I find this disheartening. Many of the things I'm attempting to do as a batter are not working out and it's upsetting to the mind," the Indian captain said.
Do Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/mitchell-starc-ruled-out-of-sydney-test-australian-coach-makes-a-big-revelation-ahead-of-5th-test/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitchell Starc ruled out of Sydney Test? Australian coach makes a big revelation ahead of 5th Test</a>

A dejected Rohit Sharma walks back to the dugout after getting dismissed for yet another low score in the BGT 2024 series | Image: Associated Press

Reportedly, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has decided to retire from Test Cricket and the announcement is likely to be made by the BCCI after the end of the Sydney Test-Match versus the Australians.

Team India: Captain Rohit Sharma decides to retire from Tests, BCCI likely to make an announcement soon

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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

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IND vs AUS: India are the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as they have won the last four editions and have a great record. Australia won the last BGT trophy back in 2014-15, but it looks like the long wait is all set to come to an end. After an emphatic win at the MCG, Australia are leading by 2-1.
They just need to win or draw the final test, which will help them to win the BGT trophy and also to qualify for the World Test Championship 2023-25 final. Australia have had great performance so far, and everyone has chipped in with valuable contributions.
The fifth and final test is all set to begin on January 3, 2025, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, ahead of the final game, Australia might suffer a big blow. Ace pacer Mitchell Starc can miss the game due to a fitness issue.
<h2>IND vs AUS 5th Test: "Mitchell Starc is carrying something of some description"- Australian head coach Andrew McDonald</h2>
Australia had to find the replacement for Josh Hazlewood when he was ruled out ahead of the MCG test. Though they had Scott Boland, who did pretty well. But they can have a big headache if Mitchell Starc also gets ruled out of the final test. Australian head coach Andrew McDonald is optimistic about Starc's availability for the SCG test.
The 34-year-old looked in discomfort during the Boxing Day Test in the second innings. He left the field during Day 3 due to a niggle and was seen stretching his back a few times in India's second innings as well. However, the pacer kept pushing hard and played a crucial role in Australia's victory. He took the wicket of Virat Kohli in the second innings and bowled consistently with a good speed of over 140 km/h.
His inclusion is still a question, and McDonald said, "Clearly, Starc is carrying something of some description. We’ll assess that. There was clearly a bit of discomfort early in his spells, but once he warmed up, he seemed relatively free. His ball speeds were good."
Notably, Australia have the option to go for Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson if Starc gets unfit for the final game. These two pacers are with the team as backup options. Australia are one win away from regaining the BGT trophy and qualifying for the WTC final. So, they need Starc fully fit and at his best for the final game.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.icccricketschedule.com/3-changes-india-must-make-to-win-the-scg-test-to-retain-the-border-gavaskar-trophy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 changes India must make to win the SCG Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy</a>

Mitchell Starc was seen in discomfort while bowling in the Boxing Day Test. He had a niggle, and his participating in the final test at the SCG is in doubt.

Mitchell Starc ruled out of Sydney Test? Australian coach makes a big revelation ahead of 5th Test

mitchell-starc-ruled-out-of-sydney-test-australian-coach-makes-a-big-revelation-ahead-of-5th-test

The finalists of both World Test Championship cycles in the history of Test cricket—once the number-one ranked team for a long time before the home series against New Zealand and a side brimming with some of the finest red-ball cricketing talent—have suffered as many as 11 batting collapses in their last 14 innings.
If we set aside a few individual performances from these 14 innings, the overall display as a unit reveals two more poor performances. Not to mention, India managed to win just one Test out of those seven, and that too only when the entire top order fired up and put up substantial runs.
The most disheartening aspect is that India faltered against New Zealand at home, on pitches they themselves had chosen to play on. New Zealand, on the other hand, executed their plans and tactics flawlessly, adapting brilliantly to subcontinent conditions. They not only outplayed India but also delivered a resounding statement by securing a 3-0 whitewash in the Test series on Indian soil.
Following the home humiliation, India embarked on their tour of Australia for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and started on a high note, winning the first Test in Perth. Despite being bowled out for just 150 in the first innings, a brilliant 161 from Jaiswal and an unbeaten century from Kohli (100*) secured a memorable victory for India.
While Indian bowling, led by Jasprit Bumrah, has delivered consistently and performed satisfactorily, the same cannot be said for the batting lineup, which continues to struggle with inconsistency.

The second innings at Perth was the last time Indian batting displayed solidity. In the pink-ball Test at Adelaide, the team suffered a double collapse, resulting in a defeat. At Brisbane, KL Rahul, Jadeja, and Akash Deep were the only players to score above 20, highlighting the lack of form and consistency within the batting order.
The latest disappointment came in Melbourne, where the story was no different. Despite promising starts, the batters threw away their wickets, leading to yet another collapse. Jaiswal, however, continued his excellent form and proved to be the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal batting performance, fully deserving the bit of luck that came his way.
<h2>Things Going Wrong With Indian Batting</h2>
<h3>Out of Form Captain</h3>
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Rohit Sharma, the Indian Test Captain, is just out of the knick and it looks like he is out of the mindset he used to have. If we talk on his numbers in the Border Gavaskar trophy 2024-25, he has scored only 31 runs in the three tests of the series. His total runs in the series are just one more than Jasprit Bumrah's wickets in the series.
The runs simply aren’t coming. While the statistics might provide material for laughs and social media memes, on a serious note, they paint a grim picture of Rohit as a batter. Not only has he struggled with his form, but his performance as a Test captain has also been far from tactically sound or proactive. The prolonged lean patch has seemingly further impacted his decision-making, compounding the issues for both himself and the team
<h3>Virat and the fifth Stump Love Affair</h3>
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‘Modern-day greats will figure out their way… you know… path,’ Rohit Sharma said with a smile when asked about Kohli's tendency to chase the fifth-stump ball ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Ironically, in both innings at the MCG, Kohli was dismissed chasing deliveries outside the off-stump, proving that the issue remains unresolved.
There seems to be a clear pattern emerging for both Kohli and Rohit, and opposing teams now know exactly how to send them back to the pavilion. The Australians, in particular, are enjoying testing Virat Kohli's patience, and it hasn’t taken much effort to reap the rewards. At this point, even someone like Mitch Marsh could dismiss Kohli by consistently bowling on the fourth or fifth stump line.
This issue needs to be addressed urgently. Kohli has earned his place among the greats over the years, but now it’s time for him to show how he can adapt and overcome this persistent fifth-stump vulnerability.
<h3>Rishabh Pant Being Over Aggressive </h3>
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Pant, known for his fearless and attacking style, has played key roles in many of India's victories. Yet, his tendency to go for high-risk shots has led to untimely dismissals, one of the most notable being a poor judgment call during the Melbourne Cricket Ground match, where he attempted an ill-conceived scoop shot.
Pant is putting in significant effort to get those valuable starts, and he’s been successful in doing so. But his aggressive instincts often take over, causing his well-earned starts to end in unfortunate dismissals.
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/">On this day in 2014, the legendary MS Dhoni played his final test and retired from the longest format of the game</a>

India’s recent struggles in Test cricket reflect inconsistent batting, with key players like Kohli and Rohit failing to find form. Despite strong individual performances, persistent issues, especially against Australia, remain unresolved.

India’s Test cricket woes continue with inconsistent batting and decision-making, despite individual brilliance, especially against Australia’s relentless pressure.