In the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India makes a strategic decision to bench Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in favor of Washington Sundar. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the batting, with Devdutt Padikkal making his Test debut at number three. The team will also hope for a return to form from Virat Kohli as they face a tough series against Australia.
India's Strategic Decision to Bench Ashwin and Jadeja in Border-Gavaskar Trophy Opener
In a surprising turn of events, India has opted to bench Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, two of its most experienced and accomplished spinners, for the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Instead, Washington Sundar has been drafted into the starting lineup as the lone specialist spinner.
Background
Ashwin and Jadeja have been stalwarts of the Indian Test team for many years, combining for 630 career Test wickets. They played a pivotal role in India's historic Test series win in Australia in 2018-19. However, both bowlers have struggled for form in recent months, with Ashwin averaging 44.64 in his last five Tests and Jadeja averaging 42.85.
Reasons for the Decision
The Indian team management believed that the conditions at the Adelaide Oval, where the first Test is being played, would not suit Ashwin and Jadeja. The pitch is expected to be dry and bouncy, favoring seamers and all-rounders. Washington Sundar, on the other hand, is a finger spinner who can also contribute with the bat, making him a better fit for the conditions.
Impact on the Team
The absence of Ashwin and Jadeja will undoubtedly weaken India's bowling attack. However, the team management believes that the all-round abilities of Sundar and the addition of Shardul Thakur to the bowling lineup will make up for the loss. Additionally, the return of Virat Kohli, who has been in excellent form in limited-overs cricket, will provide a boost to the batting order.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Why were Ashwin and Jadeja benched?
Who will replace Ashwin and Jadeja?
What are the strengths of Washington Sundar?
How will India's team be affected by the benching of Ashwin and Jadeja?
What are India's chances of winning the first Test without Ashwin and Jadeja?
In a thrilling start to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah took the wicket of Australian batsman Steve Smith for a golden duck. Smith was dismissed for only the second time in his Test career by a massive in-swinging delivery from Bumrah. This dismissal adds to the intense rivalry between the two teams and raises the stakes for the rest of the series.
In the ongoing AUS vs IND 1st Test match in Perth, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli's poor performance continued as he dropped a crucial catch of Marnus Labuschagne on Day 1. After scoring just 5 runs with the bat, Kohli's dropped catch added to the team's struggles against Australia. Despite the disappointment, Kohli showed great sportsmanship by gesturing that he did not take the catch.
Indian cricketer Harshit Rana's debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener against Australia did not disappoint as he took his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Travis Head. Rana's impressive performance, along with captain Jasprit Bumrah's decision to opt for batting on a difficult pitch, helped India dominate on the opening day. Despite a low total of 150 runs in their first innings, India showed glimpses of hope with Rana's breakthrough and Rishabh Pant's daring shots.
The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India is set to commence this Friday. With two star pacers leading their respective teams, this clash at Perth Stadium promises to kick off an action-packed Australian summer. However, India will face a hurdle as Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will not play in the first game, leaving Jasprit Bumrah to take on the captaincy role. Meanwhile, Australia is likely to give newcomer Nathan McSweeney his maiden cap as an opener. With the two teams having faced off in a total of 107 test matches, the Aussies hold the lead with 45 wins, while India has 32 wins under their belt. 29 tests have ended in draws, with one being tied. Don't miss this thrilling match at 07:50 AM IST on November 22, 2024, only at the Perth Stadium.
Former captain Michael Clarke expresses the need for intense competition in international cricket amidst the growing trend of players sharing the dressing room for league tournaments. He lauds India's success in Australia due to their focus on national pride over camaraderie with opposition players from the IPL. Clarke hopes for Australia also playing with a similar mindset in the 2024 BGT to make it a thrilling series. India looks to bounce back after a recent whitewash, while Australia will be playing their first Test series since the T20 World Cup.
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli's struggles in Perth continue as he drops an easy catch of Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who was just on his second ball of the innings. Kohli's drop adds to his poor personal performance in the match, where he could only score five runs before getting out to Josh Hazlewood's delivery. This turn of events could have a significant impact on the outcome of the match.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, two young cricketers from India, received their maiden Test caps in Perth, marking a significant moment in their careers. Nitish, known for his aggressive batting and impressive all-round performance, has already made a mark in the IPL and received a call-up for the national team. Harshit, recognized by Kolkata Knight Riders for his height and pace, has also impressed with his variations and all-round skills, making a successful domestic debut. As their journey continues, cricket fans eagerly look forward to the rise of these exciting young talents in Indian cricket.
In the first innings of the Perth Test, Indian opener KL Rahul's dismissal on a debatable DRS call caused quite a stir. After being adjudged not out by the umpire, the third umpire overturned the decision without sufficient evidence, leading to disappointment among players and commentators. With the decision having a potential impact on the match's outcome, it highlighted the need for better use of technology in crucial moments of the game.
With the IPL mega auction just around the corner, teams will be vying for top overseas players such as Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Marco Jansen, Mitchell Marsh, and Liam Livingstone. Buttler's batting prowess and leadership qualities make him a hot commodity, while Starc's thunderbolts and left-arm angle could fetch him a big bid. Youngsters like Jansen and Livingstone also have a chance to land lucrative deals with their impressive T20 performances. It remains to be seen which team will come out on top in the bidding war for these players.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's explosive batting at No. 5 during the first inning of the India vs Australia test match at Optus Stadium in Perth left fans in awe. Despite losing his balance and falling to the ground, Pant managed to hit a powerful six off an over by Australian captain Pat Cummins. However, Cummins eventually took Pant's wicket for the first time in Test cricket. With debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pant added 48 runs for the seventh wicket, but India could only post a total of 150 runs in the first innings. Josh Hazlewood's four wickets put Australia in a dominant position.