In a crucial match of the five-match series between Australia and India, captain Pat Cummins has won the toss and elected to bat first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Both teams are tied at 1-1 after a draw in the previous test. Despite the expected hot weather with a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, a large crowd of over 90,000 is expected to attend the match.
Australia's young opener Sam Konstas makes his debut while India opts for spin in their playing XI. With the pitch likely to wear out quickly, India may have the upper hand in the batting order. However, Australia's young talent and strong fast bowling attack remain a threat for the Indian team. Follow live updates as the two teams face off in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting believes Indian opener Shubman Gill can improve his overseas record by making minor changes to his approach. Despite scoring four hundreds in 17 Tests at home, Gill's average of 23.8 across nine Tests in England, Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa and Australia is a cause of concern for Ponting. The 21-year-old may be overcomplicating his approach, and Ponting suggests that he should trust his instincts and maintain an attacking mindset for better results.
After missing the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, Rohit Sharma is expected to return as opener for the crucial Boxing Day Test. This change in the Indian batting order could also have a domino effect on other players, potentially impacting young Shubman Gill's position in the team. Meanwhile, Australia has made two changes to their playing XI for the 4th Test, with Scott Boland and debutant Sam Konstas added to the squad.
Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma was irritated by a female fan's repeated requests to call Shubman Gill during practice at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. With the WTC Final dreams at stake, this match is crucial for both India and Australia. Despite his struggles with form, Rohit does not want Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant to be weighed down by outside suggestions as they are all "capable" players. These three youngsters will form the core of Indian batting in the next decade, and Rohit knows their worth.
As India prepares for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the sudden retirement of R Ashwin has left a gap in the team's spin attack. In his place, the selectors have called up Mumbai's all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who has 101 wickets under his belt in 31 First-class games. With Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja also in the mix, Kotian's inclusion adds strength to India's spin bowling.
India has selected talented all-rounder Tanush Kotian to join their squad for the fourth and fifth tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series. The series is currently tied 1-1 with India winning in Perth and Australia responding with a victory in Adelaide. The action now moves to Melbourne and Sydney for the final two tests. Kotian, who has had a successful season with Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, will replace R Ashwin in the squad as he joins the team in Melbourne on Tuesday. This will be his first appearance in the Indian Test squad.
Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja out as Konstas is set to open for Australia in 4th Test In the world of sports, exciting news has emerged that 19-year-old Sam Konstas has been called up to the Australian Test squad for the last two Tests against India. The young and talented right-handed batter has a proven track record in First Class cricket and is expected to open for the Baggy Greens in the upcoming Boxing Day Test. With established players like Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja being dropped, Konstas has the chance to make a name for himself and establish a place in the Australian team. Having already recorded a fast fifty by a Sydney Thunder batter, all eyes will be on this potential new star in the making.
Amidst 19-year-old Sam Konstas being called up to the Australia Test squad for the last two matches against India, former cricketer Merv Hughes believes it is a 'panic' move from the hosts. While Konstas had impressed with twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield, Hughes argues that it is a hasty decision and Australia should remain calm considering their recent success. Konstas will join the team after playing for the Sydney Thunder in the BBL on Sunday.
Australia have made a surprising change to their 15-man test squad for the third Test against India, replacing opener Nathan McSweeney with 19-year-old Sam Konstas. Despite only scoring 72 runs in his three-test debut, McSweeney was praised for his strong batting technique against a tough Indian bowling attack. Konstas, who has been impressive in domestic cricket and was the youngest player to score a half-century on his BBL debut, will provide a much-needed new option for Australia's struggling batting lineup. National selection panel chairman George Bailey cited Konstas's ability to take on India's fast bowlers, as well as McSweeney's low strike rate, as reasons for the surprising change.