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.
The Chennai Super Kings' middle-order suffered a dramatic collapse against the Rajasthan Royals, as they fell short chasing the target set by the Royals. Veteran batsmen MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja tried to take the game deep, but were ultimately unable to pull off a thrilling last-over finish. The Royals' spin bowlers caused panic and triggered the collapse, getting rid of crucial wickets including Rahane, Dube, and Conway. Despite that, the close finish and the valiant efforts of the CSK batting pair garnered praise from the crowd.
In a crucial point of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Team India's KL Rahul praised the impressive display of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on the fourth day of the Brisbane Test against Australia. Jadeja's gritty 77 runs off 123 balls, along with support from Rahul himself and tail-enders Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, helped India avoid a follow-on and finish the day at 252/9. Despite facing a strong 405/7 on Day 2 led by Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101), Jadeja's solid technique and consistent performance proved invaluable for India.
Ravindra Jadeja joined KL Rahul on day four of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba in Brisbane. Despite facing criticism for his selection, Rahul praised Jadeja’s vital contribution to avoid the follow-on and keep India’s hopes of a draw alive. The two built a crucial 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with Jadeja scoring 70-80 runs with the tail. Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah then further solidified India’s stance in the match, leaving the visitors with a fighting chance heading into the final day of play.
On Day 4 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India faced a difficult task as they tried to claw back after Australia's first-innings lead. KL Rahul's 84 runs kept them in the game, but Nathan Lyon's bowling caused regular wickets. Rain delayed the match with Ravindra Jadeja playing a strong role, remaining unbeaten at 52. As India looks for a strong partnership, Australia will strive to take control of the game.
During Day 2 of the third Test between India and Australia, Mohammed Siraj's aggressive throw caused tension on the field as it nearly injured teammate Ravindra Jadeja. The incident also led to Jadeja giving Siraj a mouthful, showcasing the tension and frustration within the Indian team. Despite this, Australia dominated the day with Travis Head and Steve Smith's centuries, putting them in a strong position in the match.
During Day 2 of the third Test at the Gabba, Australia's Travis Head and Steve Smith put on a dominant partnership, leading to Indian players' frustration and skipper Rohit Sharma's questionable decision-making. Former Australia batter Simon Katich did not hold back in his criticism, labeling the field placements and bowling tactics of Mohammed Siraj and Rohit as "dumb." This came after Rohit's decision to drop Ravindra Jadeja from the playing XI and rotate pacers throughout the match.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar showed his support for Team India's decision to bring in Ravindra Jadeja in place of Ravichandran Ashwin for the third test match of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Bangar praised Jadeja's prowess in overseas conditions and highlighted his valuable contributions with both the bat and ball. However, questions remain whether Jadeja's past success in spin-friendly wickets will translate to the fast-paced 'Gabba' pitch. The match was off to a slow start with rain interrupting play after only 13.2 overs were bowled.
India captain Rohit Sharma has endorsed the team's decision to leave out veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the first Test against Australia. While India's new-look playing XI dominated the hosts in the series opener, Rohit acknowledges the contributions of Ashwin and Jadeja and believes they will play a crucial role in the remaining matches. He also highlights the importance of adapting to different grounds and bringing in players who are best suited for each match.
Despite some criticism, it seems Washington Sundar will continue to be India's sole spinner for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide. The decision to keep him in the playing XI over veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja was surprising to many, but Sundar's solid all-round performance in the first Test seems to have given him the edge. However, the move did not sit well with all, as former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with the decision in his commentary.