Indian cricket team surprises with their team selection as they include two debutants while leaving out experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The decision to go with Washington Sundar instead is based on form and team balance rather than records. This isn't the first time India has played a Test in Australia without either Ashwin or Jadeja, and in the past, they have managed to win without them. Will this strategic decision pay off for India in the first Test against Australia? Only time will tell.
India faced a series of unexpected roadblocks as they entered the Perth Test against Australia, with multiple injuries sidelining key players and forcing the team to hand debuts to inexperienced prospects. Despite their bold team selection, which saw the absences of regulars Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Shubman Gill, India struggled from the start as their top batsmen were quickly dismissed by a relentless Australian bowling attack. With Mohammed Shami still expected to join the squad at some point, it remains to be seen how India will fare in the remaining matches of the series.
The selection of Washington Sundar as the only spinner in India's playing XI for the Perth Test has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts. While some are surprised by the decision, with veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja left out, others are highlighting Sundar's potential as a versatile player. The move also sees debutants Nitish Rana, Harshit Rana, and Australia's Nathan McSweeney taking the field for the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Commentary by prominent cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle adds to the discussion, as he praises Sundar for his selection over Ashwin.
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.
In a surprising move, Indian captain-coach duo Jasprit Bumrah and Gautam Gambhir opted to leave out seasoned spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Instead, India went with the inexperienced Washington Sundar as their sole spinner in the XI. The decision left experts and fans puzzled, as it was only the fifth time since 2012 that India did not have both Ashwin and Jadeja in their playing XI, and the second instance in Perth. The move seemed to be a strategic one, with India wanting an off-spinner to exploit the left-handers in Australia's lineup, and Sundar being perceived as a better batting option than Ashwin.
In a highly anticipated match for a spot in World Test Championship final, India faces off against Australia with both teams facing their own set of challenges. India comes into the match without captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill while Australia will be missing all-rounder Cameron Green. Debutants Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana are set to don the Indian jersey, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja benched in favour of Washington Sundar. Follow live updates of the match below.
Gauri Khan took to Instagram to give fans a sneak peek into Shah Rukh Khan's birthday bash with family, accompanied by a heartfelt message and throwback photo. Bollywood stars, including Kareena Kapoor Khan and Katrina Kaif, also posted birthday wishes for the king of romance. Meanwhile, Jadeja and Ashwin boost India's chances against New Zealand in the cricket test match.
Indian star bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin deliver impressive performances, taking multiple wickets and dismissing top New Zealand players during the second day of the third cricket test match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. With the partnership of Jadeja, Ashwin, and Ishant Sharma, the Indian cricket team gains the upper hand against their competitors, marking an exciting turn of events for fans watching the match. As the two teams continue to battle it out, the outcome of this thrilling test match remains uncertain.
On Day 1, India's Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant put on a strong partnership to battle against New Zealand's bowlers. Gill showed his form and resilience by scoring a half-century, accompanied by Pant who also achieved a half-century. Unfortunately, New Zealand's fielder Mark Chapman dropped Gill's catch which led to his unbeaten 85 runs, providing a strong contribution towards India's successful Day 1. Jadeja and Sundar also deserve mention for dismissing New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Ajaz Patel, respectively.
Despite a strong performance from the bowlers, the Indian batting lineup struggled yet again, ending day one of the third Test against New Zealand at 86/4. With losses in the previous two Tests, the Indian team is facing the possibility of a 3-0 series defeat. Left-arm spinner Jadeja led the bowling attack with a fifer, but the Indian batters, including captain Rohit Sharma and star player Virat Kohli, fell victim to misfortune and poor timing. However, there is still hope for India as Washington Sundar's four wickets helped restrict New Zealand to 235 runs in their first innings.