Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returned to form with an impressive 33-ball 61 in India's first innings against Australia in the first Test held on Saturday, January 4. Pant's quickfire knock broke multiple records, including the second-fastest fifty by an Indian in Tests. With the help of this innings, India managed to recover from a collapse and will be looking to extend their lead to 200 in the third innings. Meanwhile, the uncertainty over fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah's back injury continues.
Day 2 of the 5th Test between Australia and India was full of excitement as 15 wickets fell and the lead shifted between the two sides. India's bowlers continued their good work from Day 1, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj taking crucial wickets. However, Rishabh Pant's explosive style of batting ensured that India ended the day leading by 145 runs with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar holding the fort at the crease. Australia will have to put up a tough fight on Day 3 if they want to avoid defeat.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.