In a disappointing start to the first Test between India and Australia, star opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck by Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc. The 22-year-old's dismissal was caught on camera and has since gone viral on the internet. India, without Rohit Sharma, are being led by pacer Jasprit Bumrah and have included two uncapped players, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, in the playing XI for the match.
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.
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood made history on Day 1 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by becoming the first Australian new-ball attack to claim 400 Test wickets. Starc struck first, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck while Hazlewood removed debutant Devdutt Padikkal for a nought. This milestone further solidifies the duo's position as one of the most lethal bowling pairs in Test cricket.
As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia unfolds, the discussion shifts to a different kind of contest - the impact of Indian Prime Ministers on the country's economy. With the likes of Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh, and Indira Gandhi at the forefront, this debate has been ongoing for decades. With newcomers Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy making their Test debuts, the question arises - which Indian PM has made the biggest impact on the economy? This analysis delves into the policies and actions of past Indian leaders and the impact on the country's economic growth.
Former Australian cricket team players Brad Haddin and Aaron Finch believe Indian batsmen will struggle against the pace of Australian bowlers in the upcoming test series. Haddin especially pointed out the weakness of Indian batsmen against bouncers and namedropped young player Yashasvi Jaiswal as a potential struggle. However, Finch also admitted that Australia's top order will face a similar challenge from the Indian fast bowlers. Both players also emphasized the crucial role of wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant and Alex Carey in the series.
With the highly-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia just around the corner, the focus is on India's batting lineup. According to Australian great Mark Taylor, India's transition from experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to younger talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal has not been smooth, primarily due to the indifferent form of their star players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Taylor points out that in the past 12-18 months, Sharma and Kohli have not been making the bulk of the runs, while younger players like Jaiswal and Gill have been consistently outscoring them.
After a successful IPL season, Abhishek Sharma earned a call-up to India's T20I squad. However, the underwhelming performances from the youngster have put his spot in the team in doubt. With Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal unavailable for the series against South Africa, Sharma will have a chance to prove his worth. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that this will be a "do-or-die" series for the 24-year-old, with pressure mounting on him to perform before the duo returns for the next series against England.
South Africa's Kagiso Rabada has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings after a stellar performance in the first match of the ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh. The 29-year-old fast bowler became the fastest to reach 300 Test wickets and also finished with nine wickets in the match. Left-arm spinners Noman Ali of Pakistan and Mitchel Santner of New Zealand have also made significant progress in the rankings. Other notable improvements include Bangladesh's Taijul Islam and South Africa's Wiaan Mulder. In the batting rankings, India's Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pakistan's Saud Shakeel, and New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra have entered the top 10 for the first time.
Abhishek Sharma's promising performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) earned him a spot in the Indian team, but his performance in the T20I series against South Africa has left much to be desired. After a stunning century, he has struggled to make an impact and is facing doubts about his position in the team. Fans and experts are questioning his spot, especially with Sanju Samson in form and young talents like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal waiting on the sidelines. With the T20 World Cup looming, this could spell trouble for Sharma's future in the national team. The ongoing series against South Africa will be a crucial test for the young player.
The second day of the third and final test between India and New Zealand saw a fiery start from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, who hammered the NZ bowlers relentlessly. However, NZ's Ish Sodhi turned the tide by dismissing Pant for 60, after which India suffered a horrific collapse, losing 3 wickets in 15 minutes. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Siraj, and Virat Kohli all fell victim to NZ's attack, leaving India at 195/5 at lunch.