Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his disappointment over top order batter Sanju Samson not being included in the Indian cricket team for the upcoming ODI series against England and ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Despite his impressive performance in T20Is, Samson was overlooked in favor of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul as keepers. Pathan also discussed the omission of fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and the rise of young talent Shubman Gill in the team.
The Indian cricket team revealed their 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy in Dubai, but the exclusion of pacer Mohammed Siraj came as a shock to many. Despite being one of India's key performers in the format over the past few years, Siraj was snubbed in favor of less experienced players. With questions surrounding the fitness of senior bowler Jasprit Bumrah, captain Rohit Sharma cited the need for variety in the pace attack as the reason for Siraj's exclusion.
The Indian team for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 was announced and it brought with it a few surprises. One of the biggest shocks was the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj from the 15-member squad. Despite being a part of the World Cup 2023 and T20 World Cup 2024, Siraj's poor form in white-ball cricket led to his omission. Young pacer Arshdeep Singh replaced him and the selection committee backed their decision by stating Siraj's lack of effectiveness with the old ball. Along with Siraj, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami also made his much-awaited comeback while Harshit Rana was named as a reserve. With concerns over Jasprit Bumrah's fitness, the pace quartet of Bumrah, Shami, Arshdeep, and Harshit look promising for India but the team will have to be careful with Bumrah's back issue.
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj delivered a fiery spell on the second day of the fifth BGT 2024-25 test in Sydney, accounting for the wickets of Sam Konstas and Travis Head. Konstas, who had resumed his battle with Jasprit Bumrah, was eventually dismissed for 23 after being sucked into a full delivery from Siraj. Head, the leading run-scorer of the series, was also dismissed by Siraj in the same over, leaving the Australian team in trouble.
On Day 2 of the Sydney Test, Indian captain Virat Kohli gave some spicy advice to teammate Jasprit Bumrah on how to dismiss Australian opener Sam Konstas. The young Aussie struggled against Bumrah's delivery tactic and eventually got dismissed for 23 runs. India's pace-bowling trio of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna performed brilliantly to wrap up Australia's first innings at 181 runs. With crucial momentum regained, India will aim to overcome their batting woes and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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.
India's star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the top performer in the ongoing 5th Test against Australia, has left the field and is undergoing scans for an injury. This raises questions about his availability for the rest of the match and for the upcoming series against England. Despite his absence, India has managed to take a lead in the first innings thanks to stellar performances from Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri fears that this could have a massive impact on the series.
After losing the Boxing Day Test, India faces a crucial match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Indian captain Rohit Sharma has opted out due to poor form, with pacer Jasprit Bumrah expected to lead the team. This could mark the end of Rohit's Test career, while Prasidh Krishna's inclusion adds a new dimension to India's pace attack alongside Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. India must win to retain the trophy and keep its chances alive in the World Test Championship. Tune in for the Day 1 play starting at 5:00 AM IST.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's impressive batting performance on the fourth day of the India vs Australia test match helped India reach a total of 369 runs in their first innings, cutting Australia's lead to just 105 runs. India's bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, put pressure on the Australian team, resulting in four wickets for Bumrah and the milestone of 200 test wickets. Despite a stubborn partnership from Labuschagne and Cummins, India's Mohammed Siraj made a crucial breakthrough, bringing the match back in India's favor.
On day four of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australian skipper Pat Cummins was left puzzled after a contentious umpire decision allowed Indian batsman Mohammed Siraj to continue batting. Despite a clear edge being caught by second slip Steve Smith, third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat ruled Siraj not out, calling for closer scrutiny and sparking criticism from former cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Ravi Shastri. Although India's innings ended at 369, with Nathan Lyon dismissing centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy for 114, Australia held a first-innings lead of 105 runs.