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.
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.
India has made bold choices for their first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, naming a pace-bowling dominant playing XI with two debutants and a surprise inclusion of Washington Sundar. The spin-bowling allrounder will shoulder a lot of responsibility as the lone spinner in a team that includes names like KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant. Sundar's impressive form in the previous series against New Zealand is what earned him a spot in the team, along with two other notable additions, Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel. The Indian team also announced their full squad for the series, with some big names missing, making this a highly anticipated and intriguing matchup.
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.
Kohli's run out, along with a controversial decision to send in nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj, added to India's woes at the end of Day 1. Despite the setback, India bounced back on Day 2 thanks to a strong counter-attack by Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill. Their efforts, along with a quickfire cameo by Washington Sundar, helped India take a first innings lead for the first time in the series.
In an action-packed day at the third and final test between India and New Zealand, the hosts had a strong start as their spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar picked up a total of nine wickets. New Zealand put up a decent total of 235 thanks to fifties from Will Young and Daryll Mitchell, but India closed out Day 1 with the upper hand, trailing by 149 runs with four wickets down.
Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja took five wickets, while Washington Sundar grabbed four as New Zealand struggled to score against the home team on day one of the third Test match. The Indian side dominated the Kiwis as their batsmen, including captain Virat Kohli, failed to deliver in the crucial match. With just four runs to his name, Kohli was dismissed after a brain-fade moment caused a run-out. The Kiwis were eventually bowled out for 235, with Jadeja's five-wicket haul and Rohit Sharma's reckless shot leading the way for India's bowling attack.
After losing the first two Tests and the series, India will be playing for pride while New Zealand will be looking to continue their dominance. With the World Test Championship points at stake, both teams will be giving it their all. In the first session, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja put up a brilliant performance, claiming nine wickets between them. The Kiwis, however, were able to cross the 200-run mark before tea, making the match evenly poised.