As India prepares for the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, the sudden retirement of R Ashwin has left a gap in the team's spin attack. In his place, the selectors have called up Mumbai's all-rounder Tanush Kotian, who has 101 wickets under his belt in 31 First-class games. With Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja also in the mix, Kotian's inclusion adds strength to India's spin bowling.
Former Indian captain and cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar voices his worries about Ravichandran Ashwin's surprise retirement mid-series, drawing parallels to the consequences of MS Dhoni's similar decision during the 2014-15 Test series in Australia. With Ashwin's absence leaving a void in India's spinning attack, Gavaskar points out the impact on team planning and selections, further questioning the timing of the announcement. Meanwhile, Ashwin's state-mate and Indian teammate Washington Sundar shares a heartfelt tribute to the allrounder, expressing his admiration and gratitude for Ashwin's mentorship and inspiration.
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.
After a long wait, Indian Cricket team captain Virat Kohli finally hit his first test century since July 2023 in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. This century not only helped Kohli break out of a rut but also gave India's second innings a much-needed boost with a lead of 533 runs against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium. Kohli's confident and dominant performance, along with able partnerships with Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, has all but put a loss out of equation for India in the ongoing test. Celebrating his century, Kohli dedicated it to his wife Anushka Sharma, who has always been by his side through thick and thin.
Team India sets a challenging target of 534 runs for Australia in the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar will play a crucial role in the remaining five Tests over 45 days. The team management's decision to add three spinners to the squad seems strategic, with the sudden preference for all-rounder Washington Sundar, who impressed both legendary Wasim Akram and head coach Ravi Shastri. India's dominant performance in the first innings, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), Virat Kohli (100), and KL Rahul (77), gives them a good start in the tournament.
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.