India face a crucial Sydney Test against Australia, with its World Test Championship final hopes at stake. India's win percentage is behind top contenders Australia and South Africa. Victory is essential to stay in the hunt, alongside needing favourable results from Australia's series against Sri Lanka. Failure to win in Sydney would end India's WTC campaign.
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Cricket Australia announced that over 6,000 Indian fans traveled to Australia for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With over 837,879 total spectators, it became the fourth most-attended Test series in Australia. Indian supporters significantly boosted ticket sales, especially during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Future tours are planned, further enhancing cricket tourism and trade.
Sherfane Rutherford's dedication to cricket and relentless training ethos, inspired by watching greats like Virat Kohli, has led to remarkable performances in recent years. His disciplined approach and consistency have made him a valuable player for West Indies and an exciting prospect for the upcoming IPL season with Gujarat Titans.
Virat Kohli discussed his balance between calmness and aggression in his on-field persona, stating that he faces criticism regardless of his approach. He emphasised that his competitiveness remains strong despite a more subdued demeanour. Kohli remains a key player for RCB in the upcoming IPL 2025 season, targeting both a maiden title and new batting records.
Michael Bevan, renowned for his pivotal role in One-Day Internationals, was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, following the revision of its criteria to equally honor players across all formats. Bevan's exceptional performances and record-breaking achievements in ODIs, including two World Cup wins, cemented his legendary status in cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin recalls MS Dhoni's brilliant tactics during the 2013 Champions Trophy final, where Dhoni predicted and executed strategic moves to dismiss Jonathan Trott and others. Dhoni's leadership helped India secure a victory, with Ishant Sharma taking crucial wickets and Ashwin bowling the final over. Dhoni's choices demonstrated his unmatched game awareness and confidence in his team's abilities.
Shahid Afridi criticizes the selection of Shadab Khan to Pakistan's T20 squad, questioning his performance merit. Afridi highlights issues of inconsistency and lack of accountability in Pakistan cricket, emphasizing the need for decisions based on merit. He suggests that the current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, despite his intentions, should focus solely on his role.
Saud Shakeel of the State Bank of Pakistan team made history by becoming the first Pakistani cricketer to be dismissed for being timed out. This rare occurrence happened during the President's Trophy final in Rawalpindi, played with unusual night timings during Ramadan.
With Josh Hazlewood out for the rest of the India series due to a calf injury, Australian captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are prepared to shoulder increased bowling responsibilities. The series is currently tied 1-1. Cummins and Starc are expected to play in the remaining Melbourne and Sydney Tests, barring any unforeseen issues.
Key matchups in the high-stakes game include Rachin Ravindra’s duel with India’s spin quartet, Varun Chakravarthy’s challenge from Kane Williamson, and Mitchell Santner facing Shreyas Iyer. Mohammed Shami’s new-ball spell could be significant against New Zealand openers, especially given his success against left-handers.
Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has urged India to tour Pakistan, highlighting the love and admiration Indian players will receive in the neighbouring country. He reminisced about past tours and stressed the cultural similarities between both nations. He also emphasized the need for resuming bilateral series to foster friendships and strengthen cricket ties.