Cricket

India's upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) tour of Australia has become a crucial test for the team, according to former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali. After a disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand, India faces immense pressure to perform well in Australia.Basit believes that the Indian team must focus on silencing their critics with strong performances. He warns that if they fail to do so, several players, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, could face the axe after the Champions Trophy."India needs to shut everyone up with their performance," Basit said in a YouTube video. "If they can't do that, I think three or four players will be dropped after the Champions Trophy, including Gautam Gambhir."India's batting lineup has been a major concern, with star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggling for form. Basit emphasizes that the team must address these issues and find a way to perform consistently."India's batting has been a big problem," Basit said. "They need to find a way to score runs and put pressure on the Australian bowlers."India's chances of winning the BGT have been boosted by the absence of Australia's star batsman David Warner, who is serving a one-year ban for his role in the ball-tampering scandal. However, Basit warns that India cannot afford to take Australia lightly."Australia is still a strong team, even without Warner," Basit said. "India will need to play their best to win the series."India will begin their BGT campaign with the first Test in Perth on November 22. They will need to win four of the five Tests to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

Australia's recent ODI series loss to Pakistan has sparked criticism, but the upcoming T20I series presents a different challenge. With a focus on building towards the 2026 T20 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Australia is fielding a diminished side, providing opportunities for emerging players.Josh Inglis, the permanent wicketkeeper, will captain the team, while Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting. Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and Spencer Johnson will bolster the bowling attack.Pakistan, on the other hand, will seek to replicate their ODI bowling success, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf leading the charge. However, they may need to adjust their batting strategy, as Saim Ayub is not included in the squad.Tim David, Australia's T20 gun for hire, will be under scrutiny as he aims to regain his form as a finisher. Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batter, will also be in the spotlight, with his strike rate under examination.Australia will have at least three forced changes from their last T20I, while Pakistan is set to make at least five. The Gabba pitch is expected to provide pace and bounce for the fast bowlers, with the threat of rain and thunderstorms.

India's humiliating 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand has cast a shadow over their World Test Championship (WTC) aspirations. To qualify directly for the WTC final at Lord's in June 2025, India must now win four Tests in Australia.As India prepares for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a five-Test series against Australia, former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and ex-cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar have expressed their views on India's chances.Gavaskar believes that India can turn the tables on Australia, as they have done in the past. He highlights the leadership of Rohit Sharma and the match-winning ability of Rishabh Pant. However, he acknowledges that beating Australia 4-0 is a distant dream.Manjrekar emphasizes the importance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli performing well in the series. He also points out that India's bowling, which has been their strength in recent years, will be tested in the absence of Mohammed Shami.India's pace attack for the series includes Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna, who will support Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed are in the reserves.The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins in Perth on November 22. India will need to overcome the challenges of facing a strong Australian team and the absence of Shami to achieve their goal of winning four Tests and qualifying for the WTC final.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a highly anticipated five-Test series between India and Australia, is set to commence on November 22. This edition marks several significant milestones and potential farewells for legendary players.Australia has historically been a challenging destination for visiting teams, but India has performed admirably in their recent tours. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina, who was part of the 2014-15 BGT squad, emphasizes the importance of character and aggression for success in Australia.Raina highlights the crucial role of Virat Kohli, who has been instrumental in India's past victories. Despite his recent struggles, Raina believes Kohli's experience and determination will be vital. However, he acknowledges that Kohli may face challenges against spinners on turning tracks at home.Rohit Sharma's absence due to personal reasons presents an opportunity for Jasprit Bumrah to lead the team. Raina praises Bumrah's leadership qualities and believes he has the potential to become a future leader in Test cricket.The embarrassing series whitewash against New Zealand has raised questions about coach Gautam Gambhir's performance. Raina defends Gambhir, citing his impressive record as a player and coach.With Rohit likely to miss the first Test, India faces a dilemma in finding an opening partner for Yashasvi Jaiswal. Raina suggests KL Rahul or Dhruv Jurel as potential options. He particularly praises Jurel's patience and defensive technique, which could prove valuable in Australia.Raina also expresses confidence in India's pace attack, despite its relative lack of experience. He highlights the potential of Prasidh Krishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep, who he believes can be effective with their line and length in Australia.

Usman Khawaja has dismissed the notion that Australia's Test batting lineup needs to score quickly at the top of the order, arguing that it's a "myth" that has no basis in reality. Khawaja's comments come as Australia prepares to debut Nathan McSweeney as an opening partner for the first Test against India in Perth.McSweeney, who typically bats at No. 3 for South Australia, will be stepping into unfamiliar territory at the top of the order. However, Khawaja believes that McSweeney's measured approach to batting is well-suited to the role."I don't know where this myth started that you need someone to score really fast to do well," Khawaja said. "You've got five days to do it...I don't know why you need to score fast."Khawaja pointed out that David Warner, who retired from Test cricket last summer, had a strike rate of 70.76 in first-class cricket, while McSweeney's strike rate is 41.92. Despite the difference in strike rates, Khawaja believes that McSweeney can be just as effective as Warner."Opening's as much about scoring runs as it is about being able to absorb," Khawaja said. "Davey was special; he could score runs while absorbing but he didn't do it [score fast] every time. He was consistent; out there and setting a platform, and Nathan does that very well."Khawaja also emphasized that McSweeney shouldn't overthink the transition to opening the batting."There's no guarantees in cricket...but he doesn't have to do anything different," Khawaja said. "Just repeat the process. He's been able to handle the pressure at Shield level. When you look at his demeanor, the way he plays, you do kind of feel over a longer period of time he'll be able to handle the scrutiny, the pressure of Test cricket."In addition to discussing McSweeney's debut, Khawaja also announced plans to link his Usman Khawaja Foundation annually with the Gabba Test. The foundation aims to assist youth from disadvantaged backgrounds through cricket and educational programs.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia promises to be a captivating spectacle, with the form of veteran players Ravichandran Ashwin and Steve Smith likely to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.Ashwin, widely regarded as one of the greatest spinners of all time, has been a formidable force in Test cricket, particularly against Australia. In 22 Tests against the Aussies, he has claimed 114 wickets at an impressive average of 28.36. His ability to extract turn and bounce from even the most placid surfaces makes him a potent threat.Smith, on the other hand, is a batting maestro known for his unorthodox yet highly effective technique. He has amassed 2042 runs in 19 Tests against India, including nine centuries and five half-centuries. His ability to adapt to different conditions and outsmart bowlers has made him one of the most prolific batsmen in contemporary cricket.Over the years, Ashwin and Smith have engaged in intriguing battles on the field. Ashwin has revealed that he has studied Smith's batting closely, identifying his strengths and weaknesses. He has devised specific strategies to counter Smith's unique technique, which has often proved successful."Steve Smith is someone that's fascinating as a player against spin," Ashwin said. "I have found ways and means to be able to break it down. His time at Delhi Capitals and RPSG gave me an insight into how he prepares and what he likes and doesn't like."Smith, known for his astute cricketing mind, has also acknowledged Ashwin's prowess. He has praised Ashwin's ability to read batsmen and set up dismissals."Ashwin is a very thinking cricketer," Smith said. "He wants to get one up on you all the time. But he's got very unique ways of practicing and battling out with you in the middle."The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence in Perth on November 22. India will need to win four Tests in Australia to qualify directly for the World Test Championships final, scheduled for Lord's in June 2025. The outcome of the series will hinge on the performances of Ashwin and Smith, two of the most influential players in world cricket.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has faced criticism for canceling a warm-up match against India A ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In response to the poor form of Indian cricketers, the team has scheduled an intra-squad 3-day practice match behind closed doors.The intra-squad match at the WACA from Friday to Sunday will be held in lockdown conditions, with no public viewing allowed. This decision aims to keep internal matters private before the series begins.Indian players who arrived in Australia have commenced training sessions. Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin missed the optional first session. However, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant participated in the nets.India must defeat Australia 4-0 in the 5-match series to secure their World Test Championship final qualification. After losing 0-3 to New Zealand, India dropped to second in the points table, with Australia leading.The form of key players like Kohli, Pant, Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rohit Sharma will be crucial. Sharma's participation in the first Test at Perth remains uncertain.The BCCI's decision to cancel the warm-up match has raised concerns about the team's preparation. However, the intra-squad match provides an opportunity for players to regain form and build confidence ahead of the high-stakes series.

India's Test captain Rohit Sharma's participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) remains uncertain, but Australia is determined to target him relentlessly whenever he takes the field. Former Australian leg-spinner Kerry O'Keeffe believes that Australia's pace attack, led by Michael Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, will put Rohit under immense pressure.Rohit's recent Test form has been underwhelming, with just 133 runs in 10 innings leading up to the BGT. Despite India's 2-0 sweep against Bangladesh, Rohit acknowledged his subpar performance as captain during the embarrassing 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand.O'Keeffe emphasized Australia's historical strategy of targeting visiting captains, stating, "Rohit Sharma may miss one or two Tests, but he is the captain, and Australia always tries to torpedo the visiting captain. It's been a tactic they've used forever, and I think they'll go very hard at Rohit Sharma."Along with Rohit, Virat Kohli, India's other star batsman, has also been under scrutiny due to his extended lean patch. In six Tests in 2024, Kohli has scored only 250 runs in 12 innings, including a solitary half-century.O'Keeffe believes that Australia should remain cautious of Kohli, who has been a formidable opponent for the Aussies in the past. He said, "Kohli, who has worried them (Australia) over the years, what a stunning player he's been; but in sport, if you sense that the king of the jungle is slightly weaker, you poke a bit of cheek at him. I'm fascinated to see what Virat Kohli ends up with at the end of the summer. It could be the decisive point in the whole summer.""If he has an absolutely blazing series, India could win," O'Keeffe added.The first Test of the BGT begins on November 22 in Perth, and the outcome of the series could hinge on the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir's pre-departure press conference ignited a verbal spat with former Australia captain Ricky Ponting. Gambhir defended Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's recent form, questioning Ponting's comments.Ponting, in response, labeled Gambhir as a "prickly character" and expressed surprise at his reaction. However, he clarified that his initial comments were not intended as a dig at Kohli."I actually followed it up by saying he's played well in Australia and he'll be keen to bounce back over here," Ponting said. "If you ask Virat, I'm sure he would be a little bit concerned that he hasn't been able to make the same amount of hundreds as he has in previous years."Kohli's form has been a concern, with the former India captain scoring just 488 runs in 25 innings across formats in 19 international matches this year.Gambhir, however, remains confident in Kohli and Sharma's abilities. "They (Kohli and Rohit) are incredibly tough men; they've achieved a lot for Indian cricket and are going to achieve a lot in future as well," he said.India's upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia is crucial for their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC). The team had their first practice session at the WACA stadium in Perth on Tuesday and will open the series at the Optus Stadium in the same city on November 22.