Cricket

Indian cricket stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have come under intense scrutiny following India's humiliating Test series defeat against New Zealand. Both batters failed to deliver, contributing to India's clean sweep loss at home. As India prepares to face Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, questions linger about the duo's future.Former Australian cricketer David Warner, however, believes that age is irrelevant for Sharma and Kohli. He emphasized that their performance will be crucial for India's success in the series. "Age is just a number," Warner said. "But those two hold the key to how India are going to go."Sharma and Kohli's struggles have been evident throughout the home Test season. In the third and final Test against New Zealand, Sharma was dismissed for 11 runs, while Kohli managed only one run. Their poor form has raised concerns ahead of the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Sharma's home season has been particularly disappointing. In 10 innings, he has scored only 133 runs at an average of 13.30. Kohli, too, has struggled, averaging 29.40 in Tests this year.Despite their recent struggles, Warner believes that Sharma and Kohli remain formidable opponents. "Their attitude, if it's on, they are two guys who are hard to stop," he said. "It's going to be a big summer for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma."India's hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time hinge on a strong performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A massive win in the series would secure their place at Lord's next year.

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has expressed concerns about the potential impact of India's recent 3-0 Test series whitewash at home against New Zealand on their upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of Australia.Gilchrist believes that the humiliating defeat will have a significant psychological impact on the Indian team, particularly on its senior players. "It does (have an impact), more for the Indian players and the Indian team internally. They have to be asking themselves pretty hard questions," Gilchrist told FoxSports.He added, "I do think on the back of that loss and the fact that it was a clean sweep... I think that will raise some questions internally and the pressure and the expectation and the desire from a passionate cricketing nation to see that change around, that'll ride heavily on those shoulders of all those players."The series was particularly disappointing for India's experienced players. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli managed only 91 and 93 runs respectively in the entire series, while Ravichandran Ashwin picked up only nine wickets in spin-friendly conditions.Gilchrist expressed concern about how these players will bounce back from such a disappointing performance. "There are a few ageing players there who may start to even second guess themselves a little bit. There's some high class cricketers in that Indian squad. It's going to be fascinating to see how they rebound from that challenge," he said.Meanwhile, there have been reports that the Test future of the four senior players may be at risk. A senior BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity, "If India doesn't qualify for WTC final in England, one can be rest assured that all four super seniors won't be on that flight to UK for the ensuing five-Test series. In any case, all four have likely played their final Test at home together."

Australian cricketer Marnus Labuschagne has shared his earliest memory of Virat Kohli ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series between India and Australia. The upcoming five-Test series carries immense significance as it will determine the teams' chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final in London next year.Labuschagne, who has been a consistent performer against India in the Test format, recalled his first encounter with Kohli during the 2018 series. "My first memory of Virat was probably, from a playing perspective, the 2018 series. He was captain at that time, I think, and he was quite intense. When I watched the series, it was a very intense series. I probably haven't seen that same Virat since then, you know, the start of that series. For a long time, he's just been a quality act, but my first memory would be that," Labuschagne told Star Sports.The 30-year-old batsman aims to continue his impressive record against India in the upcoming series. In 10 Test matches against India, Labuschagne has amassed 775 runs at an average of 45.58, including three fifties and one century.The BGT series commences on November 22 in Perth, with both teams facing challenges in their quest to reach the WTC final. India, after a disappointing 0-3 series loss against New Zealand, needs to secure at least four wins out of the five Test matches, with the remaining match ending in a draw or a loss, to qualify for the WTC final.Australia, on the other hand, is aiming to defend their WTC title and cannot afford a series defeat to keep their hopes alive. The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the world's top Test teams, with Labuschagne's performance against Kohli and India likely to be a key factor in determining the outcome.

India's Test team has come under intense scrutiny following their disappointing loss to New Zealand in the recently concluded home series. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia looming, the team management has taken a bold decision to send star batters KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel to Australia early.The move has raised eyebrows, as it suggests a lack of confidence in the current batting lineup. Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed his concerns, stating that the decision to send Rahul and Jurel early indicates "a lot of concern over India's batting."Chopra questioned the timing of the team selection, suggesting that it may have been premature to name the squad before the New Zealand series. He pointed out that Sai Sudharsan, who impressed in Australia with his batting, could have been included in the team.However, Chopra acknowledged that Rahul and Jurel have not had enough game time in India and that sending them to Australia could provide them with an opportunity to find form and score runs. He also expressed his preference for Rahul over Sarfaraz Khan, despite Khan's impressive century against New Zealand."If you ask me to choose between Rahul and Sarfaraz for the Australia tour, I will pick the former though the latter has scored 150 against New Zealand," Chopra said. "And even between Jurel and Sarfaraz, I might still be tempted with the former."India's tour of Australia will begin on November 22 with a five-match Test series. The team will be desperate to win at least four matches to qualify for the World Test Championship final next year. The early arrival of Rahul and Jurel is a sign of the team's determination to address their batting concerns and put up a strong challenge in Australia.

India's recent 0-3 Test series defeat against New Zealand at home has raised concerns about their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship Final. Despite the setback, former opener Shikhar Dhawan remains optimistic about India's prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Dhawan believes that India has a strong chance of completing a hat-trick of series wins in Australia, having triumphed in the previous two tours under Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. He highlights the experience of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, who have played extensively in Australia and can guide the younger players.Dhawan also praises the confidence and motivation of the current Indian team, which includes a mix of experienced and emerging stars. He believes that the batters are well-prepared to handle the pace and bounce of Australian pitches.Regarding Rishabh Pant, Dhawan notes that the wicketkeeper-batter has returned to the field with renewed gratitude and positivity after his car accident in 2022. He commends Pant's mental strength and his ability to bring joy to fans with his fearless batting.Despite the recent loss to New Zealand, Dhawan remains confident in India's ability to bounce back and secure a historic victory in Australia. He believes that the team has the talent, experience, and determination to overcome the challenges and emerge victorious.

Virat Kohli, the talismanic Indian batter, is enduring a prolonged lean patch that has raised concerns ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In the recent three-Test series against New Zealand, Kohli managed a paltry 93 runs, averaging a mere 15.50. His struggles extended to six Tests, where he has accumulated only 250 runs at an average of 22.72.Despite Kohli's recent struggles, former World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes it is premature to write him off. Srikkanth highlighted Kohli's exceptional record against Australia, where he has amassed 2042 runs in 25 Tests at an average of 47.48, including eight centuries.On Australian soil, Kohli's numbers are even more impressive, with 1352 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 54.08, including six centuries. Under Kohli's leadership, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia during the 2018-19 tour.The upcoming India-Australia series, commencing on November 22, will provide Kohli with an opportunity to rediscover his form. The series will feature five Tests, starting with the first Test in Perth, followed by a day-night encounter in Adelaide, a Test at The Gabba in Brisbane, the iconic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, and the final Test in Sydney.Kohli's return to form is crucial for India's chances of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His experience and leadership will be invaluable as the team aims to overcome the challenges of playing in Australian conditions.

Legendary Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his views on India's chances in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. While acknowledging India's recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket, Gavaskar believes that a 4-0 victory for India in Australia is unlikely.Gavaskar emphasized that India's focus should be solely on winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, rather than on qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He stated, "Don't talk about the World Test Championship final. Now just focus on trying to win the series in Australia."Gavaskar's prediction is based on the formidable nature of the Australian team in their home conditions. He believes that India can realistically aim for a 3-1 victory, but a 4-0 sweep is an ambitious target.India has won the previous four Test series against Australia, all by a margin of 2-1. However, Gavaskar believes that Australia will be a different proposition in their own backyard.Despite Gavaskar's cautious optimism, India's recent record against Australia provides some hope. India has won two Test series in Australia in the past decade, including a historic 2-1 victory in 2018/19.The WTC scenario is also complex. While India needs four wins to guarantee qualification for the final, it is unlikely that they will need to win all. Other nations in contention for the WTC final, such as Australia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and New Zealand, will face each other and potentially hamper each other's results.Overall, Gavaskar's prediction reflects a realistic assessment of India's chances in Australia. While a 4-0 victory may be a stretch, India has the potential to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and continue their recent dominance over Australia in Test cricket.

The Indian cricket team's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) have taken a significant blow following their 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand. The defeat has raised concerns about the team's preparation and confidence ahead of their defense of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia.Adding to the team's woes is the possibility of captain Rohit Sharma missing the opening Test of the BGT due to personal reasons. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes it is crucial to have clarity about the leadership well before the start of such an important tour."Captain should play the opening Test. It would have been different had he been injured. But if a captain is not available right in the first Test match of the series, then it would put a lot of pressure on the deputy leader and that is not easy," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar suggested that the BCCI should appoint Rohit's deputy, Jasprit Bumrah, as the captain for the entire series if Rohit's availability remains uncertain. He emphasized the need for clear communication from the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, to Rohit."We see reports saying Rohit won't play the opening Test, and we don't know yet about his availability for the second Test. If that is true, then Agarkar should right now tell him, 'Whatever you wish to do, you can, whether you want to take rest, you can, that is a personal reason; but for this tour you can only participate as a player. You can join the Indian squad whenever you want, but for this tour, we are naming the vice-captain as the leader'," Gavaskar said.Gavaskar stressed the importance of having a clear captaincy situation, especially after the disappointing loss to New Zealand. "There should be clarity because we lost 0-3 against New Zealand, so the captain has to be there. Indian cricket is the most important thing. Had India won the New Zealand series 3-0, it would have been a different case."The Indian team will be hoping to bounce back from their recent setbacks and put up a strong performance in the BGT. However, the absence of Rohit Sharma and the uncertainty surrounding the captaincy could pose significant challenges for the team.

New Zealand's stunning 3-0 series sweep over India at home has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, leaving Australia wary ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under.Australia's pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood believes the embarrassing loss could serve as a wake-up call for India, who are now facing a confidence crisis. "It might awaken a sleeping giant, so to speak," Hazlewood told Sydney Morning Herald. "We will see that when they come out."The Kiwis' triumph marks India's first-ever 3-0 whitewash at home, exposing glaring weaknesses in their batting lineup. In the Bengaluru Test, India collapsed to a dismal 46 runs in the first innings, followed by another batting failure in the second innings.The second Test saw a similar pattern, with India's batsmen failing to capitalize on a strong bowling performance. Chasing 359 runs for victory, they were dismissed for 245 runs.The final Test in Mumbai was another low-scoring affair, with India set a target of 147 runs. Despite a fighting half-century from Rishabh Pant, the batting lineup crumbled once again, bowled out for 121 runs.Hazlewood acknowledged the Kiwis' exceptional performance, stating, "Credit to the Kiwi boys. They played outstanding cricket. To win 3-0 in India is unbelievable."The India vs Australia series commences on November 22 with the first Test taking place in Perth. Adelaide Oval will host the second Test from December 6th to 10th, featuring the captivating day-night format under lights. Brisbane's Gabba will be the venue for the third Test, scheduled from December 14th to 18th. The traditional Boxing Day Test, slated for December 26th to 30th at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will mark the penultimate stage of the series. The series will culminate with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3rd to 7th.India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Series includes Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, and Washington Sundar.