Cricket

Ravindra Jadeja's resurgence with the ball has come at an opportune moment for India, as they prepare for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The all-rounder's remarkable 10-wicket haul in the Mumbai Test against New Zealand has reignited hopes of a strong Indian performance Down Under.Prior to the Mumbai Test, Jadeja's wicket-taking prowess had waned, with only one five-wicket haul in his previous 26 innings. However, his spellbinding performance in Mumbai, where he spun a web around the Kiwi batsmen, has instilled confidence in the Indian camp.Jadeja's return to form is not limited to his bowling. He has also been a valuable contributor with the bat, amassing 431 runs in 2024 at an average of 28.73. His century and two fifties this year highlight his all-round abilities.The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a stern test for India, but Jadeja's presence in the team provides a significant boost. His ability to take wickets and contribute with the bat makes him a crucial asset for the team.If Jadeja can replicate his Mumbai magic in Australia, India will be well-positioned to secure a series win and book a spot in the World Test Championship final. His experience, skill, and determination will be invaluable as India aims to conquer the Aussies on their home turf.

David Warner, the recently retired Australian opener, has expressed his concerns about the Indian batting lineup ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India's recent 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand has raised questions about their form, and Warner believes that the Australian bowlers could exploit their weaknesses."I'd be nervous if I'm in their batting order," Warner said to Fox Sports. "They've got three world class quicks and a world class spin bowler, and it's going to be a tough challenge for them."Warner highlighted the importance of India's top-order batsmen, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who are all in the twilight of their careers. He believes that these players will be determined to perform well in Australia and finish their careers on a high note."They've got some older guys in their team who are in the back end of their careers," Warner said. "They'll want to come out here and score big runs, and I know they'll be so determined to do well."Warner also discussed the threat posed by Australia's pace attack, led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. He believes that the Australian bowlers have the potential to dominate the Indian batsmen, especially if they can get through the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj."The Australian top order needs to make runs," Warner said. "If they can get through Bumrah and Siraj, there could be some big runs put on the board."Overall, Warner believes that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a closely contested series, but he gives Australia a slight edge due to their superior bowling attack.

India and South Africa, two cricketing powerhouses, are set to reignite their rivalry in a four-match T20I series in South Africa from November 8. The two teams last faced off in a thrilling T20 World Cup final in June, where India emerged victorious by a narrow margin of 7 runs.The T20I rivalry between India and South Africa has been a captivating spectacle, marked by competitive and high-stakes matches. Over the years, both teams have consistently delivered close, hard-fought contests, whether on South African soil or in India.India has a slight edge in the bilateral T20I series against South Africa, having won 6 out of 9 matches played in South Africa. However, the Proteas have shown their resilience on home soil, particularly in the T20 World Cup final.India's victory over South Africa in the 2007 T20 World Cup was a pivotal moment in the history of the format. India went on to win the inaugural championship, and the victory over South Africa was a key step in their triumph.David Miller, South Africa's prolific batsman, leads the run-scoring charts in India-South Africa bilateral T20Is with 452 runs in 21 matches. He is followed by Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have both retired from the shortest format of the game.Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India's medium-fast bowler, leads the charts when it comes to most wickets in India-South Africa bilateral T20Is. He has taken 14 wickets from 12 matches against South Africa in T20Is.Suryakumar Yadav, who is set to lead India in the upcoming series, has played two T20Is in South Africa, scoring 56 and 100 in December 2023. His century in the third T20I of the series powered India to a 106-run victory and helped them draw the series 1-1.The India-South Africa T20I rivalry has showcased the adaptability of both teams, with South Africa performing well on Indian pitches, which are generally slower, and India showing resilience on South African fast, bouncy tracks.The upcoming series promises to be another thrilling chapter in the India-South Africa T20I rivalry. With both teams boasting talented players and a history of close matches, fans can expect a captivating spectacle of cricket.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), a fierce rivalry in Test cricket, returns on November 22 in Perth, Australia. This five-Test series marks the first time the BGT will be played over such a long format, with a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) at stake.India, the current holders of the BGT, face an uphill battle after a disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand. Their chances of qualifying for the WTC final now hinge on a successful defense of the BGT.India's batting lineup has been a major concern, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs. Sharma scored only 91 runs in six innings against New Zealand, while Kohli managed just 93. Their poor form has sparked debate about their future in Test cricket, especially if India fails to qualify for the WTC final.Despite their recent struggles, India has a strong history in the BGT, having won their last two Test tours of Australia. However, the team coached by Gautam Gambhir has not had the ideal preparation this time, with repeated batting failures at home.Interestingly, six Indian legends have played their last Test matches in the BGT: Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and MS Dhoni. With several senior players in the current squad, including Ravichandran Ashwin (38), Rohit Sharma (37), Virat Kohli (35), and Ravindra Jadeja (35), it remains to be seen if any of them will join this illustrious list after this BGT.

New Zealand's historic Test series triumph over India has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Led by the astute captaincy of Tom Latham, the Kiwis achieved an unprecedented clean sweep, marking India's first-ever 0-3 series defeat at home.Latham's leadership proved pivotal in navigating the challenging tour of India, a team renowned for its home dominance. Despite New Zealand's limited success in India, Latham instilled a sense of calm and methodical approach, maintaining team morale throughout the series.The Kiwis' adaptability was a key factor in their success. Latham praised the contributions of various players, highlighting the team's ability to adjust to different conditions. The seamers excelled in Bangalore, while different batsmen stepped up at crucial moments.Ajaz Patel emerged as the player of the match in the third Test, claiming 11 wickets for 160 runs. Will Young, with 244 runs in the series, earned the player-of-the-series award.Latham acknowledged the inspiration drawn from the New Zealand women's team's T20 World Cup victory. He emphasized the importance of runs on the board, especially when chasing on tricky wickets.Despite a disappointing 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka prior to the India series, Latham remained confident in his team's abilities. He attributed their success to winning crucial tosses and posting competitive totals.New Zealand's historic triumph is a testament to their resilience, adaptability, and the leadership of Tom Latham. It marks a significant milestone in the rivalry between the two cricketing giants.

India's recent Test series loss to New Zealand has raised concerns about the team's performance, particularly the struggles of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri believes it's crucial for these players to step up in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.Ghavri expressed disappointment with India's batting performance against New Zealand, highlighting the lack of big partnerships and the inability to post competitive totals. He emphasized the need for top-order batters to occupy the crease and score substantial runs.Regarding Rohit and Kohli, Ghavri acknowledged their class but stressed the need for them to regain form. He believes their performances in Australia will determine their future in Test cricket. "If they don't perform, it's time for them to call a time on their Test careers," he said.Ghavri also raised concerns about India's pace attack, particularly the absence of Mohammed Shami. He believes Shami's experience and skill would have been invaluable in Australia. The former pacer expressed confidence in Jasprit Bumrah but acknowledged the added pressure he will face leading the bowling unit.Ghavri suggested that India could consider bringing back Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, given their experience and stability in the middle order. He believes their presence would have been beneficial in Australia.Regarding India's struggles against spin, Ghavri attributed it to poor shot selection and a lack of patience. He emphasized the need for batters to adapt to Test conditions and play with discipline.Overall, Ghavri expressed concern about India's chances in Australia, predicting a 60-40 advantage for the hosts. He believes the team needs to perform well, especially Rohit and Kohli, to qualify for the World Test Championship final.

India's batting woes against spin have been laid bare in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. The hosts suffered humiliating defeats in all three matches, with their batsmen failing to cope with the turning tracks.In the first Test in Bengaluru, India's decision to bat first in overcast conditions backfired, leading to a disastrous 46 all out in the first innings. However, the batting failures in Pune and Mumbai were even more alarming, as the hosts surrendered meekly against spin.Ajaz Patel's six-wicket spell in Mumbai scripted a 25-run victory for New Zealand, despite India needing just 147 to win. Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes this defeat is an admission that Indian batsmen can no longer play spin effectively."On flat tracks, we can play spin, but everybody can on a flat track. The only difference is that we play spin better than other teams on flat tracks and bowl better as well because our spinners have quality," Chopra said. "But if the track offers spin ever so slightly, then whether it is the Pune or the Wankhede in Mumbai (we fall short)."Many Indian batters resorted to playing the sweep and reverse-sweep to counter spin, but Chopra believes this is a risky strategy that requires extensive practice. "Neither we have confidence in spin, nor we have control on our shots. We are trying to find a shot when it's not there, trying sweeps, practicing it before the start of play every morning. But it's like learning a new language, my friend. If you don't know a language, it takes a lot of time to learn it," he said.Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India's batting stalwarts, failed to deliver in all three Tests, extending their poor run of form in the home season. Kohli scored just 93 runs in three innings, while Rohit aggregated 91. Rishabh Pant was the top-scorer of the series with 261 runs, but his efforts were not enough to prevent India's humiliating defeat.Chopra believes the lack of domestic cricket is a major factor behind India's batting woes against spin. "When we focus more on white-ball cricket, then that habit of playing on turning pitches vanishes. We don't even remember when our main players last appeared in a first-class domestic match. So where are you going to practice?" he said.Rohit last played a domestic first-class match in 2016, while Kohli's last domestic appearance came in 2012. "You play international cricket, which is okay; but international cricket is played on good tracks 9 out of 10 times. When it happens on bad tracks, then you get caught. It's happening again and again," Chopra analyzed.India's next assignment is a limited-overs tour of South Africa, followed by a five-Test series against Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Having conceded the top spot on the World Test Championship (WTC) table to Australia, India's chances of qualifying for the WTC final are now in jeopardy.

India's humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand, their first-ever Test series loss on home soil, has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The defeat has exposed glaring deficiencies in India's batting lineup and raised questions about the team's preparation and tactics.In the third Test in Mumbai, India needed just 147 runs to win but collapsed to a 25-run defeat on a red-soil turner at the Wankhede Stadium. Barring Rishabh Pant's valiant 64, none of the Indian batters, including top-order stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, could handle the spin of Ajaz Patel (6 for 57) and Glenn Phillips (3 for 42).Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has slammed India's head coach Gautam Gambhir for his IPL-like tactics, which he believes contributed to the team's downfall. Gambhir, who was appointed after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to IPL victory earlier this year, has been criticized for his aggressive approach, which has seen India lose three consecutive Tests inside three days.Ali argues that Gambhir's tactics, which prioritize quick runs and attacking play, are not suited to Test cricket. He points to the example of England's "Bazball" approach, which has yet to yield significant results in terms of major tournament success.Ali also questions India's strategy of preparing turning tracks, which he believes has undermined the confidence of their batters. With the all-important Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia approaching, he fears that India's lack of preparation on seaming wickets could prove costly.

India's upcoming tour of Australia will be a daunting challenge, especially considering their recent 0-3 defeat to New Zealand. However, the team has opted to forgo practice matches in favor of match simulations with India A. This decision was made to maximize preparation time and ensure that all players receive adequate workload.Captain Rohit Sharma explained the rationale behind this choice. He emphasized that the team has a large squad of 19 players and only three days were allotted for practice matches. He expressed concerns that this limited time would not allow for sufficient workload distribution.Instead, India will engage in match simulations where batters can spend extended periods at the crease and bowlers can bowl a significant number of deliveries. This format allows for more targeted preparation and flexibility, as batters can be retired out to give others an opportunity to bat.India A, which includes several members of the Test squad, has already played a four-day game against Australia A. Rohit expressed confidence that the match simulation with India A will provide valuable preparation, especially given the similarities between the WACA and Optus Stadium, where the first Test will be played.The five-Test series in Australia has taken on even greater significance as India needs to win four matches to qualify for the World Test Championship final next year. Rohit's availability for the first Test is uncertain, but he remains hopeful of joining the team in Perth.