Cricket

Mitchell Marsh Praises India's Spin Duo Ahead of Border-Gavaskar SeriesAustralian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has heaped praise on India's experienced spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series. Marsh acknowledged the world-class abilities of the Indian duo, who have consistently troubled Australian batsmen in the past.Ashwin, in particular, has been a thorn in Australia's side, claiming 114 wickets in 22 Tests against them. His economy rate of 2.70 and ability to extract turn and bounce from Australian pitches have made him a formidable opponent. Jadeja, too, has a strong record against Australia, with 89 wickets in 17 matches at an impressive economy rate of 2.33.Marsh, who is expected to play a key role in Australia's batting lineup, expressed his admiration for the Indian spinners. "They're world-class bowlers," he said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge, but how much spin will play in Australia, we'll wait and see."While acknowledging the threat posed by Ashwin and Jadeja, Marsh also highlighted India's capable pace attack. "They've got an outstanding fast-bowling attack," he said. "But there's no doubt they're world-class spinners, and I've got a lot of respect for them."Marsh, who has improved his batting against spin in recent years, expressed confidence in his ability to counter the Indian spinners. "I've grown a lot as a player, and I'll take a positive mindset into that battle," he said.The Border-Gavaskar series, which begins on November 22 in Perth, will be a major test for both India and Australia. The series will feature five Tests, with the second Test being a day-night affair in Adelaide. The third Test will be played in Brisbane, followed by the traditional Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the final Test in Sydney.

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.

Ravindra Jadeja's exceptional bowling performance in the third and final Test against New Zealand at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium has etched his name in the annals of Indian cricket history. The all-rounder claimed five wickets in both innings, completing a remarkable 10-wicket haul (10/120) and becoming only the second Indian to achieve this feat against the Kiwis.Jadeja's first-innings five-fer gave India a crucial early advantage, dismissing New Zealand for a mere 162 runs. His relentless pressure continued in the second innings, as he picked up another five wickets to dismantle the opposition's batting lineup. This is the first time in his career that Jadeja has taken a five-wicket haul in both innings of a Test match.Jadeja's performance is a testament to his exceptional skill and consistency. He has now joined an elite group of Indian bowlers with multiple 10-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Here's the updated list:1. Anil Kumble – 82. R. Ashwin – 8*3. Harbhajan Singh – 54. Ravindra Jadeja – 3*5. Kapil Dev – 26. Irfan Pathan – 2Jadeja's second-innings performance maintained relentless pressure on the New Zealand lineup, forcing them to follow-on. India eventually won the match by an innings and 266 runs, completing a 3-0 series sweep.Jadeja's 10-wicket haul is a fitting tribute to his all-round abilities. He has emerged as one of the most valuable players in the Indian team, contributing with both bat and ball. His performance in this series has further cemented his status as one of the world's leading all-rounders.

India's quest for a series-leveling victory against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium took a significant turn on the final day, as Ravindra Jadeja's devastating bowling performance set up a challenging chase of 147 runs.Resuming the day with a slender lead of 143 and only one wicket remaining, New Zealand's hopes rested on the shoulders of their last pair, Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville. However, Jadeja proved too formidable, dismissing Patel with a sharp-turning delivery that found the edge and was caught at deep midwicket.With the last wicket down, India's bowlers had completed a remarkable turnaround, having conceded 235 runs in the first innings but restricting New Zealand to just 174 in the second. Jadeja's match figures of 5-55 were his second-best in Test cricket, while Ashwin chipped in with 3-63.The target of 147 runs is the highest fourth-innings chase ever set at the Wankhede Stadium. Only eight teams have successfully chased down a higher target in the fourth innings of a Test match.India's pursuit of victory began cautiously, with openers Mayank Agarwal and Shubman Gill negotiating the early overs without any major alarms. However, the task ahead remains daunting, as the pitch is expected to deteriorate further and assist the spinners.If India can pull off this chase, it will be a remarkable achievement, considering their struggles in the first two Tests of the series. A victory would also prevent New Zealand from completing their first-ever series whitewash in India in a series of three Tests or more.

India's Spin Duo Dominates Day 1 of Mumbai Test, But Sundar's No-Balls Disappoint GavaskarThe opening day of the Mumbai Test between India and New Zealand witnessed a dominant performance from India's spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The pair combined to claim nine wickets, bowling out the Kiwis for 235 runs.While Sundar continued his impressive form from the Pune Test, one aspect of his bowling left legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar visibly frustrated. During commentary, former India coach Ravi Shastri revealed that Gavaskar had smashed his plate in anger after witnessing Sundar repeatedly bowl no-balls."Sunil Gavaskar was having lunch. He smashed the plate on the wall," Shastri said on-air. "Thank god he's not fielding in the slip. Washington would have been close to Washington DC."No-balls are an uncommon occurrence for spinners, and Sundar's repeated overstepping drew criticism from former New Zealand cricketer Ian Smith. "Oh dear. Another no-ball. Where is Sunny G? He is going to run after them with a mic in hand," Smith quipped.Gavaskar himself joined in the banter, saying, "Yeah, don't worry. I have my running shoes on. But on a serious note, it's something that needs to be looked at.""With a fast bowler, it is understandable, that the momentum of the body can sometimes take your foot over the line. But spinners? Players keep saying that there are things that are not under our control. Well, this is one thing under control, so might as well, be cautious," he added.Despite Sundar's no-ball issue, Jadeja and Sundar's combined efforts put India in a strong position with the ball. However, the Indian batting unit once again faltered, losing four wickets before stumps, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli showcased his playful side during the third Test match against New Zealand in Mumbai on Friday. As fans erupted in song with the Bollywood hit "My Name is Lakhan," Kohli couldn't resist joining in, performing the hook step on the field. This lighthearted moment captured on camera highlights Kohli's infectious energy and love for the game.Meanwhile, India's bowlers dominated the opening day, with Ravindra Jadeja claiming his 14th five-wicket haul and Washington Sundar bagging four wickets. The duo exploited the turning Wankhede Stadium pitch to their advantage, bowling out New Zealand for 235.Will Young and Daryl Mitchell provided some resistance for the visitors, sharing an 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Young scored a patient 71, while Mitchell top-scored with 82, hitting three fours and three sixes. However, the Indian bowlers maintained their grip, with only four New Zealand batters reaching double figures.India's Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Mohammed SirajNew Zealand's Playing XI: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, William O'Rourke

Ravindra Jadeja, India's premier all-rounder, has expressed his disappointment over India's recent Test series loss at home against Bangladesh. This marks the first time India has lost a Test series at home since 2012, when Jadeja was a rookie in the team.Jadeja, who has been a key figure in India's Test success over the past decade, admitted that the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. "I was scared of this. I didn't want to lose a single series in India until I played, but it has happened," he said.The left-arm spinner, who picked up his 14th five-wicket haul in the series, believes that the team's mindset played a role in their downfall. "When you are down in the series and such a situation comes up, obviously it feels like if you are down 2-0 in the series, that's why you panicked and you made a mistake," Jadeja explained.Jadeja also pointed out that India's high expectations may have contributed to their struggles. "We have raised our expectations so high that we have not lost a single series for 12 years, and in 12 years, I have been involved in only five losses at home. As a team, it is a lesson. We need to pick up positives from this."Despite the disappointment, Jadeja remains optimistic about India's future. "We have a young team and we have a lot of potential. We just need to learn from our mistakes and come back stronger," he said.

Ravindra Jadeja's exceptional bowling performance in the ongoing Test match against Australia has earned him another five-wicket haul, his 14th in Test cricket. However, the all-rounder acknowledged the challenging conditions on the slow-turning pitch, which made bowling a demanding task.Jadeja's success stemmed from his ability to mix up his deliveries, targeting good length spots and exploiting the variable bounce and abrasive surface. He admitted that the wicket required significant effort to generate pace, indicating that Ravichandran Ashwin may have lost some velocity in his deliveries."I thought you need to mix and match (in terms of speed). The wicket has bounce but off the surface, the ball isn't taking off. Unless you put in a lot of shoulders and get the revs, it is difficult," Jadeja explained.Despite the arduous conditions, Jadeja praised the collective effort of the team, including Washington Sundar's impressive bowling performance. He emphasized the importance of the batters performing well to secure a first-innings lead.When asked about surpassing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma in terms of Test wickets, Jadeja revealed that he only checks statistics when not actively involved in a series.Reflecting on the loss of three quick wickets towards the end of the day, Jadeja set a target of batting well enough to gain a 150-run lead on Saturday.

India's batting woes continued on the opening day of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, as they slumped to 86 for four at the close of play. The hosts, already trailing 0-2 in the series, had earlier bowled out the visitors for 235, thanks to impressive performances from Ravindra Jadeja (5/65) and Washington Sundar (4/81).However, India's batting collapsed in the final 20 minutes of the day, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma all falling cheaply. Jaiswal was dismissed for 18, attempting an extravagant reverse slog-sweep, while Kohli was run out for 4 after a lapse in judgment. Sharma, playing his second Test at the Wankhede Stadium, failed to capitalize on an early chance and was caught for 18.India's batting collapse highlighted their shaky confidence, with Shubman Gill (31 not out) and Mayank Agarwal (17 not out) the only batsmen to show any resistance. The hosts ended the day still 149 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total.Earlier, Jadeja and Sundar had combined for nine wickets to restrict New Zealand to 235. Jadeja achieved his 14th five-for in Tests, surpassing Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to move up to fifth on India's all-time Test wicket-taker list.Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (82) played well for New Zealand, but they struggled against India's spinners on a spin-friendly pitch. Young looked poised for a century, but Jadeja ended his knock with a turning delivery that clipped the bat's shoulder. Mitchell, the highest scorer with 82 off 129 balls, showed resilience and hit three fours and three sixes in his fighting knock.India desperately need a win in this Test to stay in contention for the World Test Championship final, but their batting collapse on the opening day has put them in a challenging position.