Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar urged the Indian players to feature in the Ranji Trophy without giving excuses to work on the technical issues that led them to two consecutive series defeats against New Zealand and Australia. Sunil Gavaskar said that it was worrying to see Team India batsmen's performance against New Zealand at home and in the recently concluded Test series against Australia. India succumbed to the Kiwis 0-3 before surrendering to the Aussies 1-3. "On January 23, there is the next round of the Ranji Trophy. Let's see how many players from this squad play. There should be no excuse for not being able to play," Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports. "If you do not play those matches, Gautam Gambhir will have to take a few tough decisions against those who are not available for the Ranji Trophy," he added. Also Read: "It's frustrating but you have to respect your body": Jasprit Bumrah "Gambhir should be saying: 'You do not have that commitment. We need commitment. You are not playing. Whatever you want to do, do it. But for Indian cricket, you cannot return to the Test squad." Gavaskar said flaws have crept into Indian batsmen's approach because of not playing domestic cricket on available opportunities. "What I saw were technical deficiencies. If you have been making the same mistakes, and I am not just talking about this series, I am talking about the New Zealand series as well, what did you do against New Zealand in India?" Sunil Gavaskar said domestic cricket assumes importance in view of the upcoming 2025-2027 WTC cycle. "And that's why, now, because the next cycle will start in June, we have not qualified for the World Test Championship. From now on, we should be ready for it. If we have to take tough decisions, then we will have to take them," he said. With the next WTC cycle in line, Sunil Gavaskar said that India should now focus on youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy. "They are hungry to earn a name for India and themselves. Such players are needed. You need such players who will protect their wicket like their life," he noted. "That's why I'm interested that on January 23, in the Ranji Trophy matches, who will play? I want to see that." "Because at that time, there will be T20 matches against England. But those who are not playing T20, will they play Ranji Trophy matches or not?" he said. (With PTI Inputs)
05 January,2025 06:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLaid low by back spasm, Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah was left frustrated for missing out on bowling on the spiciest wicket of the series, but the speedster stated that sometimes it becomes difficult for the player to look after his body. Jasprit Bumrah was not able to bowl on day three when team India needed to defend a target of 162 runs on the Sydney wicket. Australia took just 27 overs to chase the target and claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years by breaking the strong string of Team India. "It was really frustrating but sometimes you have to respect your body, can't fight it. Disappointing, probably missed out on the spiciest wicket of the series," Bumrah said, who was named Player of the Series for his 32 wickets in the series, during the post-match presentation. "Felt a bit of discomfort during my second spell in the first innings and had to check it out." Also Read: "Does the Indian team deserve its senior player?": Pathan lashes out at Virat Kohli Resuming day three at 141 for six, India lost their remaining four wickets for 16 runs to be all out for 157 in their second innings. Asked about the discussion in the morning, Jasprit Bumrah said: "The chat this morning was about the same thing, about having belief and showing character. Lots of ifs and buts, the whole series was fought hard, we were in the game today as well, not like we were out of it, this is how Test cricket goes." "Being in the game for longer, creating pressure, absorbing pressure and playing to the situation are all important. You have to adapt to the situations and these learnings will help us in the future." Jasprit Bumrah also mentioned that the experience of playing in Australian conditions will help youngsters like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana in future. "They've (youngsters) gained a lot of experience, they'll go from strength to strength. We've shown that we have a lot of talent in our group. "Lot of the youngsters are keen, they're disappointed that we haven't won but they'll take learnings from this experience. It was a great series, congratulations to Australia, they fought really well." Travis Head, who emerged as the highest run-scorer in the series with 446 runs, heaped praise on Bumrah. "He's a great performer, he had an exceptional tour. It is the best invididual performance I have seen in Test cricket," Head said. (With PTI Inputs)
05 January,2025 06:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFollowing the Test series loss against Australia, former Team India cricketer Irfan Pathan lambasted Virat Kohli for neither featuring in domestic cricket nor improving his technical flaws. Irfan Pathan raised questions about Virat Kohli's place in the Indian squad and called for an end to the superstar culture on the Indian side. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were out of form throughout the Test series against Australia. With the series defeat, India lost their chance of losing out qualifying for the World Test Championship final. Virat Kohli was only able to garner 190 runs in five Test matches and lost his wicket by constantly edging to the slips or wicketkeeper. "We need to end superstar culture, we need team culture. You need to improve yourself and improve the Indian team. There were matches before this series, too, and they had an opportunity to play domestic cricket, but they didn't. We need to change that culture," Pathan told Star Sports. Also Read: "He was more focused on being match-winner than reaching 10,000 runs": Cummins on Steve Smith's dismissal The former all-rounder said even the great Sachin Tendulkar played the Ranji Trophy even when it wasn't required of him only because he wanted to spend that much time, four or five days on the pitch "When was the last time Virat Kohli played domestic cricket? (the host points out that Kohli's last first-class appearance for Delhi was in 2012) It has been more than a decade." Pathan went to the extent of saying that maybe Kohli's place should be given to a youngster, given that he has averaged less than 30 in the first innings in the last five years. "For the Indian team in 2024, in the first innings where you basically set up the match, Virat Kohli's average is 15. And if you consider his average over the last five years, it's not even 30. "Does the Indian team deserve its senior player? Instead, give a youngster a chance. Tell him to get ready. He will also give an average of 25¿30. This is about the team, not the individuals." Pathan also questioned if Virat Kohli was even serious about improving. "When we talk about Virat Kohli, he has done a lot for India. He has delivered many performances. But you are getting out from the same mistake again and again. "You are not creating a gap between two mistakes. You are not trying to fix the technical mistake. Sunny sir is in the field. How long does it take to talk to Sunny Sir or someone?" Australia beat India by six wickets in the fifth and final Test to regain the Border Gavaskar trophy. (With PTI Inputs)
05 January,2025 05:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSteve Smith fell short by just one run from achieving the 10,000 Test runs feat during the fifth and final game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Steve Smith was dismissed in Prasidh Krishna's over following which his chance of achieving the milestone at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) came to an end. Reflecting on the dismissal, Pat Cummins said, "Yeah, the nervous 9999. He was, I think he was, you know, wanting to win the game. I didn't, I was kind of hiding at the front, so I didn't see too much but, yeah, I think we all knew kind of what we were playing for and how big it was. So, I dare say more so the moment of, you know, wanting to be that match-winner. Being there at the end and not getting the opportunity probably more so than the personal milestone. It would have been nice for him to get it at the SCG." Steve Smith's dismissal robbed him of a historic personal milestone. Also Read: Mohammed Siraj ends BGT on high note, enters... Prasidh Krishna's ability to step up in a tense situation has further highlighted his growing reputation as a game changer. Steve Smith, known as one of the modern-day greats will now wait for another chance to register his name in history by becoming only the second Australian to complete 10,000 Test runs. The stage was set for Smith to walk up in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground. After a fiery start by young Sam Konstas, Australia had to resort to caution while chasing 162. Once the young prodigy fell, India saw an opportunity to make a comeback by applying pressure, with Prasidh Krishna taking centre stage on Sydney's tricky surface. Filled with cracks and covered by grass, the pitch suited Prasidh, who found the formula for success against the established Australian duo of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. After forcing an outside edge from Labuschagne, Prasidh ran rampant in Sydney. With Smith standing just one run short of reaching the 10,000 Test runs milestone, Prasidh spoiled the moment for the local hero. In front of his home crowd, Smith stood one shot away from celebrating a massive milestone in his career. However, Prasidh extracted extra bounce from the surface and forced Smith to commit to the shot. Steve Smith looked helpless while trying to fend off the rising delivery, eventually slicing it to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dived from the third slip to take a stunning catch. Jaiswal broke off in a sprint to celebrate, while Prasidh punched the air in jubilation over the crucial wicket. The crowd went bonkers as Smith had to wait for another day to complete 10,000 Test runs. With the SCG and Indian team experiencing euphoria, Smith returned to the dressing room with a score of 4 (9). This was the second time Prasidh had dismissed Smith in the match. In the first innings, Prasidh had also claimed Smith's prized wicket. (With ANI Inputs)
05 January,2025 03:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFollowing the 3-1 Test series defeat against Australia, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir opened up on the future of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. After 10 years of dominance, Team India's reign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy came to an end. Following the loss, questions were raised about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's decreasing strength in the series. With Indian stalwarts failing to score runs in front of the Australian attack, some sections of fans started calling on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to announce their retirements from the longest format of the game. Speculations around Rohit's retirement spiked when Jasprit Bumrah came out at the time of the toss, confirming Rohit's absence from the playing XI. At the time of the toss, the stand-in skipper confirmed that Rohit had decided to opt out. Also Read: Mohammed Siraj ends BGT on high note, enters... As questions and critics continue to surround Virat and Rohit, Gautam Gambhir is hopeful that the duo can continue to take Indian cricket forward. For Gambhir, Rohit and Virat's decision will be in the best interest of the team. "I can't talk about the future of any player. It's up to them as well. They still have the hunger, they still have the passion, they are tough people, and hopefully, they can continue to take Indian cricket forward. Whatever they plan, they will plan in the best interest of the team. I have to be fair and equal to everyone in the dressing room," Gautam Gambhir said in the post-match press conference. During the Sydney Test, Rohit addressed the constantly growing speculations around his retirement and offered assurance about his place in the team by saying he is not going anywhere. "I have stood down from this Test, but I am not going anywhere. This is not a retirement or moving away from the format. A guy with a mic, pen or laptop, what they write or say, it doesn't matter. They cannot decide for us. I took the call to stand down after coming to Sydney. Yes, runs are not coming, but there is no guarantee that you won't be able to score two months down the line or six months down the line. I am mature enough to know what I am doing," Rohit Sharma told Star Sports. In the recently concluded Test series against the Aussies, Rohit Sharma was only able to score 31 runs. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, was also struggling to garner runs since his unbeaten century in Perth. Featuring in five Test matches, Kohli registered 190 runs with an average of 23.75 and a strike rate of 47.98. With the BGT done and dusted, along with hopes of reaching the WTC final, India will return to Test cricket in June against England. (With ANI Inputs)
05 January,2025 02:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed his sadness after not being invited to present the elusive Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which is named after him and Allan Border. The five-match Test series between India and Australia ended in Australia's favour. With the win by six wickets, the Aussies reclaimed the BGT title after 10 years, breaking India's strong, unbeaten string. Allan Border presented the trophy to the hosts' team, but Sunil Gavaskar, despite being present at the venue was left uninvited. "I certainly would have loved to have been there for the presentation. After all it is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and it is about Australia and India," Sunil Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Code Sports. "I mean, I am here on the ground. To me it should not matter that Australia won when it comes to the presentation. They played better cricket so they won. That's fine." Also Read: IND vs AUS 5th Test: India lose Border-Gavaskar trophy after 10 years "Just because I am an Indian. I would have been happy to present the trophy with my good friend Allan Border," he added. Both India and Australia have been competing for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 1996-1997 and the rivalry has grown to become one of the biggest in Test cricket. The five-match series that Australia won drew record crowds at multiple venues and broke an 87-year-old attendance record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last week. Australian chased down the 162-run target in 27 overs with Travis Head (34 not out) and Beau Webster (39 not out) taking the team home.India lost the five-match series 1-3. Their only win on the tour came in the first Test in Perth. Resuming day three at 141 for six, India lost their remaining four wickets for 16 runs to be all out for 157 in their second innings. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland shared the wickets in the session with the latter completing a six-wicket haul. India had won the previous four series against Australia, two at home and as many Down Under. (With PTI Inputs)
05 January,2025 12:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed confidence in veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, stating that both players still possess the hunger to excel and will decide on their Test careers with the team’s best interests at heart. Gambhir’s remarks came in the aftermath of India’s 1-3 series defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The final Test, held in Sydney, saw Australia reclaim the coveted trophy after a decade, simultaneously denying India a place in the World Test Championship final. “They are tough people with hunger; they’ll decide what is best for Indian cricket,” Gambhir said during the post-match media interaction, as per PTI. The head coach also lauded Rohit Sharma’s accountability, particularly as an opener, despite the latter’s prolonged lean patch. “To keep the dressing room happy, I have to be honest and fair to everyone. Rohit Sharma showed accountability at the top,” he said. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, opted to rest himself from the final Test, citing his poor run of form as a significant factor. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli too struggled throughout the series, often falling prey to the Australian pacers, with eight of his dismissals coming in the slips. Gambhir did not shy away from highlighting the importance of commitment to red-ball cricket, particularly emphasising the need for players to participate in the domestic circuit. “If they have commitment towards red-ball cricket, they should show up for domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy,” the head coach asserted, as per PTI reports. Though Gambhir did not directly name senior players, his remarks seemed aimed at those who have often prioritised international schedules over domestic cricket. Australia’s emphatic win in the fifth and final Test not only secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also exposed India’s vulnerabilities in the longer format, particularly in overseas conditions. Gambhir’s statements underline the pressing need for both accountability and preparation across all levels of cricket in the country.
05 January,2025 10:30 AM IST | SydneyIndia lost the Border-Gavaskar trophy after 10 years with a six-wicket loss to Australia on day three of the fifth and final Test here on Sunday. Australian chased down the 162-run target in 27 overs with Travis Head (34 not out) and Beau Webster (39 not out) taking the team home. India lost the five-match series 1-3. Their only win on the tour came in the first Test in Perth. Also read: Virat Kohli's offside woes resurface as Scott Boland strikes again: WATCH Resuming day three at 141 for six, India lost their remaining four wickets for 16 runs to be all out for 157 in their second innings. Pat Cummins and Scott Boland shared the wickets in the session with the latter completing a six wicket haul. India had won the previous four series against Australia, two at home and as many Down Under. Brief Scores:India 1st innings: 185 Australia 1st innings: 181India 2nd innings: 157 all out in 39.5 overs (Rishabh Pant 61, Scott Boland 6/45).Australia 2nd innings: 162 for 4 in 27 overs (Usman Khawaja 41, Travis Head 34 not out, Beau Webster 39 not out ; Prasidh Krishna 3/65). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 10:03 AM IST | Sydney | PTIRahmat Shah struck 139 in Bulawayo on Saturday to revive Afghanistan hopes of winning a series-deciding second Test against Zimbabwe before rain stopped play late on Day Three. Also Read: Pak in trouble after Rickelton hits double Much hinged on Shah, a double centurion in the drawn first Test, and he proved equal to the task as Afghanistan reached 291-7 by the close of play for a 205-run lead. The experienced 31-year-old put on 132 for the seventh wicket with debutant Ismat Alam (64 not out) to turn a worrying overnight situation into a potential path to victory. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:58 AM IST | Bulawayo | AFPPakistan were reeling in response to a relentless South African batting performance on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands on Saturday. Pakistan were 64-3 at the close after double centurion Ryan Rickelton (259) led South Africa to a first innings total of 615. Also Read: Pak’s Saim out for six months with fracture Kagiso Rabada struck twice and Marco Jansen once when Pakistan started their innings. The tourists were effectively four down because opener Saim Ayub was ruled out of the match with a broken right ankle. Babar Azam, forced to open in Ayub’s absence, was 31 not out at the close with his side still 551 runs behind. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:56 AM IST | Cape Town | AFPPakistan’s young all-format opener, Saim Ayub could miss next month’s ICC Champions Trophy after being ruled out of competitive cricket for six weeks because of an ankle injury that he sustained during the ongoing second Test against South Africa. Also Read: It's seam machine at SCG! The Pakistan Cricket Board said on Saturday that MRIs and other tests were carried out on him and the doctors have advised Saim six weeks rest. Saim had hurt his ankle while fielding on the boundary on the first day of the second Test against South Africa on Friday. “He has a right ankle fracture injury which will take at least six weeks to heal,” a board official said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2025 07:54 AM IST | Karachi | PTIADVERTISEMENT
