After being left out of the India A squad for the upcoming series against South Africa A, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan's name was noticeably missing from the 15-member list announced by the BCCI. Despite strong performances and physical transformation, the 26-year old was once again denied the chance to represent his country in Test cricket. As veteran cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin and fans express their dismay, questions arise about transparency and fairness in the selection process. Talent alone may no longer be enough for Sarfaraz, as he fights for recognition and a chance to prove himself on the international stage.
In a stellar performance, Adam Zampa claimed four crucial wickets to surpass former captain Steve Waugh as the seventh-highest wicket-taker for Australia in ODIs. His impressive figures of 4 for 60 propelled him ahead of Waugh's tally of 195 wickets. Despite Zampa's efforts, India managed to post a competitive total of 264 for 9, but Australia's disciplined bowling attack, led by Zampa and newcomer Xavier Bartlett, ensured a dominant win for the hosts. As the series progresses, all eyes will be on how India responds and whether Zampa can continue to weave his magic with the ball.
In a thrilling contest between India and Australia in the first ODI at Adelaide, young Indian pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana stole the show. Arshdeep's tight line and length led to the early dismissal of Australian captain Mitchell Marsh, while Rana's accurate and pacey bowling removed the in-form Travis Head. With a crucial knock of 24 off 18, Rana also proved his worth with the bat. Along with Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer's steady contributions, India's all-round performance set the stage for a competitive total.
Indian opener Pratika Rawal made history today by equalling the world record for the fastest player to reach 1000 runs in Women's ODIs. Surpassing big names such as Meg Lanning and Mithali Raj, she achieved this feat in just 23 innings, matching Australia's Lindsay Reeler who set the record 37 years ago. This milestone was achieved during the World Cup clash between India and New Zealand, adding more significance to the moment.
Despite his strong performance and impressive record, spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of Team India's playing XI for a second consecutive game in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. Fans and former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have expressed their disappointment and confusion over this decision by the team management, with Ashwin describing it as "baffling". Kuldeep's exclusion has continued to spark controversy and debate amongst cricket fans on social media.
A review by Captain Pat Cummins during the second ODI match between India and Australia sparked a heated debate on social media. The decision to uphold the original decision by the third umpire upset the Australian team, while Indian fans were left disappointed by the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. With Australia maintaining dominance, the intensity of the match remained high.
Harshit Rana's batting prowess was on full display in the second ODI against Australia, where he scored 24 runs from 18 balls. Despite the top-order batsmen failing to make an impact, Rana stepped up at No. 9 and hammered three fours to help India's total. His impressive performance earned him praise from Indian fans who previously questioned his place in the playing XI.
In the 45th over of India's innings, Nitish Kumar Reddy's wicket fell as he was stumped out by Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Adam Zampa's bowling. This led to a collapse in India's batting, with Zampa picking up two wickets in the same over. Despite a commendable effort by Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, India could only manage 264/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Zampa emerged as the pick of the bowlers with 4/60. India now trails 0-1 against Australia in the three-match ODI series.
Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma silenced his critics by meticulously building an innings of 73 runs off 97 balls in the second ODI against Australia. He proved his form and fitness concerns wrong by dropping a few kilos and adapting his typically aggressive playing style to bring up his 59th ODI half-century. Despite a promising partnership with Shreyas Iyer and contributions from Axar Patel, India could only manage a decent total of 264/9 thanks to wickets falling in quick succession towards the end. Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett were the standout performers for Australia, who managed to kick off the series with a win in the opener.
Despite being the best bowler in the last two series, Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of the playing XI for India's second ODI against Australia in Adelaide. The decision was made by the Indian team management to stick with the same team that lost the series opener. The weather is sunny and perfect for batting, and Australia have made three changes to their playing XI.
After facing two consecutive ducks in the ongoing Australia-India ODI series, speculation about Virat Kohli's future in cricket has been circulating. In a viral video, after his dismissal, Kohli can be seen thanking the Adelaide fans, leaving fans questioning whether he is considering retirement. With the 2027 ODI World Cup coming up, it will be interesting to see if Kohli hangs up his boots or continues in hopes of representing India in the tournament.