India captain Rohit Sharma has endorsed the team's decision to leave out veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the first Test against Australia. While India's new-look playing XI dominated the hosts in the series opener, Rohit acknowledges the contributions of Ashwin and Jadeja and believes they will play a crucial role in the remaining matches. He also highlights the importance of adapting to different grounds and bringing in players who are best suited for each match.
Despite some criticism, it seems Washington Sundar will continue to be India's sole spinner for the second Test against Australia in Adelaide. The decision to keep him in the playing XI over veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja was surprising to many, but Sundar's solid all-round performance in the first Test seems to have given him the edge. However, the move did not sit well with all, as former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with the decision in his commentary.
As the Chennai Super Kings gear up for the 2025 season, they have retained their core group of players while making strategic additions through the IPL Mega Auction. With one eye on transitioning from MS Dhoni's leadership, CSK has secured key players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, while also bringing in new talent like Devon Conway and Rahul Tripathi. Despite a limited budget, CSK has managed to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.
Team India sets a challenging target of 534 runs for Australia in the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar will play a crucial role in the remaining five Tests over 45 days. The team management's decision to add three spinners to the squad seems strategic, with the sudden preference for all-rounder Washington Sundar, who impressed both legendary Wasim Akram and head coach Ravi Shastri. India's dominant performance in the first innings, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), Virat Kohli (100), and KL Rahul (77), gives them a good start in the tournament.
Indian cricket team surprises with their team selection as they include two debutants while leaving out experienced spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The decision to go with Washington Sundar instead is based on form and team balance rather than records. This isn't the first time India has played a Test in Australia without either Ashwin or Jadeja, and in the past, they have managed to win without them. Will this strategic decision pay off for India in the first Test against Australia? Only time will tell.
India faced a series of unexpected roadblocks as they entered the Perth Test against Australia, with multiple injuries sidelining key players and forcing the team to hand debuts to inexperienced prospects. Despite their bold team selection, which saw the absences of regulars Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Shubman Gill, India struggled from the start as their top batsmen were quickly dismissed by a relentless Australian bowling attack. With Mohammed Shami still expected to join the squad at some point, it remains to be seen how India will fare in the remaining matches of the series.
The selection of Washington Sundar as the only spinner in India's playing XI for the Perth Test has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts. While some are surprised by the decision, with veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja left out, others are highlighting Sundar's potential as a versatile player. The move also sees debutants Nitish Rana, Harshit Rana, and Australia's Nathan McSweeney taking the field for the opening match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Commentary by prominent cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle adds to the discussion, as he praises Sundar for his selection over Ashwin.
In the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India makes a strategic decision to bench Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in favor of Washington Sundar. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the batting, with Devdutt Padikkal making his Test debut at number three. The team will also hope for a return to form from Virat Kohli as they face a tough series against Australia.
In a surprising move, Indian captain-coach duo Jasprit Bumrah and Gautam Gambhir opted to leave out seasoned spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Instead, India went with the inexperienced Washington Sundar as their sole spinner in the XI. The decision left experts and fans puzzled, as it was only the fifth time since 2012 that India did not have both Ashwin and Jadeja in their playing XI, and the second instance in Perth. The move seemed to be a strategic one, with India wanting an off-spinner to exploit the left-handers in Australia's lineup, and Sundar being perceived as a better batting option than Ashwin.
In a highly anticipated match for a spot in World Test Championship final, India faces off against Australia with both teams facing their own set of challenges. India comes into the match without captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill while Australia will be missing all-rounder Cameron Green. Debutants Nitish Reddy and Harshit Rana are set to don the Indian jersey, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja benched in favour of Washington Sundar. Follow live updates of the match below.