The 2025 Champions Trophy has been in the headlines in recent days, with reports that India will refuse to travel to host nation Pakistan. A hybrid tournament with India playing in the UAE – or even shifting the entire competition to South Africa – is considered a possibility.
Richard Thompson, chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said that a tournament without India is not an option.
“It would not be in cricket’s interests for India not to be playing in the Champions Trophy,” Thompson said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “It’s interesting, with Jay Shah – the former secretary of the BCCI and now chair of the ICC – [who] is going to have a big role to play in that. There’s geopolitics, and then there’s cricketing geopolitics. I think they’ll find a way. They have to find a way.”
However, many fans and journalists don’t agree, calling for India to be excluded from the tournament. The view is no team is bigger than the game, and if they choose not to travel, the competition should go ahead with Sri Lanka instead.
Also, there are reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is holding a firm stance when it comes to playing India in a different country. A PCB official toldESPNcricinfo that there is “no chance” of a hybrid model.
🚨 INSIDE NEWS – PCB has told ICC that Pakistan is not interested to play against India in Champions Trophy outside Pakistan. #CT25
Calls for India to be removed from the 2025 Champions Trophy
Pakistani journalists have led the chorus of discontent at the BCCI’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan, with support from pundits and fans around the world.
Former cricket correspondent Paul Newman, based in the UK, wrote “If India won’t play in Pakistan they should be thrown out of the Champions Trophy.”
This is a defining moment for ICC aswell who are left with two options. 1) Sell your morale and ethics just for the sake of large portion of revenue generated by BCCI. 2) Stand by the truth and make sure Champions Trophy is played in Pakistan.🙏🏾 #CT25
Whether it's the World Cup or any other tournament,Pak has always adopted a positive approach. Don't our players face security issues in India?We have always kept cricket separate from politics. But enough is enough, this time Pakistan will not back down from its stance۔When the… pic.twitter.com/ZIn3nZbFzA
The way the Champions Trophy situation is being dealt with by the ICC is shambolic.
What is the right solution shouldn't come down to money.
Pakistan being made to look like fools as India gets to rule the roost. https://t.co/LBIXfrfEZU
— James Buttler | Cricket Badger Podcast 🏏🦡🇺🇦 (@cricket_badger) November 12, 2024
Like a crybaby, BCCI has started complaining to the ICC that they won't go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. India seems to be at the root of all problems in cricket. Just when everything is set for the tournament, they bring in new drama. pic.twitter.com/Neepfog8UJ
Alternative view: India right to refuse travel and Champions Trophy cannot go ahead without them
Fans have also pointed out geopolitical tensions between the nations and that the safety of India’s players should be paramount. Others have pointed to the huge snowball effect that could result from India’s absence in the tournament. Specifically, sponsors and broadcasters could either ask for a huge discount or pull out of their deals altogether, in turn affecting the ICC’s revenue distribution to other countries around the world.
“Imagine India thrown out. Next steps: 1. Star backs out. That’s roughly 200-300 million dollars. 2. Major Indian sponsors back out,” wrote one fan.
It's not as simple as saying "exclude India out of the Champions Trophy."
The impact of such a decision would be too large. Do you agree?
This is Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad. He is openly threatening Indians, provoking them, brandishing a sword, and saying, “I hit a six, so why can’t I k!ll?” This is their reality, and why the Champions Trophy shouldn’t take place in Pakistan.
🚨 Pakistani cricketers are now saying politics should be kept out of cricket with the Champion Trophy approaching.
here are some of their past hate-filled comments against India, they now try to mask it under the “beauty of sports” banner. pic.twitter.com/2vMqngdUh6
Champions Trophy without India or the current holders next year would be disastrous for the event & probably trigger its complete demise . We need to preserve ICC international events or the sport just results into a T20 franchise circus #ChampionsTrophy2025
Pakistan is an unsafe country and it's outrageous to even consider playing any Champions Trophy matches there. The safety of our heroes should not be compromised in such a treacherous place. Just look at what happened to #GilamanWazir in Islamabad, the nerve center of that… pic.twitter.com/tn3khtODMj
What is your view on the issue? If India refuse to travel to Pakistan, should they be excluded from the Champions Trophy? Or would the impact be too big?
India’s potential starting XI for Perth – Certain starters:
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant
Jasprit Bumrah (C)
With only five players confirmed in the lineup, India has six positions still undecided for the opening Test in Perth. Here’s a breakdown of the contenders and the rationale behind each selection.
Possible playing XI for India in the Perth BGT Test: The big questions
Easwaran was brought into the squad on the back of his consistent domestic performances, but his recent outings against Australia A, where he scored 7, 12, 0, and 17 across two unofficial Tests, have not done much to bolster his chances. He struggled against the extra pace and bounce on Australian tracks, and his dismissals may have raised concerns about his readiness to face a formidable pace trio of Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc. This puts KL Rahul, with his greater experience, in a stronger position to get the nod in Perth.
Rahul’s recent form has also been under scrutiny; he didn’t score much against Australia A in the second unofficial Test in Melbourne either. However, to be fair to him, he didn’t do much wrong on what was a difficult pitch for batting. In the first innings, he was undone by a superb delivery from Boland; a ball that would have caused problems for most. In the second innings, while his dismissal to a harmless delivery from Rocchiccioli was both comical and embarrassing, Rahul appeared far more secure than his teammates. He successfully weathered the new ball from the seamers, displaying composure and resilience in testing conditions.
Did all the hard work seeing off the new ball, only to get out LIKE THAT on the first delivery of spin. Frustrating dismissal. https://t.co/dyn5t3mhUA
KL will be keen to improve his record Down Under (187 runs in 9 innings, average: 20.77) and turn his fortunes around on this tour.
Dhruv Jurel as a Specialist Batter?
Jurel’s impressive scores of 80 and 68 at the MCG have thrust him into the spotlight as a potential specialist batter for this series. He looked remarkably comfortable against all of Australia A’s quicks, emerging as the standout batter from either side in challenging conditions. While India may initially opt for Sarfaraz Khan, with the option to bring in Jurel later if Sarfaraz struggles to adapt to the pace and bounce of Australian pitches, starting the series with Dhruv Jurel at No. 6 would be a bold and proactive move.
Debut for Nitish Kumar Reddy or Two Spin-Bowling All-Rounders?
With none of India’s fast-bowling options (assuming Harshit Rana won’t start) capable of batting at No. 8, it seems unlikely that India will field four proper seamers in the Perth Test, as it would create a long tail. This leaves India with a decision: either hand a debut to the young and impressive Nitish Kumar Reddy or field two spin-bowling all-rounders.
While it may seem beneficial to include a fourth seam-bowling option and give Nitish Kumar Reddy a debut, one must realistically consider how much a 21-year-old with no prior Test match experience, even one as promising as Reddy, can deliver against a strong, battle-hardened Australian side — especially on their home turf.
Reddy was bounced out thrice in the two unofficial Tests against Australia A and took just one wicket in his 31 overs across the series. Ideally, India should view him more as a long-term project, aiming to groom him over the course of this tour rather than rushing him into the starting XI.
But two spinners, and both finger spinners, in Australia? Let’s take a closer look at Nathan Lyon’s numbers.
In the 15 Tests in Australia since India’s historic triumph at the Gabba, Lyon has taken his 59 wickets at an average of 23.77, an improvement on the 61 wickets at 31.21 he claimed in the 15 Tests leading up to (and including) the Gabba Test, which ended on January 19, 2021.
Lyon’s improved returns suggest that spin — to be more specific, overspin — has become increasingly important, especially in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne (as evidenced in the graph below).
Possible Playing XI for India in the Perth Test: Overspin can work wonders.
If you think these numbers are skewed by wickets taken in the second (team) innings, that’s not quite the case. Lyon has taken 30 of his 59 wickets at an average of 26.86 in the first (team) innings.
The above analysis brings Washington Sundar into play, not just as a defensive option but also as someone capable of taking wickets — potentially even ahead of both Jadeja and Ashwin.
Tall, high-arm action, overspin, and not to mention his recent performance against New Zealand, where he put plenty of revs on the ball and bowled with great accuracy. Add to that his batting ability.
Whether he plays or not, he certainly makes a strong case.
Of course, Ashwin can also bowl overspin, is a proper Test match No. 8, and has over 500 Test wickets to his name. However, as seen in the last couple of home series, the 38-year-old hasn’t quite been at his best with his lengths and accuracy. He averaged 41.22 runs per wicket against New Zealand, compared to Sundar’s 14.12 and Jadeja’s 21.56.
A Test Comeback for Prasidh Krishna?
Prasidh Krishna's spells in the A series so far:
18-3-59-3 13-3-27-1 15-6-41-4*
Consistently among the wickets and also maintaining a superb economy.
A potential asset for India in these conditions if he keeps up this form.
With 10 wickets at an average of 17.30 against Australia A, the 6 ft 3-inch right-arm pacer could well have earned a place in the starting XI for the Perth Test. With Harshit Rana being given no game time, India have no other tall, hit-the-deck option in the squad. Given his pace, height, and skills to hit the deck, he certainly has the tools to succeed in Australian conditions. Now, it’s up to him to execute those skills under pressure — something he struggled to do in South Africa.
Siraj vs. Akash Deep
For the final spot, it’s a choice between Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep. Siraj has the advantage of prior experience, having thrived in Australia before. He led India’s pace attack during their famous Gabba Test triumph, even delivering a crucial five-wicket haul in the second innings. However, his pace has dropped recently, and he hasn’t been as threatening of late, while Akash Deep’s stock has been on the rise.
India may start with Siraj, assuming he’s well-rested, but his spot will be under scrutiny from day one.
Former Australia captain Tim Paine has pinpointed Cheteshwar Pujara as the key to India’s successes in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) showdowns down under.
Pujara’s exclusion from India’s 2024/25 BGT squad can be a welcome sight for Australia. He thwarted Australia’s attack in both series, while enabling his teammates – most notably Rishabh Pant – to play with total freedom.
India went on to win both campaigns 2-1. They were utterly dominant in 2018/19, with Pujara hitting three centuries and scoring 521 runs. Pujara was not as prolific in 2020/21 (271 runs), but he still contributed to keeping Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon at bay.
In the SCG Test, Pujara batted 205 balls for his 77 to help India seal a draw. At the Gabba, he wore blow after blow in the famous run chase, holding the fort for 211 balls. In the end, the Australian bowlers had very little left in the tank as Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs in an unbelievable, matchwinning 89*.
In an interview with The Grade Cricketer, Paine said that Pant got much of the plaudits, but it was Pujara who enabled it. “Pujara faced 928 balls in the [2020/21] series which is the most by any batter in the series,” Paine said.
“What I do remember, a lot of people talk about Rishabh Pant in the last series in Australia, but the guy who won the series was Pujara.”
The spotlight is on Shubman Gill, who is now India’s number three, to have a big campaign. But, India need much more from Virat Kohli. Since the start of 2020, Kohli has scored 1,838 Test runs at an average of just 31.70, with two centuries in 60 innings. His average has dropped from 55 to below 48. Rohit Sharma, who is averaging 29.4 this year, also needs to step up.
Batting for long periods may be crucial in deciding who wins the 2024/25 BGT series. Australia have their own batting concerns, but how well can India replace a player who had such an impact as Pujara did? Time will tell.
Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by sportsbet.io. CricBlog has received compensation for reviewing and publishing this post.
The further we push technology, the more capable it is of giving us memorable experiences. Nowadays, we can see how innovations and breakthroughs in tech are changing our lives. While it is true that most of it deals with entertainment and making free time more enjoyable, it is still crucial for the contemporary human.
After busy days filled with obligations and stress, it matters how one can unwind and recharge for tomorrow. When the time comes to enjoy yourself, leisure activities and hobbies are there to help. Sports are among of the most common ways to do this.
Some enjoy playing them, others like to bet on them. But what happens when there are no more franchise T20 games to watch because the seasons are over? Take cricket, for example, the star of this article. All of the best leagues, like the Indian Premier League (IPL) don’t begin to later in 2024 or early 2025. For cricket fans who love franchise T20, simulated reality league exists.
So what is Simulated Reality Cricket (SRL) Cricket and how does it work? From the name alone, you can conclude a few things. The term “simulated reality” implies that it is not real but a simulation of something.
SRL is a digital, artificial league where no real teams play but simulations of them. While no live players are involved, these games are made by a powerful computer and fans can watch and place bets just like with the real sport.
It sounds like science fiction, and that is because it is quite new on the market. However, it is gaining a lot of attention and more fans are joining in. During the months when no franchise cricket is being played, fans are flocking to the platforms that offer SRL and enjoying it much the same way they would with the real game. They watch the players do their thing, cheer on their favorites, place bets on the outcome, and wait to see whether they win or not.
However, the real question is how does it work, or rather, how can fans know that the results are not pre-made or pre-decided? Does any team really have the same chance to win? How does the programming of the computer in charge operate?
How does SRL Cricket Work? Are the Winners Pre-Selected?
Winners are not pre-selected because of the sophisticated artificial intelligence, algorithm, and huge amount of data collected from real teams and games. Based on all the information and statistics the publisher collects, a simulation of a real league is made where anything can happen just like in real life.
The way this works is very intricate. Each team’s last 200 games or so are evaluated, stats are analysed and all data, no matter how miniscule, is taken into account. The computer then makes predictions of things that could really happen and develops a league in accordance with the data.
From head-to-head matchups between teams to injuries and transfers, everything is used. Here are some other examples:
Team’s current form
Payer’s preferences
Home ground advantage
Average weather conditions
And more
Things unravel in real time and nobody knows who is going to win. It is not pre-made or pre-calculated, and there is no Random Number Generator (RNG) like gambling games have. That is pure luck and randomness. SRL, on the other hand, is the next step in the betting and sports-watching evolution.
How Does Betting Work?
Depending on the platform and league, you can bet on simulated versions of teams that actually exist or on some other teams. The main thing is that all of the data and stats are from actual games that have come before, and therefore as real as it can get.
However, as with all betting, be sure to place limits on the amount you wager. Only choose matches you are comfortable with and set budgets. While SRL cricket is fun, care should be taken to ensure you bet responsibly.
All of the bets the fans can place are the same as with traditional cricket with human players. You can wager on the winner of the game, the outright winner of the entire league or tournament, or on one of the prop bets where niche stats and potential moments are favored.
It is easy to get started too. Simply find a platform that offers it, like sportsbet.io, and register. Making an account is rather straightforward and does not take long. Then navigate to the SRL page and browse through the upcoming matches.
There are always matches going on since no real players are competing and getting tired. Pick a match you like the most and then think about which bet you would like to make. Once you do that, all that is left is to watch the game and root for the outcome you picked to happen. If you win, collect your prize.
Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by sportsbet.io. CricBlog has received compensation for reviewing and publishing this post.
Batting coach Neil D’Costa, who helped Michael Clarke and Phillip Hughes make successful entries into Test cricket, has warned against rushing Sam Konstas into the Australia team too soon.
Debates have been rife over recent weeks as to who will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Konstas’ name has been thrown up after becoming the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to hit two centuries in the same Sheffield Shield game. The 19-year-old struck 152 and 105 in an excellent performance against South Australia last month.
Since then, however, Konstas has found the going a little difficult. The opener made scores of 2 and 43 for New South Wales against Victoria, followed by 0 and 16 for Australia A against India A. He was dismissed by deliveries coming into and away from him.
“He could be a good player for 100 Tests. If they put him in now, he might only play 10 Tests,” D’Costa told Sydney Morning Herald.
“He’s another player who has shown great potential but let him play two years of Sheffield Shield,” D’Costa continued. “Let him understand the grounds [in Australia], understand the flows [of the game], understand himself and understand the game. If he’s good enough, he will get the runs, and he’ll be in [the team in] a little bit.”
Don’t rush Sam Konstas into Test cricket like Prithvi Shaw – Neil D’Costa
D’Costa likened the Konstas situation to that of Indian Prithvi Shaw. Shaw made his Test debut in grand style against West Indies in 2018, hitting 134 and winning man of the match. However, he has played just four Tests since, with his last in 2020 owing to performance and disciplinary issues.
“It’s just ridiculous [talk of rushing Konstas in]. How’s Prithvi Shaw going? I could see his weaknesses before he went in,” D’Costa said.
The batting coach is very highly regarded in Australia. D’Costa worked with Michael Clarke for years before his Test debut in 2004, where he struck a memorable 151 in Bengaluru. He also worked with Phillip Hughes, who scored twin hundreds in just his second Test in South Africa in 2009. He has also worked with Konstas, who is now being mentored by Shane Watson, and is currently Marnus Labuschagne’s batting coach.
In terms of the opener race, Nathan McSweeney is arguably in the box seat after an excellent start to the season. Not only did he hit 39 and 88* in challenging circumstances for Australia A, but he began the Sheffield Shield season with 55, 127*, 37 and 72.
“I thought he looked absolutely polished,” said former captain Tim Paine. “He looked organised and his defence was fantastic on a really difficult wicket.”
2024 has been an interesting year for India. The T20 World Cup triumph ended an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy following many near misses in this period. However, they have been underwhelming since.
Fast forward to the Tests. India had five matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home, with the general consensus they would win all five and strengthen their hold of top spot in the World Test Championship (WTC). After all, the Indians have a great record across formats against Bangladesh and hadn’t lost to New Zealand in a single Test at home since 1988.
The 2-0 series win over Bangladesh was expected. The over-the-top praise for captain Rohit Sharma came as a surprise. His legacy was touted as greater than those captains before him with bigger tests still on the horizon.
Those tests were talked about as away tours of Australia and England. But, it was New Zealand where they came terribly unstuck. Not only did India lose their first series at home in 19 attempts since 2012, but they were swept 3-0. From a poor decision at the toss in Bengaluru to questionable batting and tactics at Pune and Mumbai, fans have started to turn on Rohit and Gambhir.
The style of cricket has come under fire. There is a lack of resolve within the batting unit, with seniors Rohit and Virat Kohli struggling badly. India’s approach against spin is far cry from the great players over the years, although the surfaces are much more conducive to turn. But, that too is a criticism of the management, with such pitches bringing opposition spinners with either inexperience or middling records right into the game in recent years. Cases in point? Matt Kuhnemann, Todd Murphy, Tom Hartley, and Mitch Santner, among others.
India fans turn on captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir following 3-0 series defeat
Back in August, Joginder Sharma, who famously took the final wicket to seal India’s win in the 2007 T20 World Cup, said Gambhir won’t last the length of his contract, which ends in 2027.
“Gautam Gambhir is the one to manage the team, but I believe that Gautam Gambhir will not be able to stay for a long time. This is because Gautam Gambhir has his own decisions,” Joginder said in Subhankar Mishra’s podcast.
“It might happen that he has a disagreement with a player. I am not talking about Virat Kohli. Many times, Gautam Gambhir’s decisions are such that others do not like them.”
Fans are now starting to hold similar beliefs. “This is what happens when you fast track an IPL coach to coach a test team,” wrote one fan on X. “I had my doubts about him. Should have been appointed only as a white ball coach for a couple of seasons before moving him into test team. Is anyone asking for accountability from him?”
This is what happens when you fast track an IPL coach to coach a test team. I had my doubts about him. Should have been appointed only as a white ball coach for a couple of seasons before moving him into test team.
Is anyone asking for accountability from him? #INDvNZ
Remember the post where I questioned Gambhir’s credentials to be the Indian national team coach and got shot down in flames? How’s that working out for you ICT fans? pic.twitter.com/dHNy4VHDBk
I'm absolutely not a Shastri fan but when Gambhir said "Shastri hasn't won anything except Audi car, I can only laugh etc" in that interview I really didn't like his tone.
Well Gautam, Ravi wasn't this much tactically stupid during his time with the Indian team between 2014-21.
I don’t like Gautam Gambhir. Never did. Gautam Gambhir is not good for Indian cricket. He reeks of ego, negativity and politics. He is not coach material. The team has disintegrated so quickly under him. It’s a dressing room with zero belief! #INDvNZ
Captain Rohit is also facing criticism. India have lost five of 16 home Tests under his leadership. For context, India lost just two of 31 home Tests under previous captain Virat Kohli.
One month after ESPNcricinfo published an article claiming “Rohit might just be outdoing them [Kohli, Kumble, Ganguly, Dev, Dravid, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi] all because he is cutting right into one of the core values of Indian cricket”, India’s Business Standard have asked the question “Is Rohit Sharma the worst Test captain India have ever had?”
Rohit since "India have had many captains that have transformed the way they play, but Rohit might just be outdoing them all"pic.twitter.com/GSwQt4ZPgr
Bhogle mc let Rohit off so easily. Proper BCCI sycophant this clown.
Remember how Atherton rinsed Dhoni back in 2011 after 4-0. How protected is Rohit Sharma is, man. Hasn't even done anything to warrant this level of backing.
I have been Hated for calling out Rohit's casual approach I have been Relentlessly ranting how Rohit isn't serious about his cricket and how he has been always protected by Media and experts I have said similar things about Gambhir how he just talks and doesn't really walk the…
India will have to pick themselves up quickly for the Border Gavaskar Trophy which kicks off in Perth on November 22. Rohit Sharma may not be available for that match for personal reasons, but expecting India will back him as captain, he and Gambhir have to inspire a huge turnaround.
Reactions to an incredible whitewash: New Zealand won three Tests in a single series for the first time. Who could have possibly guessed it would be like this? In one of the most extraordinary series results in Test history, the Black Caps swept India – who hadn’t lost a home series in 18 attempts – 3-0 after sealing a 25-run win in very spin-friendly conditions at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Tom Latham deserves huge praise for his leadership. Will Young’s twin fifties on a tough batting pitch and extreme Mumbai humidity will go down in New Zealand cricket folklore. Daryl Mitchell sent a remainder of how good he can be against spin. And, finally, Ajaz Patel stepped up in Mitch Santner’s absence, taking 11 wickets – including the final scalp – to seal one of the greatest triumphs ever.
On the other side, this is a humbling day for India. Heading into the series, they were expected to win 3-0 and make further strides in the World Test Championship (WTC). Instead, they dropped to second in the WTC standings, and now must deliver away to Australia starting later this month.
Fans have labelled this as one of the lowest points in Indian cricket. Such a dominant home record has been ended in the most incredible fashion against a nation who hadn’t won a Test in India since 1988 before this series.
Praise for New Zealand: Stunning display against the odds
The likes of Jarrod Kimber, Bharat Sundaresan, and Ian Bishop were in disbelief. “Amazing from New Zealand,” Bishop wrote on X. “A population of less than 6 million. No Kane Williamson. They have conquered an unenviable task, and both men’s and women’s teams have had an historic and proud few weeks.”
New Zealand supporters couldn’t believe it either. Weeks ago, they were soundly beaten in Sri Lanka. No one could have predicted this, but here they are. A superb performance.
I cannot believe this. NZ were 15 to one. They have done it again. This entire team should move to India.
Their first 3-0 in a three-Test series. Against a team that hadn't lost in 18 series.
Yeah why not @BLACKCAPS. Don’t win a single Test in India for 36 years and then casually whitewash them 3-0. One of the most remarkable results in Test cricket history #IndvNZ
Amazing from New Zealand. A population of less than 6 million. No Kane Williamson. They have conquered an unenviable task, and both men’s and women’s teams have had an historic and proud few weeks.
No golf gimmicks, no six hitting contests, no ego. Just straight up good cricket (without their best player) and they’ve done something which won’t be repeated for a very long time. This is what England should aspire to be 👍 https://t.co/x1hRYAd0vr
SIR WILL YOUNG SIR AJAZ PATEL SIR GLENN PHILLIPS SIR RACHIN RAVINDRA SIR MATT HENRY SIR TIM SOUTHEE SIR TOM BLUNDELL SIR DARYL MITCHELL SIR TOM LATHAM SIR DEVON CONWAY SIR WILL O'ROURKE SIR MITCHELL SANTNER SIR ISH SODHI MARK CHAPMAN https://t.co/ZVsGCmbUxn
just incredible how new zealand, a country of 5 million people, produces such terrific sporting performances…this, a women's World Cup title just last month, and they won 10 Gold medals at the Paris Olympics!#INDvNZ
Stop discussing some mediocre Indian players masquerading as international cricketers. Instead, please give credit to New Zealand, far more professional & technically profound & down to earth…. NZ didn't miss Williamson & Santer. We missed Pujara #IndiaNZseries#MumbaiRout
The best batter on this deck, pity that Indian cricket has had lot more intent noise than someone who can set the game up for their side with some normal Test cricket batting.
Not even 1% support or money they receive back home compared to the Indian team and yet Blackcaps prevailed and it bigger than any World Cup win 🏆 beating India in India is just awesome 🥂🙏🏆🙌
Reactions: India criticised for poor performance after whitewash
India fans didn’t miss. They have been very critical of the team all series, with anger coming out in the Pune Test and even more so in Mumbai.
“Cricket truly is a humbling sport, isn’t it? Just months after our T20 World Cup win, we face a historic whitewash. That’s the beauty of this game! Bigger tests lie ahead with the Australia series & the way forward is to introspect, learn and look up!” wrote Yuvraj Singh on X.
Cricket truly is a humbling sport, isn’t it? Just months after our T20 World Cup win, we face a historic whitewash. That’s the beauty of this game! Bigger tests lie ahead with the Australia series & the way forward is to introspect, learn and look up!
One good thing that happened in this series was that KL Rahul was dropped after the first Test otherwise, we would have just made him the scapegoat instead of focusing on the real issues
I will never be able to accept that India lost to a New Zealand by 0-3, which didn't have Williamson, Boult, and Santner in 1st and 3rd Test. Everyone needs to be criticized. pic.twitter.com/oW7l5LvTTB
WIN THE BGT, WIN THE WTC FINAL, WIN THE MISS UNIVERSE TITLE, NOTHING CAN TAKE AWAY THIS HUMILIATION AT HOME. NOTHING CAN REVERSE THIS. SACK THE MANAGEMENT ASAP. WE WANT JUSTICE.
I think one can say that the last day of The Oval Test in 2021 which I was lucky enough to attend was the peak of this Indian team. Since then, it’s been in decline.. initially slow but now very steep.
The decline of skill as well as lack of turning up of senior pros aside, this series has been a monumental disaster from a tactical & strategy point of view. Have played all 3 Tests with as good as 10 men.
The horrendous decision making started from the Toss in Bangalore, to…
Lost 5th test vs England after 2-1 lead Lost home test vs Australia Draw home test vs Australia Lost WTC finals Lost home test vs England Lost home test vs New Zealand Got whitewashed for the first time at home
Simon Doull saying Indian batters being good on turners is a myth and they will do better on good pitches cuz Ashwin & Jadeja are better than most other spinners in the world, is actually the most obvious analysis but it sounds like some groundbreaking truth. 😭
Targeting Gautam Gambhir is extremely wrong here, he can't come and bat, Washington Sundar was included by GG only and he did his job really well, it was the two main batter Rohit and Virat who dissappointed the most. India needed them to take responsibility. #INDvNZ
There's absolutely 0 intelligence in the cricket commentariat. Completely reactionary. Every recent big event is blamed on the nearest explanation. Without any logic/reason. Today it's "don't play domestic cricket". Can I see one good technical analysis on India's spin play? No.
There is an interesting fact when it comes to run chases in Tests at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. No team has ever successfully chased over 200 and only once has a team chased over 100.
In this article, we’ll look at the top five highest successful run chases achieved at this ground, looking at the context behind the matches.
Wankhede Stadium Mumbai: List of highest successful run chases in Test cricket
Target
Achieved by
Against
Year
164/6
South Africa
India
2000
98/0
England
India
1980
58/0
England
India
2012
51/2
India
England
1984
47/0
Australia
India
2001
164/6 by South Africa vs. India, 2000
South Africa’s 164/6 remains the only successful chase of over 100 at Wankhede Stadium. Led by Hansie Cronje, South Africa won a shootout on a difficult batting pitch, overcoming Sachin Tendulkar’s superb 97 and a first innings deficit of 49 to win.
Allan Donald (2/24), Shaun Pollock (4/24) and Cronje (3/23) dismantled India for just 113 in the second innings, leaving 164 to win. At 107/2, a comfortable Proteas win seemed inevitable, before three quick wickets put India right in the game.
However, Jacques Kallis (36* off 129 balls) and Mark Boucher (27* off 32 balls) led South Africa to victory and a 1-0 lead in a series they went on to win 2-0.
98/0 by England vs. India, 1980
The great Ian Botham produced a performance for the ages. He took 13 wickets (6/58 and 7/48) and struck 114 in the first innings to hand England a 54-run lead.
Botham’s seven-for in the second innings was the catalyst of an Indian collapse. They fell to 58/6, with Kapil Dev’s 45* helping the hosts reach 149. It still wasn’t anywhere near enough as Graham Gooch (49*) and Geoffrey Boycott (43*) sealed a comfortable England win.
58/0 by England vs. India, 2012
One of England’s most memorable wins. On a sharp turner, Kevin Pietersen produced a stunning 186 in partnership with Alastair Cook (122). No other England batter crossed 30 as they managed 413, taking a strong 86-run lead after India posted 327.
Then, Monty Panesar (6/81) and Graeme Swann (4/43) took over. They spun a web around India’s batting lineup, with only Gautam Gambhir (65) and R Ashwin (11) crossing double figures in their score of 142.
Cook (18*) and Nick Compton (30*) saw England home without fuss. This victory levelled things up at 1-1 – a series England would go on to win 2-1.
51/2 by India vs. England, 1984
At 218/6 in response to England’s 195, the 1984 Wankede Test seemed evenly poised. However, Ravi Shastri (142) and Syed Kirmani (102) had other ideas, combining for a huge 235-run stand for the seventh wicket to put the match in India’s hands.
After India struck 465/8d, England needed a huge effort to set a decent total for India to chase. Mike Gatting (136), Graeme Fowler (55) and Paul Downton (62) resisted, but the second innings total of 317 left India needing just 51. After two early hiccups, Dilip Vengsarkar (21*) and Mohinder Amarnath (22*) led the hosts to a 1-0 lead.
47/0 by Australia vs. India, 2001
Australia sealed their 16th straight Test win after brushing aside India in the first Test in 2001. After dismissing India for just 176 courtesy mainly of Shane Warne (4/47) and Glenn McGrath (3/19), centuries to Matthew Hayden (119) and Adam Gilchrist (122) took Australia to 349.
In response, Sachin Tendulkar hit his second fifty of the match, but it was not enough as India managed just 219. It left Australia needing just 47, which Hayden and Michael Slater knocked off in just seven overs.
After months of rumours and speculation, the ten teams have confirmed their retained players for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. There were surprises and talking points, and the scene is set for the huge mega auction.
In this article, we will look at the players retained, the purse remaining for all ten teams, as well as how many Right to Match (RTM) cards they have left.
IPL 2025: Retained players for each team ahead of the mega auction
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retained five players totalling INR 65 crore for IPL 2025. Ruturaj Gaikwad was their first pick, followed by Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and India all-rounder Shivam Dube as the second and third retentions respectively. Ravindra Jadeja was also retained for a large amount, while MS Dhoni was retained as an uncapped player given he last played international cricket over five years ago.
After their retention decisions, CSK have INR 55 crore and one RTM card available for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.
Delhi Capitals
Category
Details
1st retention
Axar Patel (16.50 cr)
2nd retention
Kuldeep Yadav (13.25 cr)
3rd retention
Tristan Stubbs (10 cr)
4th retention
Abishek Porel (4 cr)
Purse spent
47 cr
Purse remaining
73 cr
RTMs
2
Delhi Capitals (DC) retained four players, with Axar Patel as their first retention for INR 16.50 crore. Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abishek Porel were their other retentions.
DC have a solid INR 73 crore to spend in the auction, as well as two RTMs. Out of these two RTMs, both can be capped players or one capped + one uncapped.
Not retaining Rishabh Pant initially was the big call by DC. It will be interesting to see if they activate one of their RTMs on the star keeper-batsman.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Category
Details
1st retention
Rinku Singh (13 cr)
2nd retention
Varun Chakravarthy (12 cr)
3rd retention
Sunil Narine (12 cr)
4th retention
Andre Russell (12 cr)
5th retention
Harshit Rana (4 cr)
6th retention
Ramandeep Singh (4 cr)
Purse spent
69 cr
Purse remaining
51 cr
RTMs
None
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) arguably had the most difficult decisions to make ahead of the October 31 deadline. They have so many players worthy of retention, and they decided to retain six in the end.
Rinku Singh, who had a limited role in IPL 2024 given the quality of the KKR batting, was retained as the first pick (INR 13 crore). Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell were all retained for INR 12 crore. Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh were both retained as uncapped players.
KKR have INR 51 crore to spend. Whether they look to purchase Shreyas Iyer will be interesting to see after choosing not to retain him. However, they will not be able to use an RTM as they have none available.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Category
Details
1st retention
Virat Kohli (21 cr)
2nd retention
Rajat Patidar (11 cr)
3rd retention
Yash Dayal (5 cr)
Purse spent
37 cr
Purse remaining
83 cr
RTMs
3
There was lots of speculation as to which players Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would retain. Virat Kohli was the obvious pick, retained for a huge INR 21 crore. Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore) and Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore) were the other two picks.
Notable exclusions are Glenn Maxwell (poor IPL 2024) and Cameron Green (serious back injury), as well as Faf du Plessis. RCB have three RTMs available, where they can use it on a maximum of one uncapped player.
Lucknow Super Giants
Category
Details
1st retention
Nicholas Pooran (21 cr)
2nd retention
Ravi Bishnoi (11 cr)
3rd retention
Mayank Yadav (11 cr)
4th retention
Mohsin Khan (4 cr)
5th retention
Ayush Badoni (4 cr)
Purse spent
51 cr
Purse remaining
69 cr
RTMs
1
KL Rahul was not retained as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) confirmed their five retentions. Nicholas Pooran, who has played to his potential in T20s in recent times, was the first retention at a whopping INR 21 crore. Legspinner Ravi Bishnoi and fast bowler Mayank Yadav were both retained for INR 11 crore, while Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni were retained as uncapped players.
LSG have INR 69 crore remaining for the mega auction and one RTM card available for a capped player.
Punjab Kings
Category
Details
1st retention
Shashank Singh (5.5 cr)
2nd retention
Prabhsimran Singh (4 cr)
Purse spent
9.5 cr
Purse remaining
110.5 cr
RTMs
4
Punjab Kings, with Ricky Ponting onboard as coach, have opted to start fresh and spend big in the auction. They retained just two players (Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh) and have a huge INR 110.5 crore remaining. They also have four RTMs available to use on capped players.
Mumbai Indians
Category
Details
1st retention
Jasprit Bumrah (18 cr)
2nd retention
Suryakumar Yadav (16.35 cr)
3rd retention
Hardik Pandya (16.35 cr)
4th retention
Rohit Sharma (16.30 cr)
5th retention
Tilak Varma
Purse spent
75 cr
Purse remaining
45 cr
RTMs
1
Mumbai Indians (MI) retained their “big four” of Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma. Tilak Varma was retained as the fifth player.
MI find themselves in an interesting situation. They have spent INR 75 crore already, leaving just INR 45 crore for the mega auction. Their one RTM available is for an uncapped player.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Category
Details
1st retention
Heinrich Klaasen (23 cr)
2nd retention
Pat Cummins (18 cr)
3rd retention
Abhishek Sharma (14 cr)
4th retention
Travis Head (14 cr)
5th retention
Nitish Kumar Reddy (6 cr)
Purse spent
75 cr
Purse remaining
45 cr
RTMs
1
There was plenty of speculation as to who IPL 2024 finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) would retain. They’ve spent big on their retentions, headlined by a massive INR 23 crore for Heinrich Klaasen. In fact, they have exactly INR 45 crore and one RTM for an uncapped player remaining, just like MI.
Captain Pat Cummins was retained for INR 18 crore, while openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head were retained for 14 crore. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed last season, was retained for INR 6 crore.
Rajasthan Royals
Category
Details
1st retention
Sanju Samson (18 cr)
2nd retention
Yashasvi Jaiswal (18 cr)
3rd retention
Riyan Parag (14 cr)
4th retention
Dhruv Jurel (14 cr)
5th retention
Shimron Hetmyer (11 cr)
6th retention
Sandeep Sharma (4 cr)
Purse spent
79 cr
Purse remaining
41 cr
RTMs
0
Rajasthan Royals (RR) made the big call not to retain any of Jos Buttler, Trent Boult, R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. However, RR have still spent the most of any team on retentions, with just INR 41 crore remaining in their purse.
Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Sandeep Sharma seemed sure retentions beforehand. Retaining Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel for a combined INR 25 crore is an interesting call, highlighting the importance RR will place on their finishing.
Gujarat Titans
Category
Details
1st retention
Rashid Khan (18 cr)
2nd retention
Shubman Gill (16.50 cr)
3rd retention
Sai Sudharsan (8.50 cr)
4th retention
Rahul Tewatia (4 cr)
5th retention
Shahrukh Khan (4 cr)
Purse spent
51 cr
Purse remaining
69 cr
RTMs
1
Gujarat Titans (GT) have a solid core of retentions and INR 69 crore to spend in the mega auction. Rashid Khan (INR 18 crore) was picked as the top retention over Shubman Gill (INR 16.50 crore), as GT also picked Sai Sudharsan (INR 8.5 crore), Rahul Tewatia (uncapped) and Shahrukh Khan (uncapped).
GT have one RTM available to use on a capped player.
Who do you think did best with their player retentions? Be sure to leave a comment or get in touch with us on X @cric_blog.
“We have won 18 series [in a row] in India, which means we’ve done a lot of things well,” Rohit Sharma said after India’s loss against New Zealand in Pune. “We’ve batted well in the first innings; we’ve batted well in the second innings. Perhaps we haven’t batted as well in this series as we should have, but these things happen. Our batters have consistently made runs on challenging pitches whenever we have played in India, so I don’t want to overthink and say we’ve gone topsy-turvy. Our batters have had two poor matches – two or three innings, if you look at it. But these things happen.”
While Rohit’s defense of his team’s performance is understandable, how accurate is this assessment?
Without needing to delve into statistics, anyone who has watched India play Test matches in Asia in recent years can recognise a recurring theme: the lower order frequently steps up to rescue the team when the top six falters. Off the top of my head, Ashwin and Jadeja bailed the team out in Chennai against Bangladesh (with Ashwin also scoring a century against England in 2021), Jurel contributed a critical 90 in his debut series against England earlier in 2024, and Axar consistently made key contributions in the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin also delivered vital lower-order runs in Bangladesh, including the fourth innings in Mirpur, while Jadeja has remained a dependable presence throughout.
Perhaps the one time the lower order failed to bail the team out, India ended up losing a home Test series for the first time in 12 years.
Fans always miss out on one point. India's greatest strength at home over especially the last few years – 6/7/8 and even 9. NZ have effectively broken up that strength. https://t.co/G8IJoBFZDa
Rohit statement on collapses, the statistical realities: The top six struggles
From 2013 to 2020, the Indian top six averaged 53.85 in Tests in Asia, with all batters who played a minimum of 10 matches averaging over 40. Virat Kohli stood out, scoring 3,451 runs at an average of 66.36, including 13 centuries. However, since 2020, the numbers have significantly declined, with the top six averaging just 37.95 in Tests in Asia. Among the nine batters who have played eight or more Tests during this period, only four have managed to average over 40.
Of course, much of this can be attributed to the pitches India has played on. Since 2020, the average runs per wicket in Tests involving India in Asia has dropped to 27.69, down from 32.32 during the 2013-2020 phase. Interestingly, though, India’s lower order (Nos. 7-9), which averaged 28.22 from 2013 to 2020, has not only maintained but slightly improved its performance, averaging 29.55 post-2020.
The gap between the averages of the top six and the lower order, which was 25.63 in 2013-2020, has now shrunk to just 8.4. Even when considering Jarrod Kimber’s analysis that highlights how batting has been toughest during overs 21-40 in home Tests — due to the lacquer coming off while the ball remains hard, allowing it to grip and turn at pace — and that conditions generally improve over time, peaking during overs 61-80 as the ball softens, the drop from 25.63 to 8.4 is staggering, and truly reflects the struggles of India’s mainstream batters in the subcontinent.
