Sunday, November 24
Team India's Test matches in Perth have been a mixed bag of close defeats and historic victories. From Sachin Tendulkar's iconic century in 1992 to their first win at the WACA in 2008, breaking Australia's 16-match winning streak, the Indian team has showcased resilience and skill on Australian soil. Indian batsmen, brought up on the low and slow dusty tracks at home, don't have a formidable record at the WACA, though there have been some memorable and exceptional performances.
Ricky Ponting has reaffirmed his prediction that Australia will win the Border Gavaskar Trophy 3-1, believing India will struggle to take 20 wickets without the injured Mohammad Shami. He predicts Steve Smith or Rishabh Pant will be the series' leading run-scorer. The five-Test series begins in Perth on November 22.
After a disappointing series against New Zealand, Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli face a crucial test in Australia. Both face scrutiny for their recent form, with Rohit's captaincy and batting woes under the scanner. As they prepare for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the onus is on them to prove their mettle and lead India to victory.
Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan expressed confidence in India's chances to secure a historic third consecutive Test series victory in Australia. Despite a recent series loss to New Zealand, Dhawan believes the team's experience and the leadership of Rohit Sharma will be crucial in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has suggested a shake-up of India's batting order following their Test series loss to New Zealand. Kaneria believes captain Rohit Sharma should drop to number three, with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul opening the batting. He also highlighted India's struggles against spin bowling, attributing it to the rise of T20 cricket.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar believes Team India will face a challenging tour of Australia following their recent Test series loss against New Zealand. Gavaskar emphasized the importance of head coach Gautam Gambhir's guidance, suggesting that Gambhir's experience as a player will be crucial for the team's success in Australia.
Aryna Sabalenka moved closer to securing the year-end world number one ranking after defeating Jasmine Paolini at the WTA Finals. Sabalenka's victory guarantees her a spot in the semi-finals, making her the first player to reach the final four. Zheng Qinwen also secured a victory against Elena Rybakina, keeping her semi-final hopes alive.
Cricket fans and the cricketing world have showered Virat Kohli with birthday wishes as the former India captain turned 36. Despite not being at his best, Kohli's legacy as one of India's greatest cricketers remains untouched. Social media was abuzz with tributes, celebrating his illustrious career and impact on the sport.
The IPL player registration officially closed on November 4, 2024, with an impressive total of 1,574 players (1,165 Indian and 409 overseas) signing up to be part of the mega IPL 2025 Player Auction, which will be held over two days on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Noah Lyles, despite clinching the Olympic 100m title, was excluded from the World Athlete of the Year finalists announced by World Athletics. Letsile Tebogo and Jakob Ingebrigtsen secured the finalist spots. Lyles secured gold in the 100m by a narrow margin against Kishane Thompson but only managed bronze in the 200m.
