Author: Vaibhav Tripathi

What could have been an excellent day for India was marred by no-balls, missed fielding opportunities, and valuable lower-order contributions from Australia. The hosts ended the day at 228/9 in their second innings, extending their lead to a commanding 333 runs. India worked tirelessly to claim the final two wickets, but Australia’s tailenders stood resolute. The unbeaten last-wicket stand between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland, worth 55 runs off 110 deliveries, was particularly frustrating for the visitors. Australia might have been effectively bowled out if not for Jasprit Bumrah overstepping in the final over, which saw Lyon edge a delivery…

Australia seemed poised for a commanding first-innings lead with India struggling at 191/6, but a remarkable partnership between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar turned the tables. The resilient duo put together a brilliant 127-run stand, helping India end Day 3 at 358/9, trailing by 116 runs and denying Australia the significant advantage they had been eyeing. The partnership between Reddy and Sundar will go down as one to remember, reminiscent of the iconic Shardul Thakur-Sundar stand at the Gabba in 2021. Over the course of 285 deliveries, the pair displayed tremendous grit and determination, refusing to cave under…

Another day, another dominating display by Australia with both the bat and ball. Steve Smith’s brilliant innings of 140 helped Australia post a mammoth total of 474. Despite the pitch quickening slightly, batting conditions remained favourable, but India found themselves in trouble, losing half their side, still trailing by 310 runs at stumps. The day began with bright sunshine and a relatively flat surface, ideal for batting. Australia capitalised on their commanding position, with strong support from the lower-middle-order. Alongside captain Pat Cummins, Smith added a vital 112 runs for the seventh wicket and reached a magnificent 34th Test century—his…

A packed MCG crowd was treated to an enthralling day of Test cricket, with 311 runs scored for the loss of six wickets, four of which fell in the final session. For the first time in the series, Australia’s top-order delivered, with debutant Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne registering fifties. However, none of them managed to convert their starts into substantial scores. Steve Smith, unbeaten on 68, will have the opportunity to do so when play resumes tomorrow, alongside skipper Pat Cummins, who is batting on 6. The pitch had a light covering of grass, offering assistance…

The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially announced the schedule for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 on Tuesday (December 24), following weeks of anticipation. Scheduled from February 19 to March 9, the tournament will take place in Pakistan and the UAE, featuring 15 matches involving eight teams. This marks the competition’s return to the calendar after an eight-year hiatus and sees Pakistan hosting a global cricket event for the first time since 1996, with Dubai being the neutral venue for India matches. The schedule announced by the ICC closely aligns with the one shared by RevSportz a few days earlier.…

When Australia declared at 89/7, setting India a target of 275 runs in a minimum of 54 overs, all three outcomes were possible. With Australia needing 10 wickets and India chasing a challenging target, the match was finely balanced and could have gone either way. Just that, a draw seemed the most likely result. Ultimately, bad light combined with poor weather brought the game to an early conclusion, ending in a draw. Yesterday, India’s last-wicket partnership helped them avoid the follow-on, and from that point, it seemed likely the match would end in a draw, with forecasts of rain and…

Amidst the boos that echoed every time rain interrupted play, the loudest cheer of the day came when Akash Deep struck a boundary through the third man region late in the day. That shot wasn’t just a boundary—it ensured India avoided the follow-on. Although Australia remain firmly in control with a 193-run lead, India’s resilient batting on Day 4 has significantly reduced their chances of losing this Test. With two innings still left and only one day remaining, a draw now seems the most likely outcome. KL Rahul had a stroke of luck at the start of the day when…

On a day heavily disrupted by frequent rain interruptions at the Gabba, Australia solidified their commanding position in the third Test match. After posting an imposing first-innings total of 445, the hosts made life miserable for India’s top order, leaving the visitors reeling at 51/4 by the end of Day 3. Despite limited play due to the bad weather, Australia capitalised on the conditions, leaving India facing an uphill battle to stay in the game. It was a frustrating day for players and fans alike as rain continued to play spoilsport, with regular interruptions halting the game. It began with…

Centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith lit up the Gabba as Australia recovered from 75/3 to close the day at a commanding 405/7. While Head and Smith shone with the bat, Jasprit Bumrah once again stood out for India. The pace spearhead claimed yet another impressive five-wicket haul on Australian soil, sparking a late fightback to keep his team in the contest. Resuming at 28/0, Australia suffered early setbacks as openers Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja were dismissed cheaply. The pitch, seemingly livelier after yesterday’s rain, posed challenges for the batters, and Bumrah rose to the occasion. Once again,…

A day that promised thrilling cricket was marred by persistent rain, allowing only 13.2 overs of play on the opening day of the third Test in Brisbane. After opting to bowl first, India aimed to capitalise on the overcast conditions, but the Australian openers, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney, stood firm, guiding the hosts to 28 without loss by the close of play. The overcast skies and a green-tinged pitch at the Gabba influenced Rohit Sharma’s decision to field first, a choice that aligned with what Australian skipper Pat Cummins had hoped for. Both teams made changes to their line-ups.…