"India Need...": Australia Great Bewildered At This Star's Absence From Rohit Sharma-Led Squad

05.03.2023 - 06:55 sports.ndtv.com

The Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team suffered a rare loss at home in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Indore on Friday.

On a rank turner, most of the Indian batters barring the exception of Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer, could not dish out a gritty display as India lost by nine wickets.

With the win, Australia have become the first team to enter the World Test Championship final while India's chances are in a bit of jeopardy.

They need to win the fourth Test to ensure that their qualification chances are not dependent on other teams' results. After the match, former Australia captain Ian Chappell said that Hardik Pandya should have played the Test series. "I don't understand why Hardik Pandya isn't in the Indian team," Chappell told ESPNCricinfo. "People keep telling me he can't bowl this much.

cricket Australia Cricket Team 2023 Nathan Lyon Australia India parish Cameron county Green

Following his side's series win over Australia, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma remarked that the series was "fantastic" and different players contributed to the team's win by taking responsibility to bail the side out of difficult situations. Half-centuries from Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne helped Australia draw the fourth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Monday. "It was a fantastic series. Right from the word go, how exciting it was. A lot of the players are playing this for the first time. We do understand the importance of this series and the opposition. A lot of hard work has gone into this. At different times we have come up with answers. We knew how important it was to start the series. The Delhi Test, I am very proud of. We were behind in the game. At Indore, we were put under pressure and lost the game. Different players put their hands up. A lot of guys took up the responsibility and bailed us out," said Rohit in a post-match presentation.

India vs Australia, 4th Test, Day 3 Live Updates: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill Eye Solid Opening Stand Against Australia

IND vs AUS, 4th Test, Day 3 Live Score Updates: Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will look to convert India's start into a solid one on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth and final Test match against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. On Friday, India made sure that they end Day 2 without losing a wicket after skittling out Australia for 480 in the first innings of the game. India were 36 for 0 at stumps, trailing Australia by 446 runs, with Gill and Rohit batting unbeaten on 18 and 17, respectively. Earlier, Usman Khawaja slammed a brilliant 180 while Cameron Green scored his maiden Test century as Australia posted a total of 480. Ravichandran Ashwin (6 for 91) was the most successful bowler for India as he picked up five wickets on the second day. (LIVE SCORECARD)

Ind vs Aus, 4th Test, Day 2: India Bundle Out Australia For 480, Post 36/0 At Stumps

Usman Khawaja's resilience found its able ally in Cameron Green's audacious flair as Australia tested India's bowling depth as well as patience to put up a commanding 480 on the second day of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad on Friday. At stumps, Indian openers were also hardly troubled on a track that hasn't deteriorated one bit as Rohit Sharma (17 batting) and Shubman Gill (18 batting) added 36 runs in 10 overs. But to make a match out of it, onus will be on India to score quickly on day three on Saturday. The most awkward time to start an innings is during the last 10 overs of the day but Gill lofted Nathan Lyon for a six down the ground to signal his attacking intent in that short span of time.

"Doesn't Make Any Sense": Australia Great Ridicules India's Ahmedabad Test Strategy

The Indian cricket team didn't get off to the finest of starts in the 4th Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, with Usman Khawaja punishing the hosts with a century on the first day. While there's no denying that not much help was available from the surface to bowlers, Australia great Ian Chappell has also questioned the hosts' strategy to come around the wicket against left-handers, admitting that he couldn't understand the decision.

"Really Starting To Hurt Them": Australia Great's Brutal Verdict On Rohit Sharma And Co

Former Australian cricket team captain Ian Chappell criticised Indian bowlers' strategy against Usman Khawaja during Day 1 of the fourth Test match between India and Australia in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The pitch did not favour the bowlers much and although India were able to take two wickets in the first innings of the game, Khawaja played a gritty knock to slam his 14th Test hundred. Mohammed Shami was the only Indian bowler with two wickets while the spinner were unable to trouble the Australia opener. Chappell said in a recent interaction that the Indian spinners got their strategy completely wrong against Khawaja and that can end up hurting them in the crucial Test match.

'Nathan Lyon Has Got Years To Go...': Australia Great On Star Spinner

Nathan Lyon's longevity in international cricket has been "amazing" and the off-spinner should continue as long as he remains fit to compete at the elite level, feels former Australia batter Mike Hussey. Lyon, 35, had a quiet start to Border-Gavaskar Trophy taking only one wicket in Nagpur but has come back with a bang snapping 18 scalps from next two Test matches, including a 10-for in Australia's win in Indore.