In the realms of cricket, the test format has always been the one that has a chance to see the real fanatics of the game. The red-ball format does test the spectators' patience to an extent, but even with a single delivery or batting stroke, it has an enormous potential to turn the game's tables.

The Indian Cricket Team is one of those sides who has been a trademark in being a consistent campaigner of the game's most extended format. Though the side did have its fair share of ups and downs in their white uniform, there were some unexpected ones too. Especially after having a forgettable whitewash against New Zealand at home, ending the hosts 18 consecutive series wins streak.

Not to forget, the team did produce some memorable encounters that many fanatics will know. Here's a rewind of the top three red-ball encounters from India's 2024 test-format campaign.

The Indian Cricket Team has had its own share of ups and downs. The Men in Blue have seen it all, be it ending the ICC title drought run or having a disastrous and whitewashed three-match home test series loss against the Kiwis.

But, regarding the ups, the shortest format gave scrumptious success and joy amongst the Indian cricket fanatics. With their 2nd ever ICC T20 World Cup triumph after a long gap, leading them to be the No. 1 team in the ICC T20I rankings, it deserves noteworthy praise.

That said, here's the list of the top three formidable victories of the Indian Cricket Team, the T20I edition.

Many young cricketers rose to prominence in 2024, with outstanding performances across all forms. Among them, five players stood out for their promising performances on the big stage, implying that they may be the future foundation of Indian cricket.

Overall, the Indian cricket team has been a thorough breeding ground for fresh and developing talent, making an influence in the most effective manner conceivable.

It is no surprise to find the current and prominent emerging players who would play a decisive role in earning India's probable future ICC titles, tournaments or bilateral series wins. That said, here's a list of the top five debutants from the Indian Cricket Team, the 2024 edition.

The recent Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction in Bengaluru included 124 players, 91 domestic and 29 overseas players under the hammer. The mini-auction prompted numerous teams to restructure their squads with a mix of retained and newly acquired players, paving the way for an interesting battle.

The 2025 WPL auction has concluded, and clubs like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals, among others, are refining their squad compositions.

The finalised squads include youth, experience, and local and foreign quality, improving the tournament's competitiveness. With star players joining new teams and fresh talent ready to make their mark, fans eagerly anticipate thrilling performances and intense rivalries this season. That being stated, here's a ranking of all the WPL 2025 teams.

While Australia and India are involved in the crucial third Test of the five-match Test series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to field first after winning the toss. There is a significant question that has arisen, especially after the first ten overs in the rain-interrupted first session, whether the Indian captain made the right call or not.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is a little bit under pressure at the present moment. India suddenly suffered a big setback by losing the home three-match Test series against New Zealand by 3-0, which shook their dominant top-place position in the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship points table. 

Rohit Sharma hurt on Bengaluru Test decision

During the latest New Zealand tour of India, Indian captain Rohit Sharma made a wrong call in the Test series opener at Bengaluru, where he chose to bat first in the overcast condition. However, that decision backfired on the hosts, who were bundled out for only 46 runs in the first innings of that Test. 

While the ongoing BGT Test series is running with the 1-1 position before the crucial third Test at Brisbane, the toss decision is always going to be vital for every team. The first session of the crucial Gabba Test experienced two rain interruptions as Australia were batting at 28/0 in 13.2 overs. Although the Indian pacers didn’t set any easy opportunities to score runs in the shorter rain-interrupted first session, the Aussie openers were hardly challenged. 

Most recent record of the Gabba Test

Previously, the Gabba in Brisbane hosted a Test match between Australia and West Indies last January, which was a day-night pink ball Test match. West Indies ultimately stunned by winning that Test match by eight runs as the hosts Australia closely failed to chase the fourth innings target of 216 runs. It was Australia’s first defeat in the pink-ball Test match history, while West Indies ended their 21-year-long wait for winning a Test match against Australia. 

Although Australia failed to chase a 216-run fourth innings target in the Gabba Test, we can’t get the latest Test stories from this information because it is not a regular red-ball Test match. 

See Also: Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Top 5 Memorable Test matches played at the Gabba

Recent red-ball Test match records at the Gabba

Talking about the regular red-ball Test match records at the Gabba, the last five Tests experienced only the winning sides, who batted second in the Test matches. A first-batting team won a Gabba Test last time in November 2015, where the Baggy Greens claimed a dominant win against New Zealand by 208 runs. 

Since December 2011, only two out of the nine red-ball Gabba Tests have experienced successful results for the first batting teams. Meanwhile, all other seven Brisbane Tests ended with the second batting team’s successes.

The upper records clearly indicate that the Gabba Test pitches become more favourable for the batters with time progress. As the third Test of the ongoing BGT has started in overcast conditions, the Indian captain’s decision only felt more logical. 

Persistent rain waiting for the Gabba Test

Meanwhile, the ongoing Gabba Test can experience a big battle against the rain god. The opening-day shower not only interrupts the first session of the Test match, but also takes away more time from the opening day. The chance of the play in the remainder of the first day is getting weaker with the time progress. 

According to the weather forecast, there is a lesser chance of rain on Sunday as it has nearly a 50% chance of precipitation. However, the next three days will experience more rain, as each of the three days has a precipitation forecast of 70%. 

The detailed forecast suggests that Monday will experience more rain in the early morning and the evening. During the last two days of the Gabba Test, rain can be experienced mainly during the match.  

The weather forecast has a big indication of the Test match result, as we can experience a draw result in the case of insufficient match progression. The venue experienced its last Test draw in November 2012, when South Africa toured in Australia. 

The Gabba in Brisbane has long been regarded as Australia's stronghold, a place where the home team has always prevailed. For India, this field has been a source of both frustration and glory, capturing the highs and lows of cricket struggles in Australia, as they had just one but significant victory on Brisbane soil.

As India prepares for their next and crucial third Test match at this legendary venue on December 14, 2024, here are the top five most memorable Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) matches played at the Gabba, Brisbane.

The tension of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is at its peak as the five-match Test series between the hosts Australia and the visitors India is currently at 1-1 with three Tests to be played yet. The Brisbane Cricket Ground at Woolloongabba in Brisbane, the venue popularly known as The Gabba, will host the third Test of the series. 

Perth Stadium hosted the Test series opener, where India won by 295 runs. Meanwhile, the Adelaide Oval hosted the second Test, which was the only day-night pink-ball Test match of the series, Australia won by 10 wickets. 

Talking about the Indian squad for the upcoming Gabba Test, there is big news waiting on Mohammed Shami. If everything goes well, the 34-year-old Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami can travel to Australia for the Test series. To see him in the third Test, Shami’s no more delayed presence in the Indian team is vital, as the journey, adjusting to the different conditions, and proper practice really matters.   

Here, we will see India’s probable XI for the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. 

Top-order batters

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are likely to continue their opening partnership for the third Test. While Jaiswal scored ducks in the first innings of the first two Tests, he scored a game-changing 161 runs and an impressive 24 runs in the second innings of the first and second Tests, respectively. On the other hand, opener Rahul’s scores in this Test series are 26, 77, 37, and 7 runs. 

Shubman Gill returned for the second Test after recovering from the injuries. He scored 31 and 28 runs, where he showcased his classy shots. Just like Rahul, Gill also needs to utilise their good starts.

Middle-order batters

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli scored a crucial 100 not out during the third innings of the Perth Test. However, the right-handed batter’s other scores in the series are 5, 7, and 11 runs. Kohli is struggling to handle the fourth-stump line deliveries, which are becoming more challenging for him after carrying extra bounce. 

The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is confident in the no.5 batting position. While he can also play in the late batting order, he needs good support from the other end, which will become more dangerous for the opponents. 

Captain Rohit Sharma can bat at no.5 or no.6 according to the game situation. After missing the first Test due to parental leave, he was dismissed cheaply (6 and 3 runs) in the second Test. 

Pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has highly impressed with the bat in this Test series by scoring 30 or more runs in all four innings (41, 38*, 42, 42). His stats become more impressive by scoring the runs majorly without support from the other end. After experiencing his batting performances, we are confused about whether it is his first Test series or not. 

Spinner(s)

Ravichandran Ashwin bowled really well with the pink ball during the second Test at Adelaide Oval. However, as the Gabba is hardly known for the spinners, India may prefer to go with Washington Sundar for the upcoming Test match to make the batting order deeper. However, the experienced Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja can play a similar role to Sundar. Here, we are picking Sundar at the present moment.   

However, due to the Test at Gabba, Rohit Sharma-led India can also go with four genuine pace bowlers by resting the only spinner.

Pacer(s)

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will definitely serve as the main pacers. India are desperate for Mohammed Shami, whose presence will massively help the Indian pace-bowling line-up by sharing the workload. Also, Shami is highly suitable for the fast pitch like Gabba. 

In the case of Shami’s absence, Harshit Rana can continue his spot. Rana has impressed in both Test matches, and there is more room for improvement. In the case of four pacers, Rana will surely play, and Akash Deep can get an opportunity in the absence of Shami. 

India’s probable XI: Yashsavi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Rohit Sharma (Captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Shami/Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. 

Possible out(s): Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshit Rana

Possible in(s): Washington Sundar, Mohammed Shami (subject to availability)

When Australia and India face off on the cricket pitch, spectators are treated to a lot of drama in addition to the actual action. The India vs Australia Test series is nothing without a spice of controversies, making it one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in cricket history. The series often makes the cricket news headlines for different reasons and the search for fantasy tips during this series is proof of that. Although match prediction talks in favour of a certain team during each match, the India-Australia clash remains a high-voltage one every time the two sides take on each other. 

Over the years, these fiery encounters have tested the players’ skills, temperament, and sportsmanship under intense scrutiny. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has seen many contentious and unpleasant situations throughout the years of the bilateral clash.  India will seek to make it three Test series wins in a row in Australia, while Australia will be looking to win a Test series against India for the first time in ten years in the current edition. Through this listicle, the cricketwinner team revisits the five biggest controversial moments from the realms of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series.

See Also: Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Top 5 Memorable Test matches played at the Adelaide Oval

Team India is in a great mood before the second Test of the five-match Test series against the hosts Australia. Adelaide Oval in Adelaide is set to host the second Test, which will be a day-night pink-ball Test match, starting on December 6.

India started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia with a big win by 295 runs. So, the visitors India, who won all the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophies, are leading the Test series by 1-0. As both teams are battling to secure the top two places in the ongoing 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship to qualify for the final, it is an important Test series for both teams.

Here, we will see India’s predicted XI for the second Test at Adelaide Oval. 

Top-order batters

Although captain Rohit Sharma is set to return to the playing XI, Yashsavi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are likely to open for India in the Adelaide Test. They opened in the recent Canberra day-night pink-ball practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI and set a 75-run opening partnership. If Rohit opens with the Perth Test centurion Jaiswal, Rahul then can bat in the middle order. 

As Shubman Gill is also set to return, the right-handed batter is likely to keep his third place in the batting line-up. 

See Also: KL Rahul gives a cheeky reply on his batting position in the Adelaide Test

Middle-order batters

Perth Test centurion Virat Kohli is undoubtedly to bat at no.4. Captain Rohit Sharma or KL Rahul, who will not open with Jaiswal, is likely to bat at the no.5 position. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is likely to bat in the no. position. However, according to the situation, the no.5 and no.6 places can be altered.

All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed with the bat in both innings on his Test debut at Perth can be even promoted to the no.7 position.   

Spinner(s)

As Adelaide Oval will host the pink-ball Test match, we are likely to see only one spinner from India. While Washington Sundar played the last Test at Perth, experienced Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are also in the team. However, for the pink-ball Test, we may see no change in the spin-bowling option. Sundar can bat at no.7 or no.8 according to the situation. While Ashwin can also bat at no.7 or no.8, Jadeja’s presence means the all-rounder is most likely to bat at no.7. 

Pacer(s)

Most likely, India will go with the same pace bowling options as the Perth Test. So, the vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace-bowling lineup along with Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana. While Bumrah won the Player of the Match award in the Perth Test for picking up eight wickets, including a fifer, Siraj bagged five wickets (2/20 and 3/51), and Test debutant Rana took four wickets (3/48 and 1/69). The 22-year-old Rana also shined in the pink-ball practice match against PM XI at Canberra by picking four wickets in six deliveries. 

India’s predicted XI: Yashsavi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj. 

Possible out(s): Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel 

Possible in(s): Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill

The Indian Premier League has played a pivotal role in being the benchmark of how cricketing tournaments should be unfolded. From being lucrative to enticing several fanatics, the IPL has shown it all, with the players being the backbone of it.

With teams or franchises acting as the initiator and face of it, some players and team combinations have worked tremendously. At the same time, there were a few that were forgettable. That said, through this listicle, we dive deep into the top IPL campaigners betrayed by their respective teams across the tournament's timeline. 

David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

David Warner's shocking exit from the Sunrisers Hyderabad has bewildered many followers, primarily when the same swashbuckling left-hand batter led them to their first-ever title in the 2016 edition. It all started in the 2021 edition when he couldn't deliver the desired performances as a captain, and the team's management took the harsh step of sacking him as the captain for the season's midway.

In the second half of the season, the franchise dropped and blocked Warner on social media. Warner's expression was filled with sadness as he brought drinks for his squad during matches. Despite his substantial accomplishments and loyalty to the Orange team, it is unsurprising that this is a perfect example of a franchise betraying a devoted cricketing campaigner inside the IPL ecosystem.

Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Suresh Raina, a.k.a Mr IPL, sadly gets his name to this list. Raina was one of the Chennai Super Kings' longest-serving players, spending 12 years with them. From IPL 2008 to 2015, the left-handed batter was entirely devoted to the Yellow Army, missing no matches. But in 2022, CSK dismissed him and opted not to bid for their former vice-captain. Raina got unsold and did not receive a decent farewell from IPL.

Two years later, Raina has broken his silence on the subject, adding that he is delighted to see MS Dhoni still playing and should not be sad. Nonetheless, it has sparked a lot of suspicion among die-hard fans, mainly because he is the tournament's fifth-highest run-getter. As it suggests, this makes him one of the players who deserved a befitting end to an illustrious IPL stint.

Yuzvendra Chahal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

India's current spinmeister, Yuzvendra Chahal, Royal Challengers Bengaluru purchased Chahal during the IPL 2014 auctions, and he proved to be an excellent addition to the Bangalore-based team. His achievements at RCB won him a call-up to India's white ball teams, and he quickly established himself as the country's go-to spinner in both T20I and ODIs. However, ahead of the major auction in 2022, RCB chose to release Chahal, who the Rajasthan Royals then signed.

Mike Hesson, the franchise's director of cricket at the time, recalled the phone conversation in which Chahal expressed frustration and displeasure, which was an apparent reaction from a frequent contributor. Still, many fans believe he should have been retained and played for a long time, as he's known for his consistency.

Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Sourav Ganguly, an Indian cricketing great, was released by his home team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, and the release of 'Dada' surprised many fans and critics, who raised their voices and criticised the Knight Riders' massive action for a short time. Ganguly's stay with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was fraught with controversy. He was named captain for the first season, but the club failed to reach the semi-finals.

Then, in 2009, he was fired as captain, and before the 2011 auction, he was also dismissed as a player. It all started when the current CEO, Venky Mysore, held the team's responsibility and first took this major decision, which wasn't that difficult for him, as it was a matter of getting the team to triumph. 

See Also: IPL 2025: The ₹23.75 crore gamble that could define KKR's IPL 2025 campaign

Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)

Adam Gilchrist has been one of the most incredible wicketkeeper batters in the sporting world. He has gained prominence in the Aussies cricket space and aroused dominance in the IPL through his impeccable stint for the now-defunct franchise, the Deccan Chargers. The side had a forgettable start in the inaugural edition, and no one believed that the same team would go on to win the second-ever IPL title under the helms of Adam Gilchrist.

But, as was the case for many, Gilchrist was surprisingly not retained for the 2011 IPL season, which aroused a big question mark. In an interview in 2017, Gilchrist didn't have a definite answer and was equally perplexed, like the others, behind his release as he still believed that he had some game left for the franchise. 

Mohammed Siraj (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Mohammed Siraj has become a reliable Indian pacer in the International space thanks to his commendable and eight-long years of contribution to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Known for having a loyal fanbase, RCB had its priorities straight in going for a massive restructuring across all the departments. Though Siraj has been consistent in his wicket-taking abilities and has leaked some critical runs, there is no denying that the speedster has shown promise in recent international encounters.

With a large amount of purse and a couple of Right-to-Match cards (RTM) available, many anticipated him to return to the squad, but that did not happen. The main reason for this is the overall restructuring, and many supporters believe he should have received an RTM and stayed with the franchise. 

Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)

Many expected Rishabh Pant to stay because he had virtually become the franchise's face. Pant's name, however, did not appear on Delhi Capital's retention list. Despite not playing a T20I since his vehicle accident in December 2022, he returned well in the IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs and earning a position in India's T20 World Cup-winning side this year.

According to a report by The Times of India, Pant requested to stay captain of the Capitals and be part of the coaching staff selection process. However, the Capitals side was not impressed by his T20 performance or captaincy and has opted not to retain the T20 World Cup-winning player, citing other future goals and plans.

KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants)

KL Rahul is another high-profile skipper released from the current IPL super auction for 2025. The 32-year-old was one of the Lucknow Super Giants' initial draft selections when the franchise debuted in 2022. However, he was not retained. LSG made the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023 under Rahul's leadership, and he has been the team's leading scorer in three seasons.

But following a disastrous IPL 2024 match against SunRisers Hyderabad, in which LSG lost by ten wickets, TV cameras filmed LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka conversing with KL Rahul, which seemed intense and a bit towards a harsh venting out. This led to several criticism notes to the owner, and many assumed that this would prompt Rahul to leave the franchise. Though this reason might not be apparent, he will be next seen for the Delhi Capitals as the potential heir for the squad's leader.