While the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is less than a week away to begin, the Indian camp is not in a comfortable position due to the top-order batting confusion. Just two days before the beginning of the Perth Test, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel has brought an important update regarding injured Shubman Gill. 

Indian captain Rohit Sharma is on parental leave and will miss the first Test of the five-match Test series in Australia. Perth Stadium will host the first Test of the series, starting on November 22. The situation became tougher for the visitors when Shubman Gill got an injury on his left thumb while fielding at the slip during the intra-squad match and didn’t return to the field on the second day of the practice match. 

The 25-year-old Gill scored 28 runs in the simulation match before Navdeep Saini dismissed him. He batted in that game for the second time and scored 42 not out. As most of the Indian batting order is mostly inexperienced, Gill has to play an important role, especially in the absence of the skipper Rohit Sharma. 

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Fingers crossed: Morne Morkel

As Gill has a thumb injury, the reports suggested Gill’s absence in the five-match Test series opener and uncertainty for the second Test of the series, which has been scheduled at Adelaide Oval starting on December 6. However, the Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel is still hopeful about Gill’s participation in the upcoming Perth Test. 

Morkel claimed, “Shubman is improving on a day-by-day basis. We will take a call on the morning of the Test. He played well in the match simulation during the build-up, so fingers crossed.”

Shubman Gill: Key man during the 2020/21 Australia tour

Shubman Gill has scored 1800 runs in 29 Tests (54 innings) with an average of 36.73. The right-handed batter has hit five centuries and seven half-centuries in his Test career. 

Gill toured with the Indian team during the previous Australia tour in the 2020-21 season. He was the fourth most runs-scorer for India and the sixth most runs-scorer in the four-match Test series in that Australia tour. The right-handed batter scored 259 runs in six innings (three Tests) with an average of 51.80, including two half-centuries. He scored 30+ runs in five out of six innings, including the unforgettable 91 runs during the historic successful fourth innings chase in the Gabba Test. 

Rather than focusing on day three of the simulation match, Indian cricketers were busy at the nets. This decision may have been influenced by Shubman Gill’s injury, as he will miss the Test series opener.

In the three-day India vs India A simulation match, the initial plan was a batter would return to the pavilion after his dismissal, just like the game. However, it was later changed to give one more chance after the first dismissal, as the batters were more comfortable in the second opportunity. 

Virat Kohli was busy adapting to the condition

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli struggled against the short-pitched deliveries during the simulation match. After scoring 15 runs, Kohli scored 30 not out. However, on Sunday, Kohli was seen only in warm-up, not in batting. 

Not only Kohli, but most of the Indian batters were working to face the short-pitched deliveries in the nets. 

Indian bowlers

On the second day, Indian bowlers were busy. While all the Indian bowlers delivered 15 overs each, Jasprit Bumrah bowled 18 overs. 

Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad impressed

On the second day of the simulation match, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad impressed. Kishan smashed a sixer to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was also in focus to work on the short-pitched deliveries.

On the other hand, Gaikwad strongly batted against the strongest Indian bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin. In the absence of Shubman Gill, Gaikwad can be an option for the Perth Test. 

KL Rahul was busy on day three

Indian cricket fans were worried about KL Rahul, who had an elbow injury while facing Prasidh Krishna on the first day of the simulation match. However, there is good news for the Indian cricket fans as Rahul was busy on Sunday. 

After facing top Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, etc., on the centre pitch. Rahul also joined the nets to face old and new balls. His busyness echoed his readiness for the Test series opener.

However, after batting strongly, Rahul was reportedly bowled six times. 

Ravindra Jadeja batted

In the meantime, Ravindra Jadeja practiced with the bat on Sunday, but he wasn't seen in bowling practice. 

India's surprise choices

Harshit Rana has impressed both in the simulation game and nets. The 22-year-old uncapped right-arm fast bowler was in great form in domestic cricket. In the IPL 2024, he got 19 wickets in 13 games for the champions Kolkata Knight Riders. He can be a useful surprise for India on this Australia tour. 

Talking about the surprise, Nitish Reddy can be another option in the form of a pace-bowling all-rounder, which is important in the SENA countries. He and Prasidh Krishna reportedly troubled the Indian batters. 

Visitors India won the four-match T20I series against the hosts South Africa by 3-1 after winning the series decider by 135 runs at Johannesburg. 

After the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bat first, India scored their second-highest T20I total of 283/1 in 20 overs. In reply, South Africa were all out for 148 runs. 

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries

The first innings of the match only experienced India’s dominant batting performance. Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma had a 73-run partnership inside the powerplay, where Sharma was out after scoring 36 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes. 

Then Samson and Tilak Varma dominated over all the Proteas bowlers. Samson and Varma had a 201-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket as both completed their centuries. 

Samson scored his third T20I century and remained not out on 109 off 56 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes. Meanwhile, Varma scored centuries in two consecutive T20I innings and scored 120 not out off 47 balls with the help of nine fours and 10 sixes. 

Arshdeep Singh made the South African top orders clueless

South Africa were down to 10/4 in just the third over. The left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh picked up three wickets as the Proteas had no answers against Arshdeep’s incredible new-ball swings. 

While the opener Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Arshdeep for a duck on the third ball of the innings, Hardik Pandya took another opener Ryan Rickelton (1) in the next over. In the third over, Arshdeep dismissed captain Aiden Markram (8) and Heinrich Klaasen (0) on the last two balls. 

The Indian left-arm pacer was on a hat-trick but he closely missed out on that opportunity. 

At the end of the powerplay, South Africa were battling at 30/4. 

Tristan Stubbs and David Miller fought well

Although Tristan Stubbs and David Miller were too far away to threaten the visiting bowlers, they set up a good partnership of 86 runs for the fifth wicket. While the in-form Stubbs maintained his performance from the early stage of his innings, Miller struggled in his first 15 balls. However, Miller later smashed three sixes. 

After a good recovery, Stubbs and Miller were dismissed on the back-to-back balls. First, Miller was out for 36 off 27 balls (two fours and three sixes) by the leading wicket-taker of the series Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Stubbs for 43 off 29 balls (three fours and two sixes).  

Marco Jansen had a powerful cameo

Since the fall of the fifth wicket, only Marco Jansen’s batting shined in the remaining innings. Jansen remained not out for 29 runs off 12 balls (two fours and three sixes).

All the Indian bowlers picked up at least one wicket. While Arshdeep Singh took three wickets (3/20), Axar Patel (2/2) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/42) got two wickets each. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya (1/8), Ramandeep Singh (1/42), and Ravi Bishnoi (1/28) got one wicket each. 

Player of the Match and Player of the Series

Indian cricketer Tilak Varma won both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards. He scored the highest runs in the match (120*) and also finished the series as the leading run-scorer (280 runs).

Indian batters Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma powerfully thrashed the South African bowlers to set up the fifth-highest total in T20I history. 

After Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to bat first at Johannesburg, powerful Indian top orders drove the team to 283/1 in 20 overs. 

Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma set up a dominant 73-run first-wicket partnership inside the powerplay. Sharma was caught behind just one ball before the powerplay completion after scoring 36 off 18 balls with the help of two fours and four sixes. 

Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma scored centuries

Then Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma’s powerful batting performances just destroyed the Proteas bowlers. Although there were some opportunities, South African fielders dropped those chances to only add to their disappointment. Their batting helped India score 283/1, which was India’s second-highest total and overall the fifth-highest total in T20I history. India’s highest T20I total is 297/6 against Bangladesh at Hyderabad last October. 

Sanju Samson completed his third T20I century in 51 balls. After Rohit Sharma (5 centuries) and Suryakumar Yadav (4 centuries), Samson became the third Indian to record three T20I centuries. Samson remained not out for 109 runs in 56 balls with the help of six fours and nine sixes. 

On the other hand, Tilak Varma reached the century mark in 41 balls. It was his back-to-back T20I century. After Sanju Samson, Varma became the second Indian to record T20I centuries in two consecutive innings. Also, Varma became the fifth Indian to record multiple T20I hundreds. Varma scored 120 not out off just 47 balls with the help of nine fours and ten sixes. 

Samson-Varma had a record partnership in Indian cricket

Samson and Varma had a 210-run partnership for the unbroken second wicket. While it was the first 200-run partnership for India and the second wicket in T20I history, it was also the sixth-highest T20I partnership for any wicket. 

India hit their record number of sixes

Meanwhile, India hit 23 sixes in the innings. While it was their record sixes in a T20I innings, it was also the joint third most sixes in overall T20I innings history.

Indian national cricket team is currently under pressure. While we have already heard some injury scare news just after landing in Australia, another horrible news has just emerged for the Indian cricket fans which will put the Indian cricket fans in a tense situation. 

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli has reportedly undergone scans. The Sydney Morning Herald claimed that Kohli had a scan on Thursday (November 14). However, the report didn’t mention the nature of the injury.

Meanwhile, Kohli was present in the internal practice match on Friday (November 15), which is good news for Indian cricket. 

The five-match Test series between Australia and India, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, will begin on November 22 in Perth. This series is very important for both teams in the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship points table. 

Injury reports disturbing the Indian team

Captain Rohit Sharma is likely unavailable for the Test series opener. So, his important opening batter’s place will have to be fulfilled. Meanwhile, recent media reports claimed that after landing in Australia, Sarfaraz Khan was injured during a practice session and KL Rahul was injured during a practice game. 

Virat Kohli is an important name in Indian cricket. The right-handed batter has to play a crucial role in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Although Kohli was in good form this year, his recent outings in tough Indian Test pitches disappointed Indian cricket fans. After scoring 99 runs in four innings against Bangladesh, Kohli scored only 93 runs in six innings against New Zealand, including one duck and three more single-digit scores. 

Virat Kohli is the India's second-most Test run-scorer in Australia

Kohli has great records in Test cricket in Australia. The right-handed batter has scored 1352 runs in 25 Test innings (13 matches) with an average of 54.08, including six centuries and four half-centuries, with his best score of 169 runs. He is the second most Test run-scorer by an Indian cricketer in Australia. 

When India toured Australia in the 2011/12 and 2014/15 seasons, Kohli was the leading run-scorer for India. After scoring 300 runs in the 2011/12 season, Kohli scored 692 runs in the 2014/15 season where he finished as the second leading run-scorer of the series with four centuries. 

Kohli played only one match in the last Australia Test tour in the 2020-21 season (scored 78 runs in two innings), while he scored 282 runs as a captain in the 2018/19 season when India won their first-ever Test series in Australia. 

Visitors India have taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match T20I series against the hosts South Africa after winning the thrilling third T20I by 11 runs at Centurion. 

After South Africa sent the visitors to bat first, India scored their second-highest T20I total against South Africa, 219/6 (20 overs). In reply, the hosts fought till the end but were restricted to 208/7 in 20 overs. 

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Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma produced good start

Although the opener Sanju Samson was out for another duck, another opener Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma handled the powerplay strongly. At the end of the powerplay, India scored 70/1. 

After Sharma was out for 50 off 25 balls (eight fours and seven sixes), Varma dominated over the South African bowlers. Although Suryakumar Yadav (1) and Hardik Pandya (18) were dismissed cheaply, Varma replied strongly from the other end. He also had a 58-run partnership with Rinku Singh for the fifth wicket before Singh was out for eight runs. 

Tilak Varma scored a century

The 22-year-old Varma completed his century in 51 balls and scored 107 not out off 56 balls with the help of eight fours and seven sixes. Despite very limited time, debutant Ramandeep Singh impressed with his 15 off six balls. 

Top-order South African batters failed to challenge strongly

In reply, the South African openers, Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks, provided a 27-run partnership for the first wicket before Arshdeep Singh bowled Rickelton for 20 runs off 15 balls (two fours and one six). 

Varun Chakravarthy got a wicket in his first over by dismissing the dangerous-looking Hendricks as he was stumped for 21 off 13 balls with four fours. South Africa ended the powerplay at 55/2. 

Last match hero Tristan Stubbs scored 12 runs, while the skipper Aiden Markram was out by Varun after scoring 29 runs. 

Klaasen kept the last hope before Jansen's stunner 

Although Proteas batters got some starts, most couldn’t manage to dominate the Indian bowlers. Wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen was once dominating alone, while he was dropped by the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.

When David Miller was out for run-a-ball 18 runs, the hosts were struggling at 142/5 in 15.5 overs. 

In the 18th over, Arshdeep dismissed Klaasen for 41 runs off 22 balls with the help of one four and four sixes. Despite that wicket fall, South Africa was still in the game thanks to Marco Jansen’s incredible strikes. 

In the 19th over, Jansen scored 26 runs against Hardik Pandya, where the Proteas batter hit three fours and two sixes along with one double run.  

In the final over, while South Africa required 25 runs, Jansen hit an over-boundary to Arshdeep, but the left-arm Indian pacer won the battle. After dismissing Jansen for 54 off just 17 balls (four fours and five sixes), Arshdeep conceded only one four.

Among the Indian bowlers, Arshdeep took three wickets (4-0-37-3) and Varun Chakravarthy got two wickets (4-0-54-2). Also, Hardik Pandya (4-0-50-1) and Axar Patel (4-0-29-1) shared one wicket each, and Ravi Bishnoi was outstanding despite finishing without any wicket (4-0-33-0). 

The youngster Tilak Varma’s powerful century guides India to score 219/6 at the end of the first innings of the Centurion T20I.

It is the third game of the four-match T20I series between the hosts South Africa and the visitors India. With the 1-1 series scoreline, South African captain Aiden Markram once again won the toss and chose to field first. 

While Tilak Varma scored 107 runs off 56 balls with the help of eight fours and seven sixes, India recorded their second-highest T20I total against South Africa. India’s highest T20I total against South Africa is 237/3 (20 overs) during the 2022 Guwahati T20I. 

Sanju Samson scored another duck

After scoring two centuries in his back-to-back T20I innings, Sanju Samson scored ducks in back-to-back T20I innings. While he scored a duck in three balls in the previous game, he was bowled for another duck in two balls in the third T20I of the series. 

Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma had a century partnership

Although the visitors were 0/1 in 0.2 overs, another opener Abhishek Sharma and the no.3 batter Tilak Varma handled the situation very well. They helped India to score 70/1 at the end of the powerplay. 

Sharma and Varma set a 107-run partnership for the second wicket before Sharma was stumped after scoring 50 off 25 balls with the help of three fours and five sixes. 

Captain Suryakumar Yadav (1) was dismissed early while Hardik Pandya (18) couldn’t bat longer despite a good start. 

Varma completed his fifty runs in 32 balls and then he thrashed the Proteas bowlers. Although Rinku Singh (8) couldn’t score many runs, he provided good support to Varma as they had a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket. 

Debutant Ramandeep Singh impressed in short times by scoring 15 off just six balls. 

Varma became second youngest Indian cricketer to record T20I century

On the other hand, Varma strongly dominated against the South African bowlers. The left-handed batter completed his first T20I century in 51 balls. By scoring his first T20I century at the age of just 22 years and five days, he became the second youngest Indian cricketer to score a T20I century. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal holds the record for the youngest Indian to score a T20I century with his 100 off 49 balls against Nepal at the age of 21 years and 279 days during last year’s Asian Games.  

Although India lost the low-scoring Gqeberha T20I, Varun Chakravarthy stunned everyone with his unforgettable bowling performance. He recorded the joint-best bowling figures by an Indian spinner outside India.

Leading the four-match away T20I series by 1-0, India scored only 124/6 in the first innings after losing the toss in the second game. In reply, South Africa were once struggling at 86/7. 

Before Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee set a stunning finish to level the series, Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy completely dominated against the Proteas batters. Starting with the wicket of captain Aiden Markram (3) in his first over, he dismissed the opener Reeza Hendricks (24) in his next over.

SEE ALSO: Sanju Samson creates new unwanted record in Indian cricket after a duck

Varun Chakravarthy bowled four batters

Varun changed his bowling end to start his third over. While Marco Jansen (7) was his third victim, Varun started his last over with the two most important wickets, Heinrich Klaasen (2) and David Miller (0), in back-to-back deliveries. While Klaasen was dismissed at long off, the other four batters were bowled. 

Varun finished the innings with bowling figures of 4-0-17-5. However, South Africa won the match by three wickets with six balls to spare.  

Here are some key stats on Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling performance

• Joint third-best T20I bowling figures by a spinner in South Africa. 

Best T20I bowling figures in South Africa

• Joint second-best T20I bowling figures against South Africa. 

Best T20I bowling figures against South Africa

• Joint fourth-best T20I bowling figures by an Indian bowler. Also, Varun delivered the joint second-best bowling figures by an Indian bowler outside India and the joint-best bowling figures by an Indian spinner outside India. 

Best T20I bowling figures by an Indian bowler

South Africa claimed a dramatic win in the Gqeberha T20I to level the home T20I series by 1-1 with two matches to go. Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee were the heroes of the match with their strong batting performances. 

Trailing the four-match T20I series by 1-0, hosts South Africa chose to field first in the second game. While India scored 124/6 in 20 overs, South Africa chased down the target in 19 overs after losing seven wickets. 

Indian middle-order batters fought hard

India lost their first three batters in the first four overs. Sanju Samson, who hit centuries previous two innings, scored a duck in the game. Struggling at 15/3, Tilak Varma (20) and Axar Patel (27) fought hard before losing their wickets at important times.

Hardik Pandya batted till the end as the right-handed batter scored 39 not out off 45 balls (four fours and one six). 

South African bowlers Marco Jansen (1/25), Gerald Coetzee (1/25), Andile Simelane (1/20), Aiden Markram (1/4), and Nqabayomzi Peter (1/20) got one wicket each, while Keshav Maharaj also maintained his tight bowling (4-0-24-0).

Varun Chakravarthy dominated with the ball

In reply, South African openers provided a better start. However, the openers failed to hold their starts as Ryan Rickelton (13) and Reeza Hendricks (24) were dismissed at disappointing times. Before Hendricks was bowled by Varun Chakravarthy, captain Aiden Markram (3), who was feeling uncomfortable after getting hit hard on his helmet, was also bowled by Varun.

While Varun and Ravi Bishnoi were dominating with the ball, the Proteas’ batters had no clue. Stubbs was holding one end, but the other batters failed to support him. 

Varun finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-17-5, while Bishnoi ended with the bowling figures of 4-0-21-0. Out of his five wickets, four were bowled. 

Stubbs and Coetzee stunned at the end

However, in the slog overs, while the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav decided to go with his pacers, Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee dominated to secure a stunning victory. Struggling at 86/7 in 15.4 overs, South Africa chased the target in 19 overs. 

Apart from Varun and Bishnoi, only Arshdeep Singh (4-0-41-1) managed to pick up a wicket as he broke the opening partnership. 

This result ended India’s 11-match unbeaten streak in the T20I format. Although it was Suryakumar Yadav’s third defeat as a T20I captain, it was his first defeat after becoming a regular captain. 

After creating history by scoring centuries in back-to-back T20I innings, Sanju Samson set up a new record in Indian cricket but not on a memorable side.

Gqeberha is hosting the second game of the four-match T20I series between South Africa and India. Trailing by 1-0, the hosts South African captain Aiden Markram chose to field first.

Unlike the Durban pitch, Gqeberha favoured the South African fast bowlers as they restricted the dangerous Indian batters in their dominant style. 

Samson scored the fourth T20I duck in 2024

Opener Sanju Samson, who became the first Indian cricketer to record T20I hundreds in consecutive innings, scored a three-ball duck as Marco Jansen bowled him. It was his fifth duck in his T20I career and fourth T20I duck in 2024.

With his latest T20I duck, Samson created a record for most T20I ducks by an Indian batter in a calendar year.

Indian cricketers with the T20I most ducks in a calendar year

Meanwhile, with his fifth T20I duck, Samson reached the joint third position in the list of most T20I ducks by an Indian batter. 

Indian cricketers with the most T20I ducks

Samson equalled Pant's record

Also, it was Samson’s fourth T20I duck as a designated wicketkeeper-batter, which equalled Rishabh Pant’s record (four T20I ducks) for most T20I ducks by a wicketkeeper-batter. 

Coming back to the Gqeberha T20I, India lost the top three batters in the first four overs. Struggling from 15/3, the middle-order batters fought hard to guide the team to the respective total of 124 runs. Tilak Varma (20), Axar Patel (27), and Hardik Pandya (39 not out) fought hard to secure a challenging total.