2024 was replete with ups and downs for people who love Indian cricket. India didn't win the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, but they finally got their hands on the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 trophy, with Rohit Sharma steering the team. This year, three iconic T20 players stopped playing, and more than seven Indian players stopped playing for their country at the international level.

Let's dive into who these players are.

1. Saurabh Tiwary (Retired from all formats)

Saurabh Tiwary, the man who swung his bat with his left hand and even scored 49 runs in three matches for India's ODI team in 2010, decided he had enough of professional cricket right after the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season wrapped up in February 2024. Tiwary made this choice because his performance wasn't to par at the local level anymore Tiwary, who had been part of the cricket world for 17 years materializing on the scene notably with Jharkhand in first-class cricket and remaining in the IPL till 2021 announced in 2024 that his cricket-playing days were over. That person who played for India in a few games said he is finished with playing professional cricket after being on the fields for nearly two decades.

2. Varun Aaron (Retired from all formats)

Varun Aaron from Jharkhand was very quick at bowling with his right arm. Aaron said goodbye to cricket at the close of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season. People thought he was going to be great because he was very quick but he was often injured. Aaron managed to play in nine tests and nine ODIs for India between 2011 and 2015, and during that time, he took 29 wickets when playing against other countries.

ALSO READ:Gavaskar Backs Nitish Reddy Over Hardik Pandya as a Better Test Cricketer

3. Dinesh Karthik (Retired from all formats)

Dinesh Karthik retired from all forms of cricket international, domestic, and even the IPL after the IPL 2024 wrapped up. Karthik put an end to his impressive career. Starting way back in September 2004 playing for India, 2022 saw his last game during the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. Through it all, Karthik played in 26 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 60 T20 games.Karthik did not simply play he scored a total of 3,463 runs that includes a century and 17 half-centuries.

4. Kedar Jadhav (Retired from all formats)

Kedar June 2024, Kedar Jadhav said he's retiring from all kinds of cricket; this person, who was 39, played several games for India - 73 ODIs and 9 T20Is to be exact. Jadhav was a solid player in the middle of the lineup who could also add some good spin bowling to the mix, catching 27 wickets in ODIs with an average score of 42. On top of that, he demonstrated his skills in 95 IPL games for five different teams, performing well both when hitting the ball and when throwing the ball.

5.Virat Kohli (Retired from T20Is)

In his last game for India in the tournament against South Africa, Virat Kohli shared that he was retiring from T20Is. Virat Kohli made a very big announcement after India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 he was stepping down from T20I cricket. Starting his T20I journey in 2010 against Zimbabwe, Kohli had a great series of performances. Over his career, he participated in 125 T20Is, scoring 4,188 runs, which averages out to 48.69 this includes hitting one hundred and 38 half-centuries. Kohli is considered a legendary cricketer around the world.

6. Rohit Sharma (Retired from T20Is)

After taking India to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit Sharma said goodbye to T20Is. This includes an amazing five hundreds, 32 fifties, and an incredible 205 sixes, setting the record for the most in T20Is. Many achievements made him the premier run-maker in T20I history when he decided to stop playing.

7. Ravindra Jadeja (Retired from T20Is)

Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20I cricket post the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, and he was an essential player for India for over ten years. Even though he wasn't the best in the tournament, his role playing both as a batter and a bowler was vitally important for India. Starting his journey in 2009, he participated in 74 T20Is, took 54 wickets with a decent economy rate of 7.13, and notched up 515 runs.

8. Shikhar Dhawan (Retired from all formats)

Shikhar Dhawan, a key player in India's win at the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, said goodbye to cricket in all forms, the IPL included, in August 2024. Dhawan was last seen playing for India in December 2022. Dhawan's journey in international cricket began in 2010 and wrapped up in 2022; throughout his career, he played in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is.Dhawan scored a whopping 10,867 runs, with an average of 42.28. Also, he hit 24 hundreds and 55 fifties.

9. Barinder Sran (Retired from all formats)

Barinder Sran, who is a left-arm pace bowler from Punjab, chose to hang up his boots when he was 31 years old. When he first appeared on the international stage for India during a T20 match against Zimbabwe in June 2016, he did very well at the beginning bagging 4 wickets and giving up just 10 runs. This debut is still the top first-game showing by any Indian player in T20Is. Despite this spectacular beginning, he didn't become as famous or successful as everyone thought he would in international cricket. Over his career, he got to play in six One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and a couple of T20 International matches, catching a total of 13 wickets.

10. Wriddhiman Saha (Retired from all formats)

Wriddhiman Saha, the person who kept wicket and hit runs for India, decided he was done playing cricket at every level on November 3, 2024. His plan was to stop playing cricket after the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season finished. Saha had his moments playing 40 tests and nine ODIs from 2010 to 2021, where he knocked 1,353 runs in tests which even included conjoining three whole centuries. Despite that, superstars like MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant often took the spotlight, leaving Saha's last match for India in 2021, playing against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium.

11. Siddarth Kaul (Retired from all formats)

Indian bowler Siddarth Kaul announced his retirement on November 28, 2024. Kaul, 34, represented India in three ODIs and three T20Is, taking four wickets in T20Is but none in ODIs.

12. Ravichandran Ashwin (Retired from all formats)

After the third test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane in 2024-25, Ravichandran Ashwin, who plays spin-bowling all-rounder for India, said he's retiring.  Ashwin first played in 2010 and has been in 106 tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is since then. Mr. Ashwin has gotten 537 players out in tests, 156 in ODIs, and 72 in T20Is. Ashwin didn't only throw -- he could bat, too, earning 3,503 runs in tests, including hitting six centuries and fourteen fifties. Something exceptionally wonderful about him?Ashwin's tied with Muttiah Muralitharan for getting the most Man of the Series awards in test cricket, which is 11 times.

2024 has indeed been a year of significant retirements in Indian cricket, marking the end of an era for some of the game's greatest players.

Famous Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle has picked up his Test XI of the year 2024. The squad sees three Indians but not the star batters. 

Cricbuzz released a video on Christmas Day 2024, where the popular Indian commentator revealed his best XI in Test cricket this calendar year. Before starting it, he reminded us of only two Test draws in the calendar year, along with batters scoring faster runs and bowlers taking faster wickets. Also, he didn’t forget to remind the record of Test successes for the visitors.

See Also: Sameer Rizvi slams second one-day double-century four days later

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ben Duckett are the openers for Harsha Bhogle

Yashasvi Jaiswal was Bhogle’s first pick, who is the second most run-scorer in Test 2024 with 1312 Test runs with an average of 52.48, including three centuries and seven half-centuries. 

English Test opener Ben Duckett was Bhogle’s second opener in the list. With a record of two centuries and six half-centuries, Duckett is the third most run-scorer in Test cricket this calendar year, with 1149 runs. Bhogle especially mentioned his Test centuries at Rajkot and Multan. 

4-6 were easy after the tricky no.3

Calling the tricky one in no.3, Bhogle picked up New Zealand legend Kane Williamson, who scored 1013 Test runs in nine matches with an average of 59.58, including four centuries and four half-centuries. 

Bhogle felt an easy pick for the next three numbers as he named the English stars Joe Root and Harry Brook before naming the Sri Lankan Kamindu Mendis. Root is the leading run-scorer in Test cricket in this calendar year with 1556 Test runs with an average of 55.57, including six centuries and five half-centuries. 

Brook recorded a triple-century during the Multan Test as he scored 1100 Test runs with an average of 55, including hitting four centuries and three half-centuries. 

Kamindu Mendis has scored 1049 runs in nine Tests with an average of 74.92, including five centuries and three half-centuries. Although Bhogle also took the name of the Australian cricketer Travis Head, who is dominating in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has been missed out on due to his poor performances against other teams.

Wicketkeeper

Pakistan keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was Bhogle’s wicketkeeper choice as well as for the number seven batting position. 

Pacers

Before taking the tough no.8 position, Bhogle took the names of the last three bowlers, all as the pacers. He named English Gus Atkinson, South African Kagiso Rabada, and Indian star Jasprit Bumrah in the last three names by looking at their fantastic bowling performances throughout the year. However, Bhogle also took the names of the New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry, the Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, and the West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seals. 

While Bumrah is the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024 with 62 wickets, Atkinson is just next to him with 52 Test wickets. Rabada has taken 32 Test wickets this year. 

An Indian in the no.8 choice

Talking about the remaining no.8 one, Bhogle chose a spinner. While there is a lack of battle in the wrist spin and off-spin, he went to the left-arm spin. After taking the names of South African Keshav Maharaj and Sri Lankan Prabath Jayasuriya, Bhogle ultimately took the name of Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja.

Captain

Bhogle finished it by choosing his captain, and he is the Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Under his captaincy, India played the ongoing five-match Test series opener against the hosts Australia at Perth, where the visitors won by 295 runs to take the series lead by 1-0. 

Harsha Bhogle's Test XI of the Year

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ben Duckett, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Gus Atkinson, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah (C)

As the countdown to the much-awaited Box Day Test draws to a close, India are all in readiness to make some surprising changes to their lineup in a bid to outclass Australia in the ongoing edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy Test series. As per reports, it has been widely speculated that the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma may return to the top to open the batting with the swashbuckling batter Yashasvi Jaiswal in Melbourne. This claim has been placed by a journalist from the Times of India.

Such a reshuffling at the top of the order would see the in-form Kl Rahul go down and drop all the way to number three as claimed by Rohit Juglan, a RevSportz journalist on Twitter.

Breaking - Rohit Sharma to open - KL to play at 3 in MCG

— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) December 25, 2024

See also: Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024: AUS vs IND 4th Test, Match Prediction- Who Will Win Today?

Washington Sundar likely to team up with Jadeja as the second spinner at the MCG

Following the alteration of the Indian top order, the management is also mulling to bolster their spin department which has had very little role to play thus far in the series. As far as their expectations are concerned, the Indian team is of the opinion that the track in the MCG will suit the spinners during the latter stages of the Test match. 

Unsurprisingly, Ravindra Jadeja has emerged as the hot pick for the MCG showdown given his vast experience in the longest format, both with the bat and the ball. Furthermore, it is also believed that the management is leaning more towards securing the services of off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar and expects him to play a decisive role in the do-or-die fourth Test. If that were to happen, Nitish Kumar Reddy would have to drop out and make way for the spin-bowling all-rounder.

Rohit Sharma very likely to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul at No.3. Team considering two spinners - Washington Sundar could play in place of Nitish Reddy. But Rohit very likely to open tomorrow at MCG @toisports

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) December 25, 2024

Was it right to sideline Nitish?  

A handful of experts suggest that the young seam-bowling all-rounder may have been hard done-by the management. Reddy presently ranks as the fourth-highest run scorer in the ongoing BGT 2024-25, having accumulated 179 runs across five innings, with an average exceeding 44 and a strike rate of 72. Additionally, he has proven to be a valuable pace bowler for the Indian cricket team, claiming three wickets in 27 overs during the current tour of Australia.

However, the management's desire to push for more experience seems very justified at this stage. Sundar was previously a part of the Indian squad in the earlier BGT edition in 2020-21 where he performed splendidly well, both with the bat and the ball, and bailed India out of danger on a number of occasions. 

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 24–25 series, tied at 1–1 after three matches, has created a lot of excitement for the Boxing Day Test starting on 26 December. This match is very important for both teams. But what’s making the news isn’t just the cricket — it’s how the Australian media is twisting stories to upset the Indian cricket team.

Virat Kohli’s Controversy with Channel 9 Reporter

The drama started right after the Indian team arrived in Melbourne. Virat Kohli, traveling with his family, noticed a female reporter from the Australian media trying to film his family. Kohli politely asked the media not to record his family, saying, “You can film me, but not my family,” and requested that the video be deleted due to a breach of privacy, especially when someone is filming his family without permission. However, the Australian media exaggerated the story, portraying it as a sign of Kohli losing his temper, even labeling him as a bully for allegedly targeting a female reporter. This narrative was set by the Australian press.

Jadeja Criticized for Not Taking Any Questions from Australian Media

Ravindra Jadeja attended a press conference after India’s first net session in Melbourne. He chose to answer questions in Hindi, which led to the assumption that Jadeja was avoiding questions from the Australian media by speaking in Hindi. This made him the next target of criticism. The Australian media claimed that Jadeja’s decision to speak in Hindi was meant to “insult” them following the Kohli incident. This view quickly spread, even though Jadeja often speaks in his native language to communicate more effectively.

Akash Deep Criticized for Avoiding Australian Media

The latest story involved Akash Deep, who spoke at a press conference. Not very confident in English, he answered all questions in Hindi. Both Indian and Australian media were present, and after the drama on the last day, the Indian team’s media manager gave permission for Australian media to ask questions. The question was asked by an Indian journalist on behalf of Channel 7, an Australian media house, to keep things balanced. There should have been no issue with this, and everyone should have been happy with that. However, the Australian media is creating new narratives, claiming that India has been continuously sending Hindi speakers to the last two press meetings to disrespect their press by avoiding English questions.

The Australian media is crafting these stories to put pressure on Team India before the Boxing Day Test. This clearly reflects their frustration and fear of losing, especially after India avoided the follow-on in the third Test and fought hard to secure a draw.

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja shined with the bat in his first innings in the Australia tour as the left-handed batter played a crucial role in rescuing the Indian team from a deep trouble situation in the rain-marred Brisbane Test. After Jadeja’s heroic batting performance, Indian cricket fans slammed the Indian team management for dropping experienced Jadeja in the ongoing Australia tour. 

Experienced Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t selected for the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match Test series in the present Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. Washington Sundar played the first Test at Perth under the stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, where India took a 1-0 series lead after winning the Test by 295 runs.

The next Test was a day-night pink ball Test at Adelaide, where the team management selected Ravichandran Ashwin on the skipper Rohit Sharma’s return. Pink-ball-experienced Australia claimed a 10-wicket win in that game to level the series. 

For the third Test of the series at Brisbane, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team tried with Ravindra Jadeja. The left-arm spinner bowled 23 overs in the first innings of the ongoing Gabba Test, where he conceded 95 runs without taking a wicket.

Watch: Kohli-Gambhir celebrate together after Akash Deep's heroic save

Ravindra Jadeja came to bat after India were five down to 74 runs

However, with the bat, Jadeja showed his value in the team, especially in the tough overseas tours like in Australia. When the left-handed batter came to bat during India’s first innings, the visitors were struggling at 74/5 in reply to Australia’s 445 all out first innings total. 

Jadeja set a valuable 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket with the opener KL Rahul, who also played an unforgettable knock of 84 runs. Jadeja also got another important support from Nitish Kumar Reddy, as they had a 53-run partnership for the seventh wicket. After the dismissal of Nitish, Jadeja tried his best to put India in the safe zone by guiding the total to the avoidable follow-on position.

Jadeja, who completed his half-century in 82 balls, scored 77 off 123 balls with the help of seven fours and one six before Pat Cummins dismissed him after Mitchell Marsh took a great catch at deep square. 

When Jadeja returned to the dressing room, where the Indian batter deservingly got a memorable standing ovation from the crowd, India were still 33 runs short of avoiding the follow-on, and only the last wicket was in hand. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep played brilliantly for the last wicket partnership and just rescued the visitors from the follow-on. 

Left-handed batter Jadeja has a great Test record in Australia

It was Jadeja’s sixth Test innings in Australia, where the left-handed batter scored 252 runs with an average of 50.40, including three half-centuries. Moreover, Jadeja came to bat always at no.7 or lower-order batting position in Australia.   

Indian cricket fans appreciated Jadeja for his another great rescue performance in the Brisbane Test. Also, some fans are disappointed with the team management for not selecting him in the previous two Tests in the ongoing series. Even, the former Indian cricketers Mohammad Kaif, R Vinay Kumar, and Irfan Pathan also joined the Twitter army to appreciate the 36-year-old all-rounder.

Jadeja the warrior. He knows how to score runs in Australia. He holds 50+ average 👏👏#INDvAUS #RAVINDRAJADEJA pic.twitter.com/8CLNMGzn0Q

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) December 17, 2024

India can think of dropping a batsman but not Jadeja. Unlike the top order, he didn't play and miss. He looked the most comfortable Indian batsman here. India on this tour have failed to put their best playing XI on field. Hope it changes in the last two Tests. #AUSvIND

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 17, 2024

Ravindra Jadeja as a test batsman is valuable @imjadeja

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 17, 2024

Take a bow SIR Jadeja 👑#RAVINDRAJADEJA #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/UVT6dGk5Ub

— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) December 17, 2024

Unpopular opinion:

Ravindra Jadeja should be the first name on the team sheet of India in test cricket. He's a better batsman than most of the players in the team and of course one of the best bowlers in the world.

Tell me one reason why he shouldn't?

— Yash (@CSKYash_) December 17, 2024

Sir Jadeja is India’s most underrated player. I am not sure why he gets dropped so often. I hope he now shows the world what he is made of once and for all👌👍 pic.twitter.com/KMQ8j4VFQm

— Dr. P@Indiamusings, PhD (@indiamusings) December 17, 2024

Sir Ravindra Jadeja Supremacy!💥💙

•Scored '77' runs & gave tribute to Thala.
•Silenced haters
•Did the usual damage control.
•Owned Gautam Gambhir#RavindraJadejapic.twitter.com/ZpB2n5a8pS

— Hustler (@HustlerCSK) December 17, 2024

Now I come to know why Rohit and Gambhir were dropping Jadeja ,

He has surpassed both Rohit and Gambhir's performance in Australia 😭🤣#INDvAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tJRnEMVXj3

— Navneet 🚩 (@MSDian067) December 17, 2024

Gambhir looking for a new excuse to play someone out of nowhere in place of Jadeja. pic.twitter.com/aRXl8ADS59

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 17, 2024

Lone Warrior 🐐🔥#AUSvINDIA #RavindraJadeja pic.twitter.com/yPeAnwGZny

— Terminator (@OG_Terminator) December 17, 2024

Ravindra Jadeja is a no-brainer in any playing XI worldwide - the best all-rounder in the game. Yet, this baffling team management kept him on the bench #BGT #INDvsAUS #RavindraJadeja

pic.twitter.com/YJO7rr9334

— Abhinav Rajput (@Abhinavrt) December 17, 2024

KL and Jaddu's master knock!

▪︎ KL Rahul: 84 (139)
▪︎ Ravindra Jadeja: 77 (123)

🙌 Warriors who kept the battle of #GabbaTest alive, thanks for the fight!

Picture defines their infinite aura! ♾#KLRahul | #RavindraJadeja | #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/ksCCOBct9U

— Dhaval Balai (@DhavalBalai) December 17, 2024

The fourth day of the Brisbane Test was thrilling and entertaining despite multiple rain interruptions. At the end of the day, India just managed to avoid the follow-on, which pushed the game toward a lame draw, except for any big surprises on the rain-forecast fifth day. 

In the reply to Australia’s first innings total of 445 runs, India started the fourth day at 51/4. The drama started from the first ball of the sunshine fourth day as the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins generated an edge from the opener KL Rahul’s bat, but Steven Smith dropped that simple catch at the slip. It hurt the hosts as Rahul played a memorable knock. 

KL Rahul scored 84; Josh Hazlewood can't bowl more in the Test

Although the Indian captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 10 runs after setting a 30-run partnership for the fifth wicket, Rahul got strong support from experienced Ravindra Jadeja, who is playing his first Test of the series. 

Also, Australia soon hit hard with massive injury news as Josh Hazlewood only managed to bowl one over of the day. While he went back to the dressing room early, it was later confirmed that he would miss the remainder of the Test match due to a right-sided calf strain. It has forced the hosts to carry on with one key bowler short. As a result, Mitchell Marsh delivered two overs, and Travis Head bowled one over. 

Rahul and Jadeja had a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket. After completing his half-century in 85 balls, Rahul continued his incredible controlled innings. In the long first session, Rahul was ultimately dismissed after an incredible catch by Steven Smith at slip in Nathan Lyon’s over. 

Ravindra Jadeja scored 77 runs

After Rahul was dismissed with 84 off 139 balls (eight fours), Jadeja controlled the innings with the in-form lower-order batter Nitish Kumar Reddy. Once again, Nitish showed his presence of mind in the difficult game situation by supporting Jadeja with his patient batting. Before he was bowled by Cummins for 16 runs, which he scored after facing 61 balls, he had a valuable 53-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Later, Mohammed Siraj lost his wicket for one run, while Jadeja fought hard. After completing his 50 runs off 82 balls, Jadeja scored 77 off 123 balls (six fours and one six) before he was caught out at deep square leg. When Jadeja went to the dressing room, India were struggling at 213/9, and they were still 33 runs short to avoid the follow-on. 

Bumrah and Akash Deep surprised with the bats

While the vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah held the wicket patiently, the no.11 batter Akash Deep stunned by his batting performance. The last batter hit a four at the crucial time, which ultimately became the last over of the day, and confirmed India’s avoidance of the follow-on. After rescuing the visitors, Akash Deep slammed a sixer to Cummins, and after the next ball, bad light stopped the game. Soon, the day was also called off. 

Watch: Kohli-Gambhir celebrate together after Akash Deep's heroic save

India scored 252/9 at the end of the day. While Bumrah scored 10 not out off 27 balls with one sixer, Akash Deep scored 27 not out off 31 balls with two fours and one six. They already set a 39-run partnership in 54 balls for the unbroken 10th wicket. 

Among the Australian bowlers, skipper Pat Cummins took four wickets (4/80), while Mitchell Starc bagged three wickets (3/83). Josh Hazlewood (1/22) and Nathan Lyon (1/54) have also taken one wicket each.

The rivalry between India and Australia in Test cricket is one of the most celebrated contests in the sport. With a history dating back to 1947-48, this clash has produced unforgettable matches, marked by exceptional performances from legendary players. While batsmen often take the spotlight, bowlers play an equally critical role in securing victories in the longest format of the game.

Indian bowlers, both spinners and pacers, have risen to the challenge against Australia, delivering spellbinding performances that have etched their names in cricketing history. Here’s a look at the top five Indian bowlers with the most wickets against Australia in Test cricket.

5. Kapil Dev – 79 wickets

India’s first World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, was a masterful all-rounder who thrived against Australia. In 20 Tests between 1979 and 1992, Kapil claimed 79 wickets at an impressive average of 25.35. His fiery spell of 8/106 in Adelaide during the 1985-86 series remains etched in memory, as he dismantled a strong Australian batting lineup led by Allan Border.

4. Ravindra Jadeja – 89 wickets

A modern-day maestro, Ravindra Jadeja has emerged as a consistent performer against Australia. In 17 Tests, Jadeja has taken 89 wickets at an average of 18.89, showcasing his ability to excel in both Indian and Australian conditions. His 7/42 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium in 2023 stands out as one of the most dominant spells in recent history, helping India secure a resounding victory.

3. Harbhajan Singh – 95 wickets
Harbhajan Singh’s magical spells against Australia earned him the nickname "The Turbanator." In 18 Tests, he picked 95 wickets, highlighted by his stunning performance in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With 32 wickets in three matches, including a memorable hat-trick at Kolkata, Harbhajan proved to be Australia’s nemesis time and again. His best figures of 8/84 underline his dominance over the mighty Aussies.

2. Anil Kumble – 111 wickets

Anil Kumble, India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, was a force to be reckoned with against Australia. Over 20 matches, he scalped 111 wickets, including 10 five-wicket hauls. Kumble’s precision and ability to exploit spin-friendly conditions made him Australia’s biggest challenge. His iconic 8/141 at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the 2003-04 tour remains one of the finest spells by an Indian bowler Down Under.

1. Ravichandran Ashwin – 114 wickets

Sitting at the top of the list is Ravichandran Ashwin, who has taken 114 wickets in 22 Tests against Australia. Known for his tactical brilliance and versatility, Ashwin’s standout performance came in Chennai in 2013, where he recorded figures of 7/103 and 5/95. With an impressive mix of spin variations, Ashwin continues to trouble Australian batters both at home and away, cementing his legacy as one of India’s finest.

India’s bowlers have played a pivotal role in scripting historic victories against Australia. From Kapil Dev’s fiery pace to Ashwin’s guileful spin, these legends have consistently delivered match-winning performances. Their ability to adapt to vastly different conditions in India and Australia has made the rivalry thrilling to watch.

See Also: The Future of KL Rahul: Opportunities and Challenges

As India and Australia continue to produce epic battles on the field, the legacy of these iconic bowlers serves as a reminder of the importance of taking 20 wickets to win a Test match. With each series, new stars emerge, but the contributions of these stalwarts will forever remain an integral part of this storied rivalry.

The upcoming 2025 IPL edition will see a Mega Auction with all ten franchises undergoing a significant restructuring. The recent announcement of the retention lists has been a talking point amongst several cricket fanatics, as there has been a mix of both expected and unexpected names getting released.

As it implies, there have been many critics who have got a mixed bag of opinions pertaining to the retained names across all the teams, be it relating to the amount paid for its retention or some shocking releases. That said, here are the five worst retentions made by the teams before the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, based on their performance and price point.

Shimron Hetmyer (Rajasthan Royals- INR 11 Crore)

Shimron Hetmyer, the Caribbean swashbuckling bat for the Rajasthan Royals, made another, despite having international talents like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult on their roster. This is one of the most perplexing retentions by the inaugural champions, considering whether his INR 11 Crore price tag justifies his cricketing abilities.

With colossal options and no Right-to-Match cards available now, it is one of the worst retentions that hasn't given its reasons for staying with the team. In his 2024 stint, he has made just 113 runs in 12 matches, averaging a mediocre 23. 

Dhruv Jurel (Rajasthan Royals- INR 14 Crore)

The Rajasthan Royals took an unusual yet brave step by keeping uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel for a whopping INR 14 crore ahead of the IPL 2025. Just to Shimron Hetmyer's retention dilemma, the Royals had a plethora of seasoned and superior combatants at their disposal.

Various critics have questioned Jurel's retention. Though the batter has played an essential part in fortifying his middle order, his price does not appear justified. He has scored just 195 runs in 14 matches for the Rajasthan Royals in 2024, with an average of more than 25.  

Mayank Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants- INR 11 Crore)

Mayank Yadav demonstrated his abilities in his first IPL season, becoming a budding star with Lucknow SuperGiants. So, given his quick bowling, the SuperGiants kept him for a staggering INR 11 crore. Typically, if a team pays such a large sum to a fast bowler, it expects him to lead the bowling department. Mayank has all the potential to spearhead LSG's pace battery, but as a hit-the-deck bowler, he is prone to back injuries.

Also, he recently returned from an injury that kept him out of the IPL 2024. With so many possibilities in the big auction pool, the Super Giants might have dragged him back at a lesser price. This deal appears to be motivated by desperation and might have been done more effectively. In his 2024 stint, he has scalped seven wickets at an impeccable economy of less than seven in just four appearances.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Top 5 Best Retentions during the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings- INR 18 Crore)

Ravindra Jadeja, the dependable Indian all-rounder, has been a part of every aspect of the Chennai Super Kings' journey, demonstrating his importance to the Yellove Army. However, given his age and athleticism, his INR 18 crore price tag is quite surprising. Jadeja, a true all-rounder, has recently been sidelined by a problematic knee, which the Super Kings must have known about.

The franchise could have paid Jadeja less, conserving money for the big auction or investing in other youngsters or other promising players on the roster, especially with the likes of Rachin Ravindran, Maheesh Theekshana and Devon Conway. During his 2024 edition spell, he played 14 matches, scoring 267 runs and taking eight wickets.

Yash Dayal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru- INR 5 Crore)

Yash Dayal, the fast-paced player, has been retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 5 crore ahead of the 2025 IPL season. This move created news, especially since the club released its quick stalwart, Mohammed Siraj, making him one of the franchise's mediocre retention choices. The left-arm pacer has experienced a roller coaster ride in the cash-rich league thus far.

Many people believed his career would never recover after Rinku Singh smacked him for five consecutive sixes in the IPL 2023. However, RCB's trust in the left-arm bowler throughout the 2024 season, notably in a vital match against Chennai Super Kings, led to his breakout moment. In the 2024 edition, he took 15 wickets in 14 games. 

As we speak, the third test between India and New Zealand is on a knife edge, with the home side in dire straits. In their pursuit of 147, India made a disastrous start to the run chase and lost their top order in no time with 29 on the board. Pant is the only batter who is now holding the Indian innings together by a thread. He is currently unbeaten on 53* and his side hopes that he stays till the end to help India avoid an embarrassing series whitewash at home. 

Here is how the drama unfolded on day three

New Zealand could only manage to add three more runs to their overnight total of 171-9 before being dismissed on 174 courtesy of Jadeja’s final wicket. This meant that India was required to chase down a target of 147, which by no means was a challenging ask. But with the pitch turning square, very few could anticipate the carnage that was to come in the Indian innings. 

Rohit Sharma kicked off the run chase with a few boundaries but he turned out to be the first Indian victim to fall and was removed by Henry during the third over. That wicket triggered a procession of wickets for team India as they went from 13-1 to 29-5 in virtually a blink of an eye. The spin duo of Ajaz and Phillips took over and accounted for the bulk of the damage. 

The Indian batters struggled against the spinning ball and failed to pick the natural variations which ultimately proved to be their downfall. Ajaz Patel once again proved to be a potent threat for the home side claiming figures of 4-43 while Phillips also managed to bag an all-important wicket of Jaiswal on five. Ajaz ran through the defenses of Gill, Kohli, Jadeja, and Sarfarz. Rohit and Pant are the only two batters to register double-figure scores. 

Apart from quality spin bowling, the shot selection of some of our batters were also questionable. Gill opting to leave a straighter ball and Sarafaz holing out to Ravindra at deep square leg to a full toss were some of the brain-fade moments our batters faced in the middle.

Pant shines with the bat and keeps India afloat 

In the face of an acute adversary, one man defied all odds. The flamboyant wicket-keeper batsman Rishab Pant played with a lot of purpose to give India a fighting chance of earning a consolidation win. On a deteriorating Wankhede pitch, Pant played some swashbuckling shots to entertain the home crowd. The 27-year-old did not hesitate to use his feet against the tossed-up deliveries and deployed his sweep shots precisely on numerous instances at a time when batters have largely struggled to get their feet moving. 

He teamed up with Jadeja to help India stitch a valuable 42 runs for the sixth wicket to get India close to the target. Unfortunately, the partnership was broken by Ajaz who once again came on top to have Jadeja caught at short leg. But Pant remained resolute and has raced to 53 in only 50 balls.

At the time of writing, the game was set up nicely at lunch on day three with India at 92-6 still requiring 55 more runs to avoid a rare clean sweep at home. Pant is a ray of hope for the Men In Blue who have their backs placed firmly on the wall. He will have to grind harder for the next few overs to see India home by the end of the second session.

Ravindra Jadeja's journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a tale of consistency and impact, marked by his evolution into a premier all-rounder and a core player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Starting his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals, Jadeja has come a long way, cementing his place in CSK since 2013 and becoming a vital cog in their lineup. His influence on the field is undeniable—whether it's with the bat, ball, or his electrifying fielding, Jadeja’s all-round abilities have made him a match-winner and a fan favorite. His contributions have been instrumental in CSK's success over the years, and he has often delivered in crucial moments, making him a go-to player for captain MS Dhoni.

As a bowler, Jadeja’s stats showcase his effectiveness, particularly in the middle overs, where he has been exceptionally reliable. Across 211 IPL matches, Jadeja has bowled 638.1 overs, conceding 4,864 runs and claiming 160 wickets with an impressive economy of 7.62. In the middle overs alone, he has bowled 529.5 overs, taken 125 wickets at an economy of 7.41, and maintained a strong strike rate of 25.4. His ability to contain runs and take crucial wickets during these key phases of the game has made him invaluable for CSK, effectively building pressure on the opposition. Jadeja’s consistency, coupled with his knack for breaking partnerships, has solidified his reputation as one of the most dependable spinners in IPL history.

See Also: Should SRH Retain Klaasen for ₹23 Crore? A Worthy Investment?

Does Jadeja’s Performance Justify an ₹18 Crore Retention?

Ravindra Jadeja, often hailed as one of the most versatile all-rounders in modern cricket, has had a storied career that encapsulates the essence of adaptability and skill. His recent performance statistics provide a window into his contributions to the Indian cricket team. With 30 innings under his belt, Jadeja has taken 28 wickets at an average of 27.11 and an economy rate of 7.51. While these figures might not place him at the very top of the bowling charts, they tell a story of consistent performance, especially in high-pressure situations.

In the realm of limited-overs cricket, Jadeja has evolved into a key player for India, not just with the ball but also as a lower-order batsman. His ability to turn games around with crucial partnerships and aggressive batting has made him a valuable asset. Despite a strike rate of 21.64 and 39 fours and 32 sixes, his batting is often overshadowed by his bowling prowess. Nonetheless, his all-round capabilities provide the Indian team with a balanced attack, allowing for flexibility in both batting and bowling departments.

When analyzing his bowling style, Jadeja stands out for his accuracy and control. With a dot ball percentage of 29.87, he demonstrates an ability to build pressure on opposing batsmen, forcing them into making mistakes. His experience and tactical acumen on the field make him a formidable opponent, capable of breaking partnerships at critical junctures. This attribute is invaluable in T20 and ODI formats, where matches can pivot on single deliveries.

Jadeja's contributions extend beyond mere numbers; they include his fielding prowess, often hailed as one of the best in the world. His athleticism and sharp reflexes add another layer to his all-round capabilities. A match-winner in his own right, Jadeja's presence on the field inspires confidence in his teammates and instills fear in his opponents. His ability to impact games across formats has made him a lynchpin for the Indian cricket team.

Given his track record, the question arises: is Ravindra Jadeja worth ₹18 crore? The answer seems to be an emphatic yes. Jadeja's overall impact on the game—combined with his impressive statistics, leadership qualities, and ability to perform under pressure—justifies his price tag. In a cricketing landscape where all-rounders hold immense value, Jadeja's skills make him an essential component of any team, reinforcing the belief that he is worth every penny of his contract.

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