After two consecutive days of intense training, the Indian cricket team will take a rest day on Monday ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia. Having drawn the third Test in Brisbane, the Indian players were quick to start preparations upon arriving in Melbourne, but Monday will provide them a chance to recuperate.

Meanwhile, the Australian team is set to have their first net session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the same day. The upcoming match is a must-win for India to keep their Border-Gavaskar Trophy hopes alive and enhance their chances of securing a spot in the World Test Championship final.

Injury concerns during training

India’s training sessions over the weekend included some injury concerns:

• KL Rahul suffered a back injury scare during a freak incident.
• Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, was spotted with an ice pack on his knee after being struck in the nets. He was also seen using a baseball bat for specific drills to improve his fielding and batting technique.
• Pacer Akash Deep reportedly took a blow during Sunday’s session.

Despite these issues, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli led from the front, being among the first to hit the nets in Melbourne.

Fans meet their heroes

On their rest day, some lucky fans had the chance to meet the Indian cricketers at their team hotel. The playersclicked pictures with fans near the stay, taking time out of their recovery schedule to engage with supporters.

Match details

The IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test will commence on December 26 at the MCG, with a packed stadium expected to witness the crucial encounter. With the series tied at 1-1, both teams are aiming for a lead as the stakes for the WTC final continue to rise.

=India and Australia are gearing up for the crucial Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scheduled for December 26. With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 tied at 1-1 after three Tests, the upcoming match is pivotal in determining the series’ outcome.

Here’s a look at the highest run-scorers in the series so far:

Key Performers:

• Travis Head leads the series with a remarkable 409 runs in 5 innings, including two centuries, showcasing his dominance in the middle order.
• KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the top Indian run-getters, contributing crucial runs at the top order.
• Nitish Kumar Reddy, the surprise package, has impressed with consistent performances, amassing 179 runs despite batting lower down the order.

India’s Strategy:

Both teams will aim for a strong first-innings total, as it has been a deciding factor in the series so far. India will look to capitalize on key players like Rahul, Jaiswal, and Reddy, while Australia’s Head and Smith will aim to counterattack.

The Boxing Day Test promises to be an exciting contest as the teams fight to take the lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli etched his name into the record books once again during the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 at The Gabba, Brisbane. Kohli became only the second cricketer in history to play 100 matches against Australia across all formats, joining the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in this elite club.

Virat Kohli’s 100-match tally against Australia includes 28 Tests, 49 ODIs, and 23 T20Is. Before the ongoing Test, Kohli had amassed 5326 runs in 117 innings at an impressive average of 50.24, including 17 centuries and 27 fifties. His contributions also include 504 fours and 58 sixes, along with 68 catches across formats. Kohli has also bowled 23 overs against Australia, although he is yet to claim a wicket.

Sachin Tendulkar remains the only other player to achieve this milestone, having played 110 matches against Australia. Tendulkar scored 6707 runs at an average of 49.68, with 20 centuries and 31 fifties, alongside 31 wickets and 54 catches. Kohli’s impressive consistency has led many to dub Australia his second home ground, given his remarkable performances on Australian soil over the years.

Playing 100 matches against one of cricket’s toughest opponents highlights Kohli’s longevity and dominance. His ability to perform across formats and in various conditions underscores his reputation as one of the modern greats of the game.

Players With Most Matches Against Australia

India captain Rohit Sharma addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the heated exchange between pacer Mohammed Siraj and Australia’s Travis Head during Day 2 of the second Test at Adelaide Oval. Speaking to the media, Sharma downplayed the incident, saying, “I don’t know what was the talk, but when two competitive teams are playing each other, these things happen. I don’t think we need to look too much on it, it’s part of the game.”

The intense moment between Siraj and Head occurred when Siraj dismissed Head after the Australian batter had scored a brilliant 140 runs off 141 balls. Siraj’s aggressive celebration, seemingly directed at the Australian dressing room, sparked a verbal exchange between the two. Head later claimed that all he said was “well bowled” to Siraj, but the Indian pacer disagreed, calling the Australian batter’s remarks untrue.

In an interview with Star Sports, Siraj responded strongly, stating that Head lied in his press conference. “I was enjoying bowling to him. It was a good battle because he batted really well. When a batter hits you for a six on a good ball, it feels bad. That gave me energy. After bowling him out, I celebrated. Then he abused me. You can see on TV as well. At the start, it was my celebration. I didn’t say anything to him. In the press conference, he said the wrong thing. He lied. No way he said ‘well bowled.’ We respect everyone. I always respect everyone because cricket is a gentleman’s game. Travis Head’s actions were wrong. I did not feel good,” Siraj explained.

However, Head, speaking to the broadcasters after Day 2’s play, stood by his statement, claiming that his words to Siraj were indeed “well-bowled,” and that the Indian pacer had misinterpreted his comment. Head added that he was disappointed by how the incident unfolded, but concluded, “If the Indian team wants to act in such a fashion, then so be it.”

Rohit Sharma’s comments suggested that while such altercations can happen in competitive cricket, the focus should remain on the game and not on off-field incidents.

The iconic Lord’s cricket ground has announced a significant hike in ticket prices for India’s matches scheduled in 2025. Team India is expected to play the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s in June, followed by a highly anticipated Test against England starting on July 10.

For the IND vs ENG Test, the cheapest adult tickets for the first three days will start at INR 10,000 (£90), while the most expensive seats are priced at INR 19,000 (£175).

Accessibility tickets will be available for INR 13,400 (£120). For day four, prices range from INR 5,597 (£50) for restricted view to INR 16,791 (£150) for premium seats.

The WTC final tickets will be priced between £70-130 for adults and £20-£50 for under-16s.

Lord’s has previously faced criticism for high ticket prices, as seen during the ENG vs SL Test, where only 9,000 fans attended on day four. The price hike for India’s matches reflects the massive demand for tickets when Team India plays overseas.

Rohit Sharma has made history by becoming the leading run-scorer in T20 International (T20I) cricket. In a standout performance against Australia during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Rohit reached 4165 runs, surpassing Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has 4145 runs.

Rohit Sharma
The Indian skipper now tops the list with 4165 runs in 157 matches. He is the second batter, after Virat Kohli, to cross the 4000-run mark in T20I cricket.

Babar Azam
Pakistan’s Babar Azam is in second place with 4145 runs in 123 matches. Despite a challenging World Cup, Babar remains a dominant force in T20 cricket.

Virat Kohli
Former Indian captain Virat Kohli, once the leading run-scorer, is now third with 4103 runs in 123 matches. Kohli was the first to break the 4000-run barrier in T20Is.

Martin Guptill
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill is fourth with 3531 runs in 122 matches. Known for his aggressive batting, Guptill has been a consistent performer in T20Is.

Paul Stirling
Ireland’s Paul Stirling rounds out the top five with 3438 runs in 134 matches. Stirling has scored 23 fifties and one century in his T20I career.

Top T20I Run-Scorers List

| Pos | Player | Span | Matches | Runs |
|—–|——————|————|———|——|
| 1 | RG Sharma (IND) | 2007-2024 | 157 | 4165 |
| 2 | Babar Azam (PAK) | 2016-2024 | 123 | 4145 |
| 3 | V Kohli (IND) | 2010-2024 | 123 | 4103 |
| 4 | Martin Guptill (NZ) | 2009-2022 | 122 | 3531 |
| 5 | PR Stirling (IRE)| 2009-2023 | 134 | 3438 |
| 6 | AJ Finch (AUS) | 2011-2022 | 103 | 3120 |
| 7 | DA Warner (AUS) | 2009-2024 | 102 | 3067 |

Rohit Sharma’s remarkable achievement underscores his consistency and skill in the shortest format of the game. With Kohli and Babar also performing strongly, the competition among the top T20I batters remains intense.