Himanshu Sharma, Author at SportSutra

Top 10 Indian Athletes Who Made History in 2024

What a remarkable year 2024 has been for Indian sports and athletes! We have witnessed history in the making, record feats, historic hauls, and moments of glory on the global stage. The success of 2024 promises a paradigm shift in the landscape of Indian Sports. Let’s look at Indian athletes who scripted history in 2024 with their spirited performances.

1. Manu Bhaker’s Historic Olympic Double

Manu Bhaker became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic edition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The shooter became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal, clinching a bronze in the 10m air pistol event. She didn’t stop there! Manu went on to win another medal for the country partnering Sarabjot Singh in the mixed team 10m air pistol event – a bronze medal. The two-medal haul is a first for any Indian at an Olympic event. The feat makes her a Sports Legend and the biggest role model for aspiring shooters as well as athletes across the country.

2. D Gukesh Becomes Youngest World Chess Champion

18-year-old D Gukesh became the youngest World Chess Champion by beating China’s Ding Liren in December 2024. The Chess prodigy is only the second Indian grandmaster to win the coveted title after Viswanathan Anand.

Strategic brilliance and mental fortitude were the hallmarks of D Gukesh’s win in a tightly fought 14-game series in Singapore. The series’ final game went down to the wire, with Gukesh making sure that his opponent Ding made a mistake and he’d capitalize on it. Another Indian Sports story with the moral – this is what dreams are made of!

3. Neeraj Chopra Secures Silver at Paris Olympics

Photo by Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images

Neeraj Chopra is referred to as the golden boy of Indian athletics and was touted as the biggest medal hope for India at the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Chopra lived up to all the expectations and added another Olympic medal to his bag at the Olympic event bagging a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He was battling injury during the final event but even that could not deter this Indian athlete from the path to glory. This is the reason why Neeraj Chopra remains one of India’s most admired sports personalities.

4. Swapnil Kusale Wins Bronze in Shooting

Swapnil Kusale was one of India’s stars at the Paris Olympics who clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle event. The shooter displayed great composure and precision under tremendous pressure for the podium finish.

5. India’s T20 World Cup Triumph

Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Indian National Cricket Team (Men’s) led by Rohit Sharma ended a 17-year drought for an ICC trophy by winning the T20 World Cup 2024. Cricket World Cups have eluded India by the barest of margins in the last couple of years but this time it was meant to be. Cricket stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav played out of their skins and were rewarded with the trophy in their hands. It was India’s first T20 World Cup title since the inaugural 2007 title.

6. Aman Sehrawat’s Bronze in Wrestling

India has won many medals in wrestling at the Olympics. This time, Aman Sehrawat took that legacy forward with a bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 57kg category at the Paris Olympics. He turned heads with his determination, resilience, and skill which Indian wrestlers are always known for at the world stage.

7. Indian Men’s Hockey Team Bags Bronze

The Indian men’s hockey team is back to the glory days of the olden days. A bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 is a testament to this fact. The team turned the clock back to the times of the great Dhyan Chand and delivered a similar performance throughout the event. Stellar performances from Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh helped India win a bronze medal. We are hopeful that this marks another golden chapter for the Indian hockey team.

Photo by Salman Ali/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Times

8. Indian Women’s Table Tennis Team Makes History

The Indian women’s table tennis team made history at the Asian Women’s Table Tennis Team Championships held in China, securing their first-ever medal at the event. Indian Women’s Table Tennis Team defeated South Korea 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Ayhika Mukherjee and Manika Batra were the chief architects of Indian victory.

9. Badminton Gold at Asian Team Championships

The Indian women’s badminton team clinched gold at the Badminton Asian Team Championships to script history. They were the underdogs at the start of the event. Under the stewardship of Anmol Kharb, India was too good for top-seeded teams like China and Thailand.

10. Sarabjot Singh’s Mixed Team Bronze with Manu Bhaker

Indian shooting legacy at the Olympics is unmatched! Sarabjot Singh and Manu Bhaker joined forces to add another medal to Indian shooters’ tally at the Paris Olympics 2024 by winning a bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol event.

What a memorable year it has been for Indian sports fans. While 2024 gave us so much to cheer and cherish, 2025 promises another year of great haul in Indian Sports. Here’s to another year of milestones, pride, and glory for the nation.

The Rise and Fall of Formula 1 in India: Reasons Behind F1’s Abrupt Departure in 2014

Formula 1 in India began in 2011 with great zeal and fervor. The Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Noida hosted the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. However, the event featured in F1 calendar for three years in a row and then came to an abrupt end despite having a two-year contract left.

Formula 1 in India

The Indian Grand Prix debut was on the cards as early as 2007 with reports of Kolkata and Coimbatore leading the race to host India’s first-ever F1 race. In years to follow, there were more cities as contenders to host the first Formula Race in India.

Finally, in 2011, Formula1 in India made its debut at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Noida. The first F1 race in India was a major success with 95,000 spectators gracing the event and it looked like India is on the global motorsport map at last.

A staggering $400 million investment from the Jaypee Group ensured a state-of-the-art facility and circuit that will host world-class sporting events for numerous years to come.

List of Indian Grand Prix Winners

Year	Driver	Constructor
2011	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing-Renault
2012	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing-Renault
2013	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing-Renault

Over the next three years, the challenges began to multiply and the event went off track for good.

5 Reasons India’s Formula 1 Stopped

There was no one single reason for all the curtains to come but a plethora of factors that led to the fall of the Indian Grand Prix. We look at all the factors that played a role to rush and end India’s F1 journey.

Economic Challenges

Formula 1 remains one of the most expensive sports. It requires substantial investment and related infra. India did make a world-class circuit but other financial aspects were not great. The organizers are always racing against economic and financial challenges. The Jaypee Group was heavily investment in the event. However, there was not much government backing to round up the costs associated and the Indian rupee’s depreciation further added to woes. With rising operational costs, expensive licenses and other costs, things were going south. The contribution from sponsorships and ticket sales was considerably less than the associated costs.

Government Policies

India’s F1 Dream relied heavily on the Indian government. And, their stance proved to be one of the biggest hurdles in the way. The Uttar Pradesh state government classified Formula 1 as an entertainment event rather than a sport. This meant that organizers were slapped with hefty entertainment taxes and duties on ticket sales. On top of that, the event lost its charm among the fans who had to bear the burden of high ticket prices due to the entertainment tax. Had the government backed the sport with tax benefits or subsidies, things would have been the opposite.

Indian F1 driver Karun Chandhok once made a point that visa issues and stringent regulations have been denting India’s reputation as a global event host.

“Just this week, I have had at least 50 different media people from around the world, and people from teams, engineers who have called me to say, ‘Hey, we are stuck in London without a visa, we can’t come to the race. When you have 700 world media coming to talk about your country and about your race – the only thing they are going to go back with is what a pain it was to get into your country. We need to iron out these things.”

Limited Attendance and Fan Base

The first F1 race in India was a major hit, with 95,000 enthusiastic fans attending the event. The attendance at BIC should have increased the subsequent year but the spectator numbers dropped to 65,000 by 2012 and further down in 2013. The buzz around the event among fans on social media didn’t pick up either. The popularity of F1 in India was still nascent and it could have been one of the deterrents.

Rising Competition in the F1 Calendar

India had their opportunity. Since they didn’t grab it with both hands, there were other host countries that were waiting for their turn. The global F1 calendar is ever-expanding to several countries and markets. After accounting for all the factors, the scheduling changes were inevitable and the Indian Grand Prix in 2014 was dropped from the calendar in 2024.

Cricket’s Dominance and Sponsor Reluctance

India is a cricket-crazy nation. Fans, sponsorships, and interests are all vested in beloved sport. For F1 it became difficult since the sport requires major investment and there is no clarity of short-term financial returns. The returns for stakeholders were not as attractive, and nowhere close to what cricket is offering. The go-to sport cricket and its proposition for investors, sponsors, and stakeholders were high to ignore. They could not look any further than cricket and dropping sponsorships in favor of cricket.

India’s infrastructure was never the question but a global motorsports platform has to offer more for the stakeholders. The bureaucratic hurdles, lack of government support, and logistical challenges undermined a big opportunity India had.

Hope we get to see F1 making its re-entry on Indian shores soon!

India vs Australia 4th Test Match Prediction, Possible Playing XI and Key Players

The fourth test (Boxing Day Test) of the India-Australia Test series starts on 26 December 2024 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne. And, the fans can’t wait!

There is no dearth of entertainment in the BGT 2024-25 series thus far which remains tied at 1-1 after a drawn third test match in Brisbane.

Indian Cricket Team made a strong start to India’s tour of Australia 2024-25 after a resounding win in the first test match at Perth. However, the hosts came back and avenged the loss in the second test at Adelaide.

With this edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy evenly poised, let’s get right into an in-depth Australia vs India 4th test preview, prediction, and what to expect from the MCG test.

Match Details

Fixture: India vs Australia 4th Test Match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Start Date: 26 December 2024 (Thursday)

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Melbourne Pitch Report and Bowling Conditions

The MCG pitch is known to offer a good balance for an even contest between the bat and the ball. The quicks get bowling assistance at the start of the match. Thereafter, batters have their time as the stroke-making gets easy. In the later part of the match, the pitch does offer some help to the spin bowlers. In a nutshell, the surface has something for everyone out there.

Last Test Match result at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Australia 318 & 262 beat Pakistan (Target: 317) 264 & 237 by 79 runs

MCG records and stats

Total Matches	117
Matches won batting first	57
Matches won bowling first	42
Average 1st innings Score	307
Average 2nd innings Score	312
Average 3rd innings Score	252
Average 4th innings Score	172
Highest total recorded	624/8 – AUS vs PAK
Lowest total recorded	36/10 – SA vs AUS
Highest score chased	332/7 – ENG vs AUS
Lowest score defended	83/10 – AUS vs IND

India Playing XI, Expected Changes and Team Analysis

India did well in patches in the third test but the performances of most of the players have been underwhelming in the last two test matches. The batting looked vulnerable with only KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja getting among the runs in the last test match. However, the Indian side is likely to remain unchanged but can bring Washington Sundar for Mohammed Siraj or Akash Deep since the surface may offer help for slow bowlers later in the game.

Probable India Playing XI for the fourth Test

KL Rahul
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant
Rohit Sharma
Nitish Reddy
Ravindra Jadeja
Washington Sundar
Akash Deep/Mohammed Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah

Australia Playing XI, Expected Changes and Team Analysis

Barring the first test match of the BGT 2024-25 series, Australia has done well in both batting and bowling departments. Except for the opening combination, batters have made valuable contributions. In the bowling department, the trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood have been too hot to handle for the tourists of late. The lineup looks balanced and they would want to stick to the same XI unless there is a forced change.

There is not much clarity on Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head’s availability for the fourth test as of now.

Probable Australia Playing XI for fourth Test

Nathan McSweeney
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Mitchell Marsh
Alex Carey (wk)
Pat Cummins (c)
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood/Scott Boland
Nathan Lyon

5 Players to Watch Out For in IND vs AUS 4th Test

Jasprit Bumrah (India): Jasprit Bumrah has been a standout performer with 21 wickets in 3 matches. The Indian fast bowler has proved again why he is the best all format bowler going around.
Mitchell Starc (Australia): Mitchell Starc is bowling at great pace and with excellent control. He has challenged Indian batsmen the most in BGT 2024-25. The Australian bowler has 14 wickets so far in the series, the most by an Australian bowler.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India): The Indian opening batsman has been the best batsman for Men in Blue in 2024. Yashasvi Jaiswal would be kicking himself with the dismal performances in the last two outings but can make amends with a strong performance.
Pat Cummins (Australia): The Australian captain is bowling with venom and can be a threat at MCG again. In his last 10 test matches, Pat Cummins has 44 wickets in the bag.
Travis Head (Australia): Travis Head has given Indian bowlers and fans a headache in all three matches so far. The aggressive left hander has racked 400+ runs in the series so far.

Most Runs in BGT 2024-25

Player	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100	50	0
Travis Head (AUS)	409	152	81.80	94.23	2	1	–
KL Rahul (IND)	235	84	47.00	50.00	–	2	–
Yashasvi Jaiswal (IND)	193	161	38.60	55.94	1	–	2
Nitish Kumar Reddy (IND)	179	42	44.75	72.17	–	–	–
Alex Carey (AUS)	162	70	40.50	70.74	–	1	–

Most Wickets in BGT 2024-25

Player	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowling Average	Economy	SR	4	5
Jasprit Bumrah (IND)	88.0	229	21	6/76	10.90	2.60	25.14	1	2
Mitchell Starc (AUS)	90.2	320	14	6/48	22.85	3.54	38.71	–	1
Pat Cummins (AUS)	89.4	336	14	5/57	24.00	3.74	38.42	1	1
Mohammed Siraj (IND)	83.1	311	13	4/98	23.92	3.73	38.38	1	–
Josh Hazlewood (AUS)	40.0	79	6	4/29	13.16	1.97	40.00	1	–

India vs Australia 4th Test Winner Prediction

Looking at the form of the two teams, Australia looks more assured and strong. But, that doesn’t mean Aussies are favourites to win Australia vs India fourth Test at the MCG.

India has been battered and bruised! However, the Men in Blue have playing conditions that suit their style more than the hosts.

The fourth test will put forth a battle for the ages for sure with evenly matched sides locking horns with one eye on the series and the other on WTC final qualification.

Where to watch India vs Australia 4th Test Match Live?

Stay tuned for Boxing Day Test live match updates. Catch the India vs Australia match live on TV on Star Sports Network TV channels. For those who are looking for online and live streaming options, download the Disney+ Hotstar app to enjoy the coverage.

Nitish Reddy Biography, Age, Height, Bowling Speed, Father, Stats, IPL Price, Wife, Jersey Number

Nitish Reddy has made waves in world cricket with scintillating performances in his short international career thus far and Indian Premier League breakthrough season. Let’s look at why cricket fans can’t stop talking about all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Biography

Full name	Kaki Nitish Kumar Reddy
Birthplace	Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Birthday	26 May 2003
Height	5 feet 10 inches
Jersey Number	88
Role	Allrounder
Current Teams	India, Andhra Pradesh, Sunrisers Hyderabad
IPL 2025 Team	Sunrisers Hyderabad
Father	K. Mutyala Reddy
Instagram	nitish_kumar_reddy_7

Cricket Career

Nitish Reddy loved cricket from a very tender age. He would spend a lot of time watching older players at the Hindustan Zinc grounds in Visakhapatnam where his father was posted. Mutyala Reddy, father of Nitish and a former employee of Hindustan Zinc, recognized his son’s potential at an early age and quit his job so that his son’s cricketing career would take off.

“We used to travel 30 km from Gajuwaka to Port Stadium at 5 am each day. It was possible because of my wife Manasa who used to get everything ready before time. She supported us despite not knowing anything about the game,” recalled father, Mutyala Reddy.

“We struggled financially after I left the job. It was tough to manage the family. We sailed through with our savings, but we made sure Nitish got all the support,” said the proud father.

“I was 12 or 13 when my dad quit his job. He was transferred to Udaipur. He analyzed the cricket there and was afraid of the politics that might affect my game. He quit his job and dedicated his time to my game. Relatives questioned his decisions. He is the first person who believed in me,” said Nitish hoping to repay his father’s sacrifices.

Nitish’s cricket journey received impetus at the VDCA camps, in the stewardship of mentors like Kumara Swamy, Krishna Rao, and Watekar.

The 2017-18 Vijay Merchant Trophy heroics in junior cricket put the spotlight on Nitish. The young Andhra batsman smashed a quadruple century, 441 against Nagaland in just 345 deliveries. His aggregate of the tournament – 1237 runs at an average of 176.41 and 26 wickets – earned him the prestigious BCCI ‘Best Cricketer in the Under-16’ Jagmohan Dalmiya award for the season 2017-2018. It was at this award function that he clicked a picture with childhood hero Virat Kohli.

“This was a safety photo. At that time, he was so famous. I felt like maybe if I don’t get a photo, let’s take a picture. It reminds me of my childhood dreams and everything,” Nitish said in a video uploaded by BCCI.

“From childhood, I have been a huge fan of Virat Kohli and I used to watch every match of his. He scores hundreds and I like his celebrations. At that time, I used to calculate my age so that he wouldn’t retire when I made my debut for India.”

In January 2020, Nitish Kumar Reddy made his FC debut for Andhra Pradesh in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, and soon after came his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2021.

Nitish Reddy made his T20I debut in 2024 and put on some excellent performances in the coveted Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. A fast-bowling all-rounder is a rare breed that the Indian Cricket Team is always on the lookout for. After Hardik Pandya, India has found one of the prospects who can fill the void and is exactly the reason he is touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket!

Nitish Reddy IPL

Not many know that Nitish was taken on board by the Chennai Super Kings as a net bowler for the IPL season 2021.

In the 2023 IPL auction, Nitish was rewarded for his outstanding performances in the domestic circuit as Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for ₹20 lakh. Nitish Kumar Reddy won the Emerging Player of the Season award at the 2024 Indian Premier League season.

For the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, Nitish Reddy was retained by SRH for INR 6 Crore after a breakthrough season where he impressed with his all-round skills.

“Playing for SunRisers Hyderabad fills me with pride. As a Telugu speaker, I am proud to represent my region and play for SRH. The price tag doesn’t matter for me; my focus is on performing and helping my team win. I received interest from other franchises, but I can’t really think of playing for any other franchise. I only wanted to play for SRH. They showed trust in me initially, and now I’m committed to repay their trust,” said Nitish Reddy after being retained by SRH for IPL 2025.

Nitish Kumar Reddy IPL Stats (SRH)

Batting & Fielding

Tournament	Mat	Runs	HS	Ave	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
IPL	15	303	76*	33.66	142.92	0	2	15	21

Bowling

Tournament	Mat	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w
IPL	15	3	2/17	69.00	11.39	36.3	0	0

Nitish Reddy Stats

Batting

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest Score	Batting Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s	4s	6s
Tests	3	179	42	44.75	72.17	0	0	19	7
T20Is	3	90	74	45.00	180.00	0	1	4	8
FC	26	958	159	23.36	57.02	1	2	111	22
List A	22	403	60*	36.63	95.27	0	4	25	21
T20s	23	485	76*	32.33	135.47	0	3	25	32

Bowling

Format	Matches	Wickets	Best Figures (Innings)	Best Figures (Match)	Bowling Average	Econ	SR	4w	5w
Tests	3	3	1/21	1/25	41.00	4.55	54.0	0	0
T20Is	3	3	2/23	2/23	23.66	7.88	18.0	0	0
FC	26	59	5/53	8/119	27.69	3.33	49.7	3	2
List A	22	14	3/23	3/23	42.07	5.81	43.4	0	0
T20s	23	6	2/17	2/17	51.00	10.49	29.1	0	0

(Stats as of 15 December 2024)

Nitish Reddy, in his short career, has shown a lot of promise and shades of Hardik Pandya at the peak of his powers. Fans hope that the Indian Cricket Team has unearthed a gem in Nitish Reddy who will serve the side for many years to come.

What is Nitish Kumar Reddy bowling speed?

Nitish Kumar Reddy is a Fast medium bowler who consistently bowls at around 135 kph.

Who is Nitish Kumar Reddy wife?

Nitish Kumar Reddy is unmarried as of now. There is no information on his relationship or girlfriend on the internet.

India vs Australia 3rd Test Match Report: Analysis, Reactions, Key Performances

India vs Australia 3rd Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw due to relentless rain over the course of five days.

India was set a 275-run target on the last day and fans were glued to their seats awaiting an exciting finish. Rain played spoilsport once again on the final day of the Brisbane Test match of the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, and the series still stands at 1-1.

India were on the backfoot for the most part of the match but made a sensational comeback on Day 4 to avoid a follow on first and later pegged Australians back with a top bowling effort. The hosts declared their second innings at 89/7 after 18 overs and setting a target for India with 50 overs remaining.

The Indian Cricket Team will be pleased with the result, as the draw means that the series remains alive. The remainder of the test matches will be held in Sydney and Melbourne, with conditions slightly better for the touring Indian side to win the series.

For now, the BGT Series is evenly poised, and there is a lot to play for.

Brief Scorecard:

AUS 445 (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101 Jasprit Bumrah 6/76) & 89/7 d (Jasprit Bumrah 3/18)

IND 260 (KL Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 77, Pat Cummins 4/81) & 8/0

Result – Match drawn

Let’s now look at the notable performances from the IND vs AUS third test.

AUS vs IND 3rd Test Key Performances

From the Indian Cricket Team’s point of view, the performances were not up to the mark barring a few individual performances. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were good with the bat to lead India’s resistance in the first innings but the team total was nowhere close to Australia’s 445. However, India will be pleased with the fight the lower batting order had put to avoid the follow on.

With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah was the lone ranger in the first innings with a 6-fer. In the second innings with the ball, Bumrah received good support from Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.

Australia, on the other hand, were excellent with the bat in their first innings after being put into bat by the tourists. Two of their batsmen – Travis Head and Steve Smith – scored hundreds and punished Indian bowlers. They ended with a total of 445 to set up the game.

In the bowling department, the experienced duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were on the money. At one point, India was staring at a follow on but the tail wagged to save the embarrassment for the Indian Cricket Team.

There were plenty of positives from the game for the Aussies than the tourists. If it was not for the rain, India would have suffered a hammering.

Can India qualify for the World Test Championship Final?

India’s third Test against Australia ended in a draw, making the India cricket team’s path to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final a bit complicated. To qualify for the WTC final, the Indian National Cricket Team must win both remaining matches. If they win the ongoing IND vs AUS test series 2-1, Sri Lanka must beat Australia 1-0 or draw 1-1. In the event of a 2-2 series result in BGT 2024-25, India can still make it if Sri Lanka wins 2-0 against Australia or Pakistan to beat South Africa 2-0.

WTC Points Table after IND vs AUS 3rd Test

Position	Team	Matches				Points Played	Points	PCT
Position	Team	P	W	L	D	Points Played	Points	PCT
1	South Africa	10	6	3	1	120	76	63.33
2	Australia	15	9	4	2	180	106	58.88
3	India	17	9	6	2	204	114	55.88
4	New Zealand	14	7	7	0	168	81	48.21
5	Sri Lanka	11	5	6	0	132	60	45.45
6	England	22	11	10	1	264	114	43.18
7	Pakistan	10	4	6	0	120	40	33.33
8	Bangladesh (E)	12	4	8	0	144	45	31.25
9	West Indies (E)	11	2	7	2	132	32	24.24

Post-match Reactions

Rohit Sharma (India Captain): I mean, we will take that. Obviously to have interruptions like that wasn’t great, but going to Melbourne at 1-1 pretty much gives us that confidence to go out there and pull things towards us. The situation we were in just after lunch (on Day 4), needed someone to stand up and take us through, we knew with the weather, we knew it wasn’t going to be a full game. Credit to Jadeja, the way he played, and Rahul, the way he played was magnificent at the top of the order. the fight that Akash Deep and Bumrah was great to watch, we have seen them work so hard at the nets (on their batting). Coming to the bowling, Bumrah was outstanding, Akash Deep is a feisty cricketer, always wants to be involved in the game, very new to international cricket, he has worked hard at the nets, still new to international cricket, but he has put in the hard yards, there are people in the group to put their hand across and help him going forward. As he showed with the bat, these are the sort of characters we needed in the team.

Pat Cummins (Australia Captain): Would be better to be 2-1, lot of rain, nothing we can do about it. We set a huge total and felt like we were right ahead of the game throughout. Poor Josh (Hazlewood), one of those things, few rain breaks probably helped, Starc and I were able to push through. Day 5 here can be up and down, there wasn’t much cricket played on it, felt challenging when the ball was new and hard. Smith and Head’s innings’ were fantastic, Alex Carey too. Lyon looked really good, Starc got wickets, just about ticked off every box. (On the full-house expected at the MCG on boxing-day) That will be amazing, one of those things here in Australia that you wake up and can’t wait for.

Travis Head (Player of the Match): Feels like I batted quite a while ago to be honest. Happy to contribute, nice to get some runs and set us up in the first innings. Challenging wicket, worked through the gears well, pleased I was able to get through and set the team up. Was trying to sum up the conditions, feel like I’ve done that well in this series so far, very happy with the tempo I’m batting with. Pretty relaxed communication, feel like he (Smith) was in great rhythm, gives me great confidence when batting with him, was a nice partnership, really enjoyed it. When I first get out there, I try and navigate different challenges, solve different problems. Just a little sore but I should be fine (before the next game).

India vs Australia Test Series 2024 Results

Match No.	Match Details	Venue	Date	Time (IST)	Result
1	India vs Australia,	Perth Stadium, Perth	Nov 22-26	7:50 AM	India won by 295 runs
2	India vs Australia, 2nd Test	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide	Dec 06-10	9:30 AM	Australia won by 10 wkts
3	Australia vs India, 3rd Test	The Gabba, Brisbane	Dec 14-18	5:50 AM	Match drawn
4	Australia vs India, 4th Test	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne	Dec 26-30	5:00 AM	Match starts on Dec 26
5	Australia vs India, 5th Test	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	Jan 03-07	5:00 AM	Match starts on Jan 03

Cricket Legends from 21st Century: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root

Cricket is one of the most loved sports around the world. In the 21st century, a quartet of batsmen has risen above the rest and entertained fans with their spectacular show of batsmanship.

This quartet is referred to as the “Fab Four”—Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. Martin Crowe first used the “Fab Four” reference in 2014 to recognize these players’ potential to dominate world cricket in the foreseeable future and become sports legends. And yes, they have lived up to the tag and have been the leading batters in world cricket for over a decade now. Let’s start with a breakdown of Fab Four Stats across formats.

Most International centuries by Fab 4 batsmen

Player	Team	Matches	Runs	100s	Highest Score
Virat Kohli	India	541	27,260	81	254*
Joe Root	England	355	20,333	52	262
Kane Williamson	New Zealand	363	18,661	46	251
Steven Smith	Australia	344	16,561	45	239

Virat Kohli, the run machine of cricket and arguably the biggest Indian Sports hero, leads the pack when it comes to most centuries among all fab four batsmen with 81 centuries.

In ODIs, Virat Kohli stands way above everyone else with 50 hundred, the most by any batsman in the 50-over format. In T20Is, Virat Kohli has one hundred to his name, while no other batsman in the Fab Four has a hundred in 20-over cricket.

In Test cricket, it is England’s Joe Root who has the most centuries among fab four batters, with 36 hundreds under his belt.

Test Stats

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	120	205	9163	254	47.72	30	31
Kane Williamson	104	184	9076	251	54.34	32	37
Joe Root	151	276	12886	262	50.93	36	64
Steven Smith	111	198	9704	239	53.40	32	41

ODI Stats

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	295	283	13906	183	58.18	50	72
Kane Williamson	165	157	6811	148	48.30	13	45
Joe Root	171	160	6522	133	47.61	16	39
Steven Smith	165	149	5662	164	43.62	12	34

T20I Stats

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	125	117	4188	122	48.70	1	38
Kane Williamson	93	90	2575	95	33.01	0	18
Joe Root	32	30	893	90	35.72	0	5
Steven Smith	67	55	1094	90	24.86	0	5

IPL Stats

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	252	244	8004	113	38.67	8	55
Kane Williamson	79	77	2128	89	35.47	0	18
Joe Root	3	1	10	10	10.00	0	0
Steven Smith	103	93	2485	101	34.51	1	11

Let’s now look at some of the career highlights, records and achievements of all these four batters.

Virat Kohli Records

6th Most Matches as Captain (68) in Test matches
Hundred in Each Innings of a Test match
5th Fastest to 7000 Runs in Test Cricket (138 innings)
2nd Most Player-of-the-series Awards (11 times)
Most runs in a series (765) in One-Day Internationals
3rd Highest career batting average (58.18) in ODI
Most hundreds against one team (10 centuries against Sri Lanka) in ODIs
2nd Most Fifties in ODI career (122)
4th Most fours in career (1302) in ODIs
Fastest to 13000 runs in ODI (267 innings)
Most player-of-the-series awards (7) in T20I
3rd Most Runs in T20I career (4188)
2nd Highest T20I career batting average (48.69)
Most fifties in T20I career (39)
4th Most Fours in T20I Career (369)
Fastest to 3500 runs (96 innings) in T20I
Most Player-of-the-series Awards (21) across formats
3rd Most Runs in a Calendar Year (2818) across formats
2nd Most Hundreds in a Calendar Year (11) across formats
2nd Most Fifties in Career (222) across formats
4th Most fours in career (2693) across formats

Steve Smith Records

Hundred in each innings of a Test match
Carrying bat through a Completed Innings (91*) in a Test match
Fastest to 8000 Test runs (151 innings)
Most catches in an innings of Test Match by a fielder (5)
3rd Highest Partnership for the Third Wicket (242)
4th Most Hundreds in consecutive matches (4 centuries) across formats
3rd Most Fifties in consecutive innings (7 50s) across formats

Joe Root Records

7th Most matches as captain (64 matches) in Test cricket
3rd Most Runs in a calendar year (1708) in Test cricket
Most Fifties in Consecutive Matches (12 occasions) in Test cricket
6th Fastest to 12000 runs (261) in Test cricket
2nd Most catches in Test career by a fielder (207)
Highest partnership for the tenth wicket (198) in Test cricket
5th Fastest to 4000 runs (91 innings) in ODI
5th Most Fifties in consecutive matches (8) across formats

Kane Williamson Records

Hundred on Test debut (131 runs)
Hundred in each innings of a Test match
2nd Highest partnership for the sixth wicket (365*) in Test cricket
4th Most runs in an series by a captain (578) in ODI cricket
2nd Most nineties in ODI career (9 occasions)
3rd Most Fifties in consecutive ODI innings (6)
3rd Fastest to 6000 runs (139 innings) in ODI cricket
3rd Most Matches as Captain (75) in T20I cricket
4th Highest percentage of runs in a completed innings (70%) in T20I
5th Most runs in a calendar year (2692) across formats
3rd Fifties in consecutive innings (7 occasions) across formats

Who is the best batsman among Fab Four?

Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root each have a distinct style of batting. Virat Kohli’s aggressive style and incredible consistency across formats for over a decade make him stand apart. Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root have been prolific run-getters in Test cricket. Since there are three formats of the game, we need to take into account the adaptability of players and how they’ve fared in each format.

Looking at the overall stats, Virat Kohli is head and shoulders above the rest at the moment. However, it doesn’t undermine the achievements and impact the rest have had on their teams or world cricket over the years. All are cricket legends who continue to inspire millions to take up the sport.

(Stats and records as of 15 December 2024)

PKL 2024 Playoff Race, Top Raiders, Top Defenders, Points Table, Winner Prediction

We are approaching the business end of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 2024) season. With 25 league matches remaining, there is still a lot to play for, and the race for playoff spots is wide open. Only one team, Haryana Steelers, has secured its place in the playoffs so far.

Most of the teams are in contention and vying for playoff spots. The PKL action will be intense from now on, as there is no room for complacency, and teams want to be at their best to seal playoff spots.

Who are the favorites to win Pro Kabaddi League 2024?

Haryana Steelers, the runner-up of the last edition, have come out this season with a point to prove. They had an excellent team last season and have further bolstered with game-changing additions like Mohammadreza Shadloui. At the moment, they are miles ahead of the rest and have covered all bases. The raiders are doing their job and the defense is rock solid. Looking at their clinical performances thus far, we are backing the Haryana Steelers to win PKL 2024.

Apart from Haryana Steelers, U Mumba and Patna Pirates have emerged as contenders for the PKL trophy. Both teams are playing at their best and aiming for a top-2 finish in the league stage.

UP Yoddhas, Dabang Delhi KC, Jaipur Pink Panthers, and Telugu Titans are among the other teams in contention for the playoff spots.

PKL Points Table 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

Position	Team	P	W	L	T	SD	Form	Points
1	Haryana Steelers	19	15	4	0	109	W, W, W, L, W	77
2	U Mumba	18	10	6	2	21	W, L, T, W, L	60
3	Patna Pirates	17	10	6	1	86	W, L, W, W, T	58
4	UP Yoddhas	17	9	6	2	37	W, T, W, W, L	56
5	Dabang Delhi K.C.	17	8	5	4	34	W, T, W, T, W	56
6	Jaipur Pink Panthers	18	9	7	2	38	W, L, T, W, L	54
7	Telugu Titans	18	10	8	0	-46	L, W, L, L, W	54
8	Puneri Paltan	18	7	8	3	30	L, L, L, W, L	49
9	Tamil Thalaivas	17	6	10	1	-4	L, W, L, L, W	38
10	Bengal Warriorz	17	5	10	2	-51	W, L, W, L, L	37
11	Gujarat Giants	18	5	11	2	-98	L, W, L, T, L	34
12	Bengaluru Bulls	18	2	15	1	-156	L, L, T, L, L	19

Pro Kabaddi Top Raider 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

	Player	Matches	Raid Points
1	Devank	17	221
2	Ashu Malik	17	187
3	Arjun Deshwal	18	183
4	Ajit Ramesh Chouhan	18	153
5	Vijay Malik	18	143
6	Vinay	19	137
7	Guman Singh	18	130
8	Ayan Lohchab	17	127
9	Shivam Anil Patare	19	124
10	Nitin Kumar Dhankhar	14	118

Most Super Raids in Pro Kabaddi 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

	Player	Matches	Super Raids
1	Devank	17	8
1	Ajit Ramesh Chouhan	18	8
3	Pankaj Deepak Mohite	18	5
3	Ashish Kaptan Narwal	18	5
3	Pawan Kumar Sehrawat	9	5
3	Ashu Malik	17	5
7	Vinay	19	4
7	Nitin Kumar Dhankhar	14	4
7	Gagan Raju Gowda	12	4
7	Bharat Hooda	17	4

Most Super 10 in PKL 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

	Player	Matches	Super 10s
1	Ashu Malik	17	14
2	Devank	17	13
3	Ajit Ramesh Chouhan	18	8
3	Arjun Deshwal	18	8
5	Vijay Malik	18	7
6	Maninder Singh	13	6
6	Pawan Kumar Sehrawat	9	6
6	Vinay	19	6
6	Guman Singh	18	6
6	Ayan Lohchab	17	6

Pro Kabaddi Top Defender 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

	Player	Matches	Tackle Points
1	Nitin Rawal	18	65
2	Mohammadreza Shadloui	19	64
3	Rahul Sethpal	19	57
4	Ankit Jaglan	17	56
5	Nitesh Kumar	17	54
6	Sumit Sangwan	17	53
7	Fazel Atrachali	17	52
8	Ankush Rathee	18	51
9	Gaurav Khatri	18	50
9	Yogesh Bijender Dahiya	16	50

Most Super Tackles in PKL 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

	Player	Matches	Super Tackles
1	Nitin Rawal	18	8
1	Yogesh Bijender Dahiya	16	8
3	Fazel Atrachali	17	7
3	Hitesh	17	7
5	Ankit Jaglan	17	6
5	Sunil Kumar	18	6
5	Rahul Sethpal	19	6
8	Mohit Goyat	17	5
8	Ashu Singh	17	5
8	Saurabh Nandal	17	5

Most High 5 in PKL 2024

(As of 11 December 2024)

	Player	Matches	High 5s
1	Nitesh Kumar	17	5
1	Nitin Rawal	18	5
3	Yogesh Bijender Dahiya	16	4
4	Sombir Goswami	17	4
4	Hitesh	17	4
6	Gaurav Khatri	18	4
7	Aman	12	3
8	Fazel Atrachali	17	3
8	Deepak Singh	17	3
8	Ankit Jaglan	17	3

PKL 2024 schedule for upcoming matches

Date	Match	Teams	Time (IST)	Venue
December 12, 2024	Match 107	Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Telugu Titans	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 108	UP Yoddhas vs Bengal Warriorz	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 13, 2024	Match 109	Tamil Thalaivas vs Patna Pirates	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 110	Puneri Paltan vs Bengaluru Bulls	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 14, 2024	Match 111	Telugu Titans vs Gujarat Giants	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 112	Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Haryana Steelers	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 15, 2024	Match 113	Tamil Thalaivas vs Jaipur Pink Panthers	20:00	Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 114	U Mumba vs UP Yoddhas	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 16, 2024	Match 115	Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Bengal Warriorz	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 116	Patna Pirates vs Puneri Paltan	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 17, 2024	Match 117	Haryana Steelers vs UP Yoddhas	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 118	Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Bengaluru Bulls	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 18, 2024	Match 119	Tamil Thalaivas vs Bengal Warriorz	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 120	Patna Pirates vs Telugu Titans	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 19, 2024	Match 121	Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 122	U Mumba vs Patna Pirates	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 20, 2024	Match 123	Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Bengal Warriorz	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 124	Puneri Paltan vs Telugu Titans	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 21, 2024	Match 125	Patna Pirates vs Gujarat Giants	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 126	Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 22, 2024	Match 127	Tamil Thalaivas vs Bengaluru Bulls	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 128	Haryana Steelers vs U Mumba	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 23, 2024	Match 129	Gujarat Giants vs Dabang Delhi K.C.	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 130	Puneri Paltan vs Tamil Thalaivas	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 24, 2024	Match 131	Bengaluru Bulls vs UP Yoddhas	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Match 132	Bengal Warriorz vs U Mumba	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 26, 2024	Eliminator 1	TBC vs TBC	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Eliminator 2	TBC vs TBC	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 27, 2024	Semi-Final 1	TBC vs TBC	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
	Semi-Final 2	TBC vs TBC	21:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune
December 29, 2024	Final	TBC vs TBC	20:00	Badminton Hall, Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where to watch PKL live in India?

A: You can watch PKL 2024 matches live on Star Sports 1 SD/HD and Star Sports 2 HD/SD in India.

Q: How to live stream PKL 2024 matches online?

A: The Pro Kabaddi 2024 matches will be available for live streaming on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website in India. Besides, you can also follow the live score and updates of each PKL match on the App and Website.

Q: Where to check PKL points table?

A: To stay updated with the PKL points table 2024 and standings, you can check the official PKL website. The points table provides in-depth performance info of each team in PKL season 11, including wins, losses, form, and points in the race to the playoffs.

Q: How to check PKL score live?

A: You can check Pro Kabaddi League official website for PKL score live updates. Real-time Live Scores and updates are also available on Disney+ Hotstar App along with live streaming.

India vs Australia 3rd Test Match Prediction, Probable Playing XI, Key Players

Cricket fans can’t wait for India vs Australia 3rd Test to get underway! We are in for a treat as the high-octane third test of the India-Australia Test series starts on 14 December at the Gabba, Brisbane.

The BGT 2024-25 series is tied at 1-1 after hosts Aussies made a strong statement with a 10-wicket win in the second match of the five-test series.

Without any further ado, let’s get right into an in-depth Australia vs India third test preview, prediction, and what to expect from the Gabba test.

Match Details

Fixture: India vs Australia 3rd Test Match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Start Date: 14 December 2024 (Saturday)

Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane

Match Time: First Session: 5:50 AM IST to 7:50 AM IST, Lunch Break: 7:50 AM IST to 8:30 AM IST, Second Session: 8:30 AM IST to 10:30 AM IST, Tea Break: 10:30 AM IST to 10:50 AM IST and Third Session: 10:50 AM IST to 12:50 PM IST

Pitch Report and Bowling Conditions

The Gabba pitch in Brisbane has a reputation for being fast and full of bounce. The chief curator of the venue has hinted that it is just the start of the season and the surface will be spicy. That being said, a challenging test match awaits for the batters. The bowling conditions will suit fast bowlers.

India Playing XI, Expected Changes and Team Analysis

India will be under tremendous pressure after a humiliating defeat in the Perth Test and a lot to prove. The onus will be on top 5-6 batsmen to come good. Another misfiring batting performance could push them out of the World Championship final 2023-25 race.

The senior batsmen – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – must step up for the visitors to put up a fight and battle the odds stacked in favor of Australia’s fiery bowling attack. Besides, others need to chip in as well to put on a total.

A few changes are expected in India’s Playing XI – like R Ashwin who struggled with injury concerns in the last match. Also, there is a chance that Akash Deep may get the nod over Harshit Rana for the Brisbane Test.

Probable India Playing XI for Brisbane Test

KL Rahul
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant
Rohit Sharma
Nitish Reddy
Ravindra Jadeja/Washington Sundar
Akash Deep/Harshit Rana
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj

Australia Playing XI, Expected Changes and Team Analysis

Australia would be brimming with confidence after a mauling in the last test. With bowling conditions to their advantage and the batting order looking better than their counterparts, Australia would look to cash in on the winning momentum.

There is not much clarity on Josh Hazlewood’s availability for the third test for now. However, Aussies won’t be too fussed after the replacement Scott Boland’s clinical performance. Barring the Hazlewood-Boland swap, the hosts are likely to go in with the same team.

Probable Australia Playing XI for Brisbane Test

Nathan McSweeney
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Mitchell Marsh
Alex Carey (wk)
Pat Cummins (c)
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood/Scott Boland
Nathan Lyon

5 Players to Watch Out For

Jasprit Bumrah (India): Jasprit Bumrah has had a terrific series so far. The premier bowler could once again be the difference between the two sides. The fast bowler has troubled the hosts, with 12 wickets at an astounding bowling average of 11.25.
Virat Kohli (India): Virat Kohl thrives under pressure. Back King Kohli to come good with India looking up to senior batsmen after a dismal batting performance in the last game. The run machine Virat Kohli has scored 123 runs so far in the series at a batting average of 41.
Steve Smith (Australia): Steve Smith is a prolific run-getter in Test cricket. He has had a quiet series (19 runs at a batting average of 6.33) thus far but a quality player like him can’t remain silent for long. He is due for runs.
Mitchell Starc (Australia): Mitchell Starc is bowling with great control and was one of the architects of Aussie win in the second test. With pace and bounce on offer at the Gabba pitch, the left-arm fast bowler could be too hot to handle. He is the leading wicket-taker in the series for the hosts with 11 wickets in 2 matches.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India): The Indian opener is the best batsman for his side in 2024. After a superb ton in the first test, he showcased what he brings to the table. Jaiswal has 185 runs in the series so far at an average of 46.25.

Which team is the favorite to win the 3rd Test at the Gabba?

For sure, the India vs Australia 3rd Test at the Gabba is going to be full of exciting cricket and edge-of-the-seat entertainment. Who holds the edge in the third test?

Australia is slightly in front with a more potent bowling attack, bowling conditions, and a winning momentum.

For India to do well and come out on top, the biggest challenge would be negating the bowling conditions to neutralize their counterparts. Don’t rule India out just yet! India came out victorious in their last test match at the Gabba and can do it again with the right mindset.

IND vs AUS 2024, 3rd Test: Gabba Brisbane Pitch Report, Test Stats & Records | Australia vs India BGT Series

India lock horns against Australia in the third Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Gabba in Brisbane, starting on 14 December 2024. The Gabba is one of the most successful venues in Test Cricket for the Australian Cricket Team. India comes into the test on the back of thumping defeat have an uphill task at their hands.

Indian National Cricket Team gears up for the high-octane WTC fixture with a lot at stake looking ahead to the World Test Championship final. Here’s a look at how challenging pitch conditions will be, records of Australia and India at the venue, and stats.

India’s Record at Gabba

The Gabba has been a challenging Test venue for almost all touring nations and it’s the same for the Indian Cricket Team.

Team India has played seven test matches at Brisbane Cricket Ground (Woolloongabba). India has managed just one solitary win here, suffered five defeats, and one match has ended in a draw.

Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Highest Score	Lowest Score
India	7	1	5	0	1	409	58

India’s last match at The Gabba in 2021

This is a silver lining! India’s last match at The Gabba was the fourth Test of the 2020-21 series which remains one of the greatest Indian cricket test wins overseas.

Against all odds, India was starting at a certain defeat with Aussies setting a daunting target of 328 runs on the final day.

To make matters worse for the Indian team, regular captain Virat Kohli missed out due to personal reasons while the squad was plagued with injuries.

Rishabh Pant’s counterattacking unbeaten 89 came at the right time as India registered their win at The Gabba and also sealed the series 2-1.

Match Summary: Australia 369 & 294 lost to India 336 & 329/7 (T:328) – 4th Test, Brisbane, January 15 – 19, 2021, India’s tour of Australia 2020-21

Australia’s Record at The Gabba, Brisbane

Australia loves playing Test Cricket at this venue. In the 66 matches played here, Aussies have won 42 matches, losing only 10. 13 matches have ended in a draw while one has been a tied test.

Team	Matches	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	Highest Score	Lowest Score
Australia	66	42	10	1	13	645	58

Curator provides insight into The Gabba pitch for AUS vs IND 3rd Test

Now that all the focus is on pitch conditions, David Sandurski (the Gabba pitch curator) has shared his thoughts on what to expect in the Australia vs India third test.

Speaking to The West Australian, Sandurski said, “Generally speaking, we still prepare the pitch the exact same way every time to try and get the same good carry, pace, and bounce that the Gabba is known for. We are just trying to make a traditional Gabba wicket like we do each year”.

He stressed the fact that early-season pitch tends to be “fresher” which offers more assistance to bowlers than the ones being played on later in the summer.

This is the reason Australia schedules Test matches at The Gabba before Christmas, as a spicy pitch gives an advantage to their fast bowlers.

Basis these insights, expect the IND vs AUS 3rd Test pitch to be pacy and bouncy.

The Gabba Brisbane Test Records

Last 5 Test Match Results at The Gabba, Brisbane

Team 1	Team 2	Winner	Margin	Match Date
Australia	West Indies	West Indies	8 runs	Jan 25-28, 2024
Australia	South Africa	Australia	6 wickets	Dec 17-18, 2022
Australia	England	Australia	9 wickets	Dec 8-11, 2021
Australia	India	India	3 wickets	Jan 15-19, 2021
Australia	Pakistan	Australia	inns & 5 runs	Nov 21-24, 2019

Highest Totals in Test at The Gabba, Brisbane

Team	Score	Opposition	Result	Match Date
Australia	645	England	AUS Win	29 Nov 1946
Australia	607/6d	New Zealand	AUS Win	3 Dec 1993
Australia	602/9d	England	AUS Win	23 Nov 2006
Australia	601/8d	England	AUS Win	26 Nov 1954
Australia	585	New Zealand	AUS Win	18 Nov 2004

Lowest Totals in Test at The Gabba, Brisbane

Team	Score	Opposition	Result	Match Date
India	58	Australia	AUS Win	28 Nov 1947
Australia	58	England	ENG Win	4 Dec 1936
New Zealand	76	Australia	AUS Win	18 Nov 2004
England	79	Australia	AUS Win	7 Nov 2002
West Indies	82	Australia	AUS Win	23 Nov 2000

Most Runs by Batsman in Test at The Gabba, Brisbane

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	HS	Batting Average	100	50
Ricky Ponting (AUS)	17	26	1335	196	63.57	4	10
Michael Clarke (AUS)	10	13	1030	259*	103.00	5	2
Gregg Chappell (AUS)	7	11	1006	201	111.77	5	4
David Warner (AUS)	11	19	963	163	56.64	4	2
Steve Waugh (AUS)	17	26	915	147*	41.59	3	5
Mark Taylor (AUS)	10	18	912	164	57.00	2	6
Matthew Hayden (AUS)	9	15	901	197	60.06	4	1
Steve Smith (AUS)	10	17	821	141*	54.73	3	3
Allan Border (AUS)	15	22	779	152*	37.09	3	2
David Boon (AUS)	12	20	750	143	37.50	2	4

Most Wickets by Bowlers in Test at The Gabba, Brisbane

Player	Matches	Wickets	BBI	Ave	SR	4	5	10
Shane Warne (AUS)	11	68	8/71	20.30	48.82	7	3	2
Glenn McGrath (AUS)	13	65	6/17	21.75	49.81	6	4	1
Nathan Lyon (AUS)	13	51	4/69	28.31	60.58	2	–	–
Mitchell Starc (AUS)	11	47	4/52	28.93	49.02	4	–	–
Pat Cummins (AUS)	7	40	6/23	18.22	38.92	2	3	1
Craig McDermott (AUS)	8	40	6/53	22.62	47.17	4	2	–
Josh Hazlewood (AUS)	8	37	5/57	23.75	52.16	1	2	–
Mitchell Johnson (AUS)	7	34	5/39	25.08	44.00	3	2	–
Dennis Lillee (AUS)	6	31	6/53	20.16	37.90	2	2	–
Brett Lee (AUS)	6	29	5/30	21.55	40.96	2	2	–

AUS vs IND BGT Series: Can India Qualify for WTC Final and How?

The race to the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 (WTC) final is intensifying with each test match. The WTC final qualification scenario keeps changing every day. Here’s a complete analysis of India’s World Test Championship final qualification scenario and what India must do to seal a spot in the WTC final.

Can India Qualify for the WTC Final?

The answer is yes! India is still in contention and can qualify for the 2023-25 World Test Championship final. Currently, India is sitting at the third spot in the WTC points table with a win percentage of 57.29%.

The third position does indicate that Team India has to get to one of the first two positions to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship. It will be a challenge looking at the fixtures ahead but certainly a possibility. India will rely heavily on how they perform in the ongoing AUS vs IND BGT Series and their prowess will tell if they can qualify or not.

How can India qualify for the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final?

Winning Two Out of Three Remaining Tests: Every match of the ongoing India vs Australia Test series is like a do-or-die. India must win at least two of the three remaining Tests against Australia if not all three. If the India National Cricket Team manages to win two tests, their win percentage will be 58.77%.
Other Results should be favourable: First things first, a 3-2 or 4-1 series win against Australia would consolidate India’s position on the WTC points table. However, there are certain uncontrolables that must go India’s way. The other contenders vying for spots are Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Their results can impact the final standings.
Losing BGT Series 2-3 can still help qualify: In case of a 2-3 BGT 2024-25 series loss, India can still make it to the final. In the event of a 2-3 loss in the Australia vs India Test series, India’s win percentage will drop to 53.51%. India can still make it the basis of several outcomes and permutations like South Africa losing both of their Tests against Pakistan.

WTC Points Table

(As of December 10, 2024)

Position	Team	Played	Won	Lost	Draw	Points Deducted	Points	Win Percentage
1	South Africa	10	6	3	1	0	76	63.33
2	Australia	14	9	4	1	10	102	60.71
3	India	16	9	6	1	2	110	57.29
4	Sri Lanka	11	5	6	0	0	60	45.45
5	England	21	11	9	1	22	114	45.24
6	New Zealand	13	6	7	0	3	69	44.23
7	Pakistan	10	4	6	0	8	40	33.33
8	Bangladesh	12	4	8	0	3	45	31.25
9	West Indies	11	2	7	2	0	32	24.24

Points System

12 points for a win

6 points for a tie

4 points for a draw

Teams are ranked according to the percentage of points won

The Top two teams progress to the final at Lord’s in 2025

Point Deductions: Points are deducted for slow over rates

Besides India, who are the other WTC final contenders?

South Africa

South Africa has comprehensively beaten Sri Lanka at home recently and now sits atop the WTC 2023-25 points table. The clean sweep of the islanders has boosted South Africa’s chances to play the WTC final with a win percentage of 63.33%.

For SA to qualify, they must win one of the two tests against Pakistan. In case of a 1-1 draw or a 0-2 loss in the series, they will still be in contention. However, the South Africa Cricket Team will give an opportunity for India or Australia to surpass them with strong performances.

Remaining matches: Pakistan (Two Tests at home)

Australia

Australian Cricket Team is second on the points table with a win percentage of 60.71%. A 4-1 or 3-2 series win against India will guarantee the Aussies a spot in the WTC final. In case Australia loses the series 2-3, they have to win both Tests in Sri Lanka and hope that other outcomes come in their favour.

Remaining matches: India (home, three Tests), Sri Lanka (away, two Tests)

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Cricket is another team that is in contention for the spot in the final. The chances are bleak though after a humiliating 2-0 loss to South Africa recently. They have a win percentage of 45.45% at the moment and must win all their remainder games to stand a chance.

Remaining matches: Australia (home, two Tests)