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Despite putting on a dominant performance in the third and final match, the Indian Cricket Team’s series against the Aussies was a disappointment. The three-match Australia vs India ODI series saw the six-time world champions win the trophy with a 2-1 result.

Despite being the most dominant international cricket side this year, India lost their first series this year in a format where they tend to be quite phenomenal. So, what went wrong here?

This series saw the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma don the Indian blue for the first time in quite a long time. Despite that, India had to suffer a loss. Today, we will look at three things that went wrong for the ICT, leading them to lose the ODI series to Australia.

Australia vs India: 3 Reasons IND Lost ODI Series To AUS

3) Drop the Catch, Drop the Match

This point focuses on the second match of this series, played at the Adelaide Oval, and has been highlighted by team captain Shubman Gill as the biggest reason India lost that game.

The Men in Blue batted first and put up a respectable total of 264 runs, especially seeing how the surface behaved on the day. However, while defending said total, India dropped three big catches. First was opener Travis Head, who was dropped by Nitish Kumar Reddy in the first over of the chase. And while Head did not score a lot of runs on that day, his 28 runs gave Australia a steady start.

The more costly were the next two dropped catches, as the Indian fielders dropped Matt Short, who was named the Player of the Match for his 74 off 78, twice. First came in the 16th over, when Short was at 24 off 20 and India desperately needed a wicket, as Axar Patel at point dropped a catch that he should have held on to.

Then, in the 29th over, after the Aussie had already reached the 50-run mark. His wicket, though, would have been vital at this stage. However, after a delivery by Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj puts down a sitter.

By the time Matt Short got out in the 36th over, the score was 187/5. But by then, Cooper Connolly had settled and would go on to take the team home. So India literally dropped the match, along with the catches in that particular game.

2) Veteran batters struggle on wetter pitches.

While the last ODI might have gone gangbusters for the superstar Indian batting duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the previous matches told a different story, especially for Kohli.

In the first match, Rohit Sharma was Indiaâ€s first wicket to fall, making just eight off 14. Then in the second match, while the former Indian Cricket Team captain did make 73 off 97, he did struggle a lot in the early proceedings, barely making any runs on the first 30 balls he faced. However, to be fair, every Indian batter struggled against the fire that the Aussie bowlers threw at the start of that innings.

The situation was way worse for Virat Kohli. While he did go on to make an unbeaten 74 in the final match, the first two saw him make two ducks in a row. While his departure in the second game could be explained away by a brilliant ball by Xavier Bartlett, his dismissal in the first was a classic Kohli wicket, him playing a ball outside off and getting caught.

Blame should also go to captain Shubman Gill, who made 19 runs combined in the first two matches.

But why did the Indian batters struggle so much in the first two ODIs? Well, that is because of the nature of the pitch. Both the artificial surface in Perth and the natural one in Adelaide were damp. The first match was affected massively by rain, and so, the track retained a lot of moisture and became troublesome for the side batting first, which was India.

Then, in the second match, while it didnâ€t rain much during the match, it had been pouring for the past few days, and reportedly, the ground staff was still attempting to dry it less than an hour before the game.

1) Flavourless pace without Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah will return to the Indian Cricket Team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia, but he did miss the ODI one, and it showed. The Indian pace attack just didnâ€t look the same without their ace.

However, there are still world-class bowlers here. The likes of Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh have proven themselves at the highest level, Harshit Rana has a lot of international experience, and Nitish Kumar Reddy has shown glimpses of brilliance with the ball.

However, in the first ODI, which was significantly shortened, none of them could put a plug on the run flow, all four conceding at an economy rate of over four on the same pitch where Mitchell Starc kept it under four and Josh Hazelwood under three.

But then, in the second match, while Arshdeep Singh did well and Siraj had a passable evening, Harshit Rana had a night to forget, conceding 59 runs in just eight overs at an economy of 7.38 and taking no wickets. Reddy too conceded 24 in just three overs.

This point is highlighted by how, when the Indian pace attack did well, the team won the third ODI. In this game, Rana bowled his career-best spell of 4/39, while Mohammed Siraj did not concede as many runs. There was still an outlier in Prasidh Krishna, who conceded 52 in just seven overs, but his slack was picked up well by Harshit Rana.

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AUS Vs IND Match Prediction: After a win in the rain-affected first match of this series, Australia will be looking to seal things up with a win here, while India will look to tie things up and take the series into its final game.

The Australian Cricket Team has been in fine form this year. In the first half of the year, they lost out on two ICC trophies. First, they were eliminated in the semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, before losing the World Test Championship 2025 final. However, since then, they have been in excellent form, thrashing the West Indies in a three-match Test series 3-0 and a T20I series 5-0. This was followed by a win in T20Is against South Africa and a loss in ODIs to the Proteas. Most recently, the Kangaroos have defeated New Zealand 2-0 in a three-match T20 series.

Meanwhile, the Indian Cricket Team has been in excellent form this year. They started 2025 with a win in CT 2025, then they played a classic Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England against the Three Lions, drawing it 2-2. Recently, not only did they win the 2025 Asia Cup without losing a single match in the competition, but they have also defeated the West Indies in a two-Test series 2-0.

AUS Vs IND Match Prediction Date and Time:

• Dates: Thursday, October 23, 2025
• Time: 09:00 AM (IST), 02:00 PM (local time)
• Venue: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia

AUS Vs IND Live Streaming: How To Watch

The Australia vs India 2nd ODI match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network on TV in India. It will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website on mobiles, laptops, and other streaming devices.

AUS Vs IND Match Prediction Full Squad:

Australia Full Squad

Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Matt Short, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Adam Zampa, Matthew Huhnemann, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis,

India Full Squad

Shubman Gill (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana

Australia vs India Prediction T20Is Head-to-Head

• Matches Played: 153
• Australia Won:85
• India Won:58
• No Result:10
• First Played: December 06, 1980 (IND win)
• Last Played:October 19, 2025 (AUS win)

AUS Vs IND Toss Update

*To be updated after the toss*

AUS Vs IND  Team; Predicted XIs:

Australia Predicted XI:

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Matt Short, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Conolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Huhnemann, Josh Hazelwood

India Predicted XI:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

AUS Vs IND Final Adelaide Oval Pitch Report

Adelaide Oval is one of the better batting surfaces in Australia. A high-scoring venue, especially in limited-overs cricket, teams score big runs here in all formats. The ball comes nicely onto the bat here. In the duration of a 50-over innings, towards the end, the ball starts gripping the pitch a little more. The spinners and pacers both tend to do well here, especially under the lights, making batting first the move here. The straight boundaries here are long, about 80m in length, while the rope on the square is about 62-65m away from the batter.

AUS Vs IND Final Weather Report

As the winter in Australia is coming to an end, it is starting to get a little warm down under, but still, the conditions are perfect for playing cricket. In the afternoon, the temperatures will rise as high as 18 degrees Celsius and will go into the low 10s as the sun sets. The skies will be partly cloudy, but the chances of rain are next to none. The winds will be strong, while the humidity will be moderate.

AUS Vs IND 2nd ODI Match Prediction: 3 Players To Watch Out For

The 3 players to watch out for in the AUS Vs IND 2nd ODI 2025 are:

• Australia batter Matt Renshaw
• India batter Virat Kohli
• Australia bowler Josh Hazelwood

Australia vs India Prediction: Who Will Win Todayâ€s Final?

For the AUS Vs IND 2nd ODI Match Prediction, India will defeat Australia in the second match of this ODI series.

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Virat Kohli dismissed for duck on ODI comeback as India reduced to 37/3 After 224 days, cricket fans around the world were eager to watch the iconic duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in action for India. With the start of Diwali week, excitement and joy returned to fans as they tuned in to see the ODI series, marking the return of Rohit and Kohli after a long break following Indiaâ€s Champions Trophy win. Both had retired from T20Is and Test cricket, but expectations were high. Unfortunately, the start did not live up to the hype.Australia won the toss and elected to field, continuing Indiaâ€s 16th consecutive ODI toss loss, with the last win coming against New Zealand in the CWC 2023 semifinals at Wankhede.

‘Unfair at this stage!’: Virat Kohli’s childhood coach on the treatment of senior duo Virat-Rohit

Once the match began, Australiaâ€s bowlers exploited the bouncy Perth deck. Josh Hazlewood struck with a hard-length delivery that trapped Rohit, while Mitchell Starc bowled a wide that Virat Kohli chased, resulting in a duck for the first time in 30 ODI innings in Australia. Shubman Gill managed a couple of boundaries but was eventually pinned leg before. The trio combined for only 18 runs, the lowest aggregate for Rohit, Gill, and Kohli in an ODI where all three batted. The previous record was 25 runs against Pakistan in Pallekele in 2023.Shortly after these dismissals, play was halted briefly due to rain. This was also Rohit Sharmaâ€s 500th international match, but the start of the milestone game was underwhelming, adding to a series of disappointing personal scores in landmark matches: 100th match – 15, 200th – 21, 300th – 8, 400th – 15 and 46, and today, 8.Despite the rocky start, the match is still in its early stages, and India will look to recover quickly as fans hope the Men in Blue can counter disciplined Australian bowling on a tricky Perth deck.

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AUS Vs IND Match Prediction: This ODI series will see two of the best all-format cricket teams in the world compete for supremacy in the one-day format.

The Australian Cricket Team has been in decent form this year, despite losing out on two ICC trophies. First, they were eliminated in the semi-final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, before losing the World Test Championship 2025 final. However, since then, they have found their winning ways, thrashing the West Indies in a three-match Test series 3-0 and a T20I series 5-0. This was followed by a win in T20Is against South Africa and a loss in ODIs to the Proteas. Most recently, the Kangaroos have defeated New Zealand 2-0 in a three-match T20 series.

On the other hand, the Indian Cricket Team has been in excellent form this year. They started 2025 with a win in CT 2025, before playing out a classic Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England against the Three Lions, drawing it 2-2. Recently, not only did they win the 2025 Asia Cup without losing a single match in the competition, but they have also defeated the West Indies in a two-Test series 2-0. This upcoming ODI series will also see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the national team for the first time in about eight months.

AUS Vs IND Match Prediction Date and Time:

• Dates: October 19, 2025
• Time: 09:00 AM (IST),11:30 AM (local time)
• Venue: Optus Stadium (Perth Stadium), Perth, Australia

AUS Vs IND Live Streaming: How To Watch

The Australia vs India 1st ODI match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network on TV in India. It will be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website on mobiles, laptops, and other streaming devices.

AUS Vs IND Match Prediction Full Squad:

Australia Full Squad

Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Matthew Short, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Josh Philippe (wk), Cameron Green, Mitchell Owen, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis,

India Full Squad

Shubman Gill (C), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana

Australia vs India Prediction T20Is Head-to-Head

• Matches Played: 152
• Australia Won:84
• India Won:58
• No Result:10
• First Played: December 06, 1980 (IND win)
• Last Played:March 04, 2025 (IND win)

AUS Vs IND Toss Update

*To be updated after the toss*

AUS Vs IND  Team; Predicted XIs:

Australia Predicted XI:

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Owen, Josh Inglis (wk), Cooper Conolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood

India Predicted XI:

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

AUS Vs IND Final Optus Stadium Pitch Report

A far cry from its scary image in the past, the pitches of the Optus (Perth) Stadium have been more batting-friendly in recent years, especially in limited-overs cricket. While there is still a bit of a bounce to the surface here, it mostly helps the ball to come nicely onto the bat. In the duration of a 50-over innings, towards the end, the ball starts gripping the pitch a little more, bringing spinners into the game. The boundary dimensions here a a bit lopsided, seeing this is a multi-purpose stadium. While the square boundaries average about 68m in length, the straight boundaries are as long as 82m.

AUS Vs IND Final Weather Report

As the winter in Australia is coming to an end, the temperatures will be a little higher, but still perfect for playing cricket. In the afternoon, the mercury will rise as high as 18 degrees Celsius and will go into the low 10s as the sun sets. The skies will be partly cloudy, but the chances of rain are next to none. The winds will be moderate, and so will be the humidity.

AUS Vs IND 1st ODI Match Prediction: 3 Players To Watch Out For

The 3 players to watch out for in the AUS Vs IND 1st ODI 2025 are:

• India batter Virat Kohli
• Australia bowler Mitchell Starc
• India batter Rohit Sharma

Australia vs India Prediction: Who Will Win Todayâ€s Final?

For the AUS Vs IND 1st ODI Match Prediction, India will defeat Australia in the first match of this ODI series.

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The Indian cricket team will usher in their new era of ODI cricket with the upcoming ODI series in Australia, as it will mark Shubman Gillâ€s first ODI series as Indiaâ€s newly heralded captain in the 50-over format.

Gill has replaced Rohit Sharma at the helm, bringing curtains to Rohitâ€s illustrious tenure as Indiaâ€s ODI skipper. India clinched the last two white-ball ICC trophies under Rohit—T20 World Cup 2025 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025—after losing the final of the World Cup 2023, where India had been unbeaten throughout their campaign until the fateful night of November 19.

The IND vs AUS ODI series will also be keenly watched as both Rohit and Virat Kohli, returning to international cricket for the first time since March, are now under pressure to perform as batsmen and merit their positions in the XI as India start building towards the 2027 World Cup.

When is India vs Australia 1st ODI?

The IND vs AUS limited-overs tour will begin with a three-match ODI series on October 19 in Perth, with Adelaide and Sydney hosting the second and third ODIs, and will be followed by a five-match T20I series.

Indian fans will be setting their alarms, even during the festive Diwali week, to watch Rohit and Kohli. For, who knows how much more international cricket these two giants have left in them?

Talking about Indiaâ€s squad, Jasprit Bumrah is rested, while Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy, who were part of the Champions Trophy squad, are not included. Hardik Pandya will miss the tour due to a quadriceps injury, and Rishabh Pant because of a foot injury.

The players who have replaced them are Mohammed Siraj, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Prasidh Krishna.

Talking about India playing XI for the IND vs AUS 1st ODI, most of the players pick themselves in the first-choice side.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are set to open, followed by a settled core of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul, all of whom were excellent in the ICC Champions Trophy. Iyer, meanwhile, is named the vice-captain.

Reddy is expected to fill the role of Hardik in the side as a seam-bowling all-rounder, followed by Axar Patel, who has been used as a left-handed disruptor of spinners in the middle overs over the last year and a half in white-ball cricket both by Rahul Dravid and Gambhir.

This forms Indiaâ€s top 7 with two all-rounders in it.

The difficult task for Gill and Gambhir would be to pick the bowling attack. Arshdeep Singh is likely to get the nod, and either Prasidh Krishna or Mohammed Siraj could be the second bowler.

It seems that Harshit Rana, who can hit the deck as a pacer and also whack the ball over the fence as a batsman, is being groomed for the No. 8 role. Given Kuldeep Yadavâ€s excellent form, he is very likely to slot into the XI as the frontline spinner.

Another combination would be to include Washington Sundar and a third pacer in place of Harshit and Kuldeep.

IND vs AUS: India Playing XI For 1st ODI In Perth – Predicted

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj/Prasidh Krishna

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India vs West Indies (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) NEW DELHI: The Indian bowling unit demonstrated resilience on a challenging sub-continental pitch, positioning India close to achieving a 2-0 series sweep against West Indies on day four of the second Test. India needs 58 more runs on the final day, having reached 63 for 1 at stumps while chasing 121.The Indian bowlers collectively bowled for 118.5 overs in the second innings. Jasprit Bumrah took 3/44, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 3/104, Ravindra Jadeja picked 1/102, Mohammed Siraj grabbed 2/43, and Washington Sundar secured 1/80.West Indies were bowled out for 390, setting India a target of 121 runs to chase in the remaining 18 overs of day four.KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan remained unbeaten on 25 and 30 respectively, playing cautiously after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dismissal for 8 runs.Siraj’s crucial breakthrough with the second new ball, followed by Kuldeep Yadav’s effective spell against the lower-middle order, helped India gain momentum in the post-lunch session.John Campbell scored 115 runs from 199 balls while Shai Hope made 103 from 214 deliveries. Their 177-run partnership for the third wicket showcased West Indies’ fighting spirit.Jayden Seales contributed 32 runs and Justin Greaves remained unbeaten on 50, putting together a 79-run stand for the final wicket to extend the match to day five.The West Indies team managed to score two centuries, forcing India to bat again in the match.All Indian bowlers contributed effectively with timely wickets throughout the innings.The Indian bowling attack persevered through long spells across both innings despite conditions that weren’t favourable for either spin or pace bowling.The Feroz Shah Kotla pitch remained unresponsive even on day four.While the low bounce of deliveries contributed to West Indies batsmen’s dismissals, their shot selection was largely responsible for their downfall.The match proceedings became so repetitive that broadcast coverage shifted focus to discussing the upcoming ODI series against Australia.John Campbell achieved his first Test century in 25 matches with a six off Ravindra Jadeja over cow corner.The flat pitch made it comfortable for batsmen to handle spin bowling until Campbell’s unfortunate dismissal through an ambitious reverse sweep, confirmed leg-before by DRS.Campbell’s wicket didn’t immediately impact the West Indies’ momentum as captain Roston Chase scored 40 runs and partnered with Hope for a 51-run fourth-wicket stand.The match seemed to be heading towards a challenging fourth-innings target for India.However, after the 80th over, Bumrah and Siraj used the new ball effectively, troubling Hope with short-pitched deliveries despite the unresponsive nature of the pitch.

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West Indies’ John Campbell gives the ball to Jasprit Bumrah during the fourth day of the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) The first session of Day 4 of the 2nd Test between India and the West Indies saw a dramatic moment when Jasprit Bumrahâ€s LBW appeal against John Campbell ended in disappointment. India had enforced the follow-on on Sunday, but breakthroughs were proving difficult against a resilient West Indies batting line-up.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The incident unfolded in the fifth ball of the 55th over. Bumrah bowled a sharp delivery that struck Campbellâ€s pads as he moved across for a drive. A massive LBW appeal followed, with umpire Richard Illingworth shaking his head. India opted for a review, hoping technology would back their claim.

John Campbell survived an LBW review from Jasprit Bumrah and went on to claim a century on Day 4 of the 2nd Test (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

On review, the UltraEdge showed a faint spike when the ball passed close to both bat and pad. Third umpire Alex Wharf determined there had been an inside edge, asking the on-field umpire to stick with the original not-out decision. Campbell had continued his patient innings, shuffling across the crease and possibly catching the ball on the edge of the bat before it hit his pads. After the review was lost, Bumrah walked back to his mark with a mix of frustration and amusement. Passing Illingworth, he was heard saying, “You know it’s out. But the technology can’t prove it,†with a wide smile. The exchange, captured on the stump mic, drew laughter from the commentary box, offering a lighter moment in an otherwise tense session. Despite Indiaâ€s best efforts, the West Indies batsmen continued their resistance. By the end of 57 overs on Day 4, John Campbell was unbeaten on 94 off 172 balls, while Shai Hope had made 73 off 124 balls. The duo had anchored the innings, frustrating Indiaâ€s bowlers and keeping the hosts from making a breakthrough.

Poll

What did you think of the LBW decision against John Campbell?

Bumrahâ€s witty remark provided a moment of light-heartedness amidst the intensity, highlighting the spirit and humor he showcases even in the most competitive Test matches.

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West Indies cricketers (Pic credit: WI Cricket) NEW DELHI: The West Indies players paid a heartfelt tribute to their former all-rounder Bernard Julien by wearing black armbands on the opening day of the second and final Test against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Friday. The gesture came as a mark of respect for Julien, who passed away at the age of 75 on October 4.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“West Indies players are wearing black armbands on day one of the second Test against India as a tribute to former player Bernard Julien who passed away last week. All-rounder Julien was a member of the 1975 World Cup-winning team,†said Cricket West Indies (CWI) in an official statement.Live Score:India vs West Indies, 2nd TestA key figure in the West Indies†golden era of the 1970s, Julien featured in 24 Tests, scoring 866 runs and taking 50 wickets. He also represented the Caribbean side in 12 ODIs, picking up 18 wickets and scoring 86 runs. Julien was part of the historic West Indies squad that lifted the inaugural Menâ€s ODI World Cup in 1975 under Clive Lloydâ€s captaincy.During that campaign, Julien produced standout performances — claiming 4 for 20 against Sri Lanka and 4 for 27 against New Zealand in the semi-final. In the final at Lordâ€s, he contributed a valuable 26 off 37 balls as the West Indies defeated Australia to win their first World Cup.Julien also had a successful stint with English county side Kent from 1970 to 1977, taking 336 wickets and scoring 3,296 runs in 179 appearances. His international career ended after joining the rebel West Indies tour to apartheid South Africa in 1982–83.

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IND vs WI Live Score, 2nd Test Match Day 1: Team India enters the second and final Test against West Indies with a focus on assessing Sai Sudharsanâ€s form and Nitish Kumar Reddyâ€s utility in home conditions.

The visitors, once a formidable force, now appear rudderless, a pale shadow of their past, with many players reluctant or lacking opportunities in T20 leagues. Their innings defeat in Ahmedabad underscored the decline, which head coach Darren Sammy described as a “terminal disease.†Legends Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Richie Richardson, and Brian Lara offered guidance during a mentoring session, but the West Indies dressing room still struggles for direction and belief.

For India, the match is about more than winning the series. Itâ€s an opportunity to strengthen their World Test Championship position and build confidence ahead of the home series against South Africa. Nitish Kumar Reddy retains his spot for his seam-bowling skills, while Sudharsan faces scrutiny after six low scores in seven innings, despite backing from skipper Shubman Gill. The depth of Indiaâ€s batting, including in-form KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravindra Jadeja, makes the hosts overwhelming favourites.

The Feroz Shah Kotla pitch, a black soil track with a dry patch, promises good value for shots and quick finishes. Indiaâ€s top order is expected to dominate a West Indies attack where only Jayden Seals impressed in the first Test.

With a sharper focus, superior depth, and home advantage, Team India appears set for another ruthless, possibly three-day, victory, reinforcing the wide gap in belief and purpose between the two sides.

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Kranti Goud (C) celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Aliya Riaz with teammates. (PTI/AP Photo) NEW DELHI: The contrasting knocks of Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh, backed by disciplined bowling, propelled India to a commanding 88-run victory over Pakistan in a drama-filled ICC Womenâ€s World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday. Sent in to bat on a slow track, India found stability in Deolâ€s composed 46 off 65 balls and the blitzkrieg of Richa Ghosh, whose 20-ball 35* at the death pushed India to a competitive 247 all out.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite a series of early miscues, including a controversial toss in Pakistanâ€s favour and a 15-minute delay due to bugs invading the field, Indiaâ€s bowlers dismantled Pakistanâ€s chase. Kranti Gaud (3/20) spearheaded the effort, tearing through the top order, while spinners Deepti Sharma (3/45) and Shree Charani (2/38) cleaned up the middle and lower order. Sidra Aminâ€s valiant 81 off 106 balls and Natalia Pervaizâ€s 33 offered resistance, but the rest of Pakistanâ€s lineup faltered. With this win, India extended their perfect ODI head-to-head record against Pakistan to 12-0.As it happened: India vs PakistanHarleen Deol anchors India inningsIndiaâ€s batting stumbled on a sluggish surface early on, with opener Smriti Mandhana (23) falling inside the powerplay while Pratika Rawal (31) offered a brisk start. Harleen Deolâ€s steady 46 stitched together partnerships at crucial moments, including a 39-run stand with Harmanpreet Kaur (19) and 45 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues (32). Deolâ€s composed strokeplay anchored India through a tricky middle overs phase, providing the platform for Richa Ghosh to accelerate towards the end.Harmanpreetâ€s dismissal to an inside edge momentarily halted momentum, and Jemimah Rodrigues fell for 32 after an early reprieve on a no-ball. Nevertheless, the experienced pair of Deepti Sharma (25) and Sneh Rana (20) added a 42-run partnership, keeping India competitive before Richa Ghoshâ€s late flurry pushed the team to 247.

Harleen Deol of India bats as wicket keeper Sidra Nawaz of Pakistan looks on. (Getty Images)

Kranti Gaud dismantles Pakistan top orderPakistanâ€s chase of 248 began in disarray when opener Muneeba Ali (2) was spectacularly run out by Deepti Sharma after momentarily wandering out of the crease. Kranti Gaud then struck twice in quick succession, removing Sadaf Shamas (6) caught and bowled, followed by Aliya Riaz (2), leaving Pakistan reeling at 26/3.The Indian bowling attack maintained relentless pressure, with Gaud exploiting the pitchâ€s pace and bounce, while Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani applied control with clever variations. The disciplined lines and lengths forced Pakistan to play under pressure, denying them rhythm or momentum in the chase.Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz provide fleeting resistanceAfter early blows, Pakistanâ€s middle-order duo of Sidra Amin (81 off 106) and Natalia Pervaiz (33) attempted to stabilise the innings, adding a 69-run stand that briefly threatened to turn the tide. Amin played a composed knock, continuing her form from the recent South Africa series, finding boundaries at intervals and rotating strike well.However, once Gaud and the Indian bowlers broke the partnership, wickets fell at regular intervals. Deepti Sharmaâ€s tight spell ensured Pakistan never recovered, and despite Sidra Aminâ€s lone fight, Pakistan were bowled out for 159 in 43 overs, sealing Indiaâ€s comfortable 88-run victory.

India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her team members celebrate the win. (AP/PTI Photo)

Post-match reactions: Praise for Kranti, focus on momentumIndia captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her bowlers and the late contributions with the bat: “Very happy, important win. Our bowling was great, Kranti was outstanding. Richa then gave us 30 crucial runs… we wanted to see how much we got on a slow, holding pitch. Right now, Iâ€m happy we won.â€Kranti Gaud, Player of the Match, said: “Feeling really good that Iâ€m the Player of the Match in a World Cup match. People in my village would be proud.†Pakistan captain Fatima Sana acknowledged her teamâ€s struggles despite Aminâ€s resistance, emphasizing the need for partnerships in future matches.Indiaâ€s win highlighted a balanced performance of patience, aggression, and disciplined bowling, reinforcing their dominance over Pakistan in ODI cricket while keeping tournament momentum firmly in their favour.

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