Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma celebrates his 36th birthday on Monday (September 2). Known for his formidable presence in Test cricket, Ishant first captured the cricketing world’s attention during the 2007-08 Test series in Australia. Since then, he has firmly established himself as a red-ball specia?list, representing India in over 100 Test matches.

His success isn’t limited to Tests alone; Ishant also contributed significantly to India’s limited-overs successes, including their Champions Trophy 2013 victory. In recognit??ion of his outstanding contrib??utions to cricket, Ishant was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2020.

Ishant Sharma’s top pick for a final bowling showdown

On this special day, Star Sports India shared an engaging video featuring Ishant and fellow cricketer Harbhajan Singh. In the video, the two cricketing stars engaged in a lively conversation with host Sahiba Bali. When asked whom he would choose to bowl to if given one final chance against an Australian batter, Ishant didn’t hesitate to name former Australian captain Steve Smith.

Despite the challenges, Ishant managed to dismiss Smith only once in eig??ht Test encounters, during which Smith scored an impressive 176 runs off 364 balls against him, maintaining an average of 176.? In limited-overs cricket, Ishant had more success, dismissing Smith twice in seven games.

Happy Birthday to the Indian speedster! 🥳

Watch #HarbhajanSingh, @ImIshant, and #SahibaBali share a funny story from a classic Ishant vs. #SteveSmith encounter. 🎂 pic.twitter.com/1CGtvMcHf3

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 2, 2024

A memorable incident during the Border Gavaskar Trophy

Harbhajan reminded Ishant of a memorable and humorous incident from their fierce Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series against Australia. During the second Test of the 2017 series at Bengaluru, Ishant was seen making comical faces at Smith, a gesture aimed at imitating Smith’s distinctive batting mannerisms. This playful banter occurred at a crucial moment, with India having lost the first Test at Pune. The Bengaluru Test was pivotal, and Ishant’s antics, which included making faces that amused even captain Virat Kohli, became a highlight. India went on to win?? t??he Bengaluru Test by 75 runs, contributing to their series win.

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Ishant’s international career and recent performances

Although Ishant hasn’t played for the Indian national team since the home Test series against New Zealand in 2021, he remains ?an influential figure in domestic cricket. He is India’s joint-fifth highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 311 wickets at an average of 32.40 from 105? matches. Additionally, Ishant has accumulated 123 wickets across 80 ODIs and 14 T20Is. His last appearance in white-ball cricket was in 2016 during an ODI series in Australia.

Impactful performances in the IPL

Despite his absence from international cricket, Ishant continued to make an impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the 2024 season, representing the Delhi Capitals (DC), Ishant showcased his skill by taking 10 wickets at an average of 26.50 in nine matches. His performances were pivotal in DC’s resurgence during the latter half of the season. Ishant also had a commendable performance in IPL 2023, picking up 10 wickets in eight games. Though DC missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, Ishant’s new-ball spells were a key factor in their improved performances.

As the IPL Mega Auction approach??es later this year, it remains to be seen whether Ishant will continue with DC or find a new home with another franchise. His ability to deliver impactful performances, even at this stage of his career, makes him a?? valuable player in the T20 league.

Also READ: IPL 2025 Auction: 4 players DC c??an retain as per the current �+1�rule

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India‘s final assignment in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle will be a tour to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), scheduled to commence in November 2024 and conclude in January 2025. This five-Test series is set to capture significant attention from cricket enthusiasts worldwide. India have?? recently been one of the?? few teams to challenge Australia on their home turf, having clinched series victories in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours with a 2-1 margin. The upcoming series is expected to be a gripping spectacle.

The legacy of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane

India’s previous tours to Australia featured notable contributions from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who were instrumental in India’s middle order. Pujara, with 103 Test matches, accumulated 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries, with his highest score being an unbeaten 206. Rahane, who played 85 Tests, scored 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties, with a top score of 188. Together, they formed a dependable middle-order partnership.

The decline and selection changes

Following India’s historic win at The Gabba in Brisbane in January 2021, both Pujara and Rahane experienced a noticeable decline in performance, leading to their exclusion from Test selection for over a year. Rahane’s last Test appearance was against the West Indies in July 2023, while Pujara last played against Australia in June 2023 at The Oval. The national selectors have since moved on from ??them,? seeking fresh talent for the team.

Also READ: Cricket Weekly Roundup: Fr??om the appointment of a new ICC chairman to Joe Root’s historic Test ton

Dinesh Karthik names potential replacement ahead of BGT 2024-25

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik, the former Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has suggested that Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan could be ideal candidates to fill the void left by Pujara and Rahane. Both players demonstrated their prowess in the home Test series against England earlier this year, and Karthik believed they are strong contenders for the upcoming BGT in Australia. Karthik acknowledged the challenge of replacing two stalwarts like Pujara and Rahane but expressed confidence in Gill and Khan’s ability to rise to the occasion.

Karthik remarked, “Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan—both of these batters have excelled against England in the recent home series. I anticipate both will be selected for the Australia tour and will aim to perform at their best. It remains to be seen if they can fill the significant shoes of Ajinkya and Pujara, but they possess the quality and caliber to succeed,”

Before heading to Australia, India will host Bangladesh and New Zealand in a two-match and thr??ee-match Test series, respectively. The series against Bangladesh is set to begin on September 19 in?? Chennai.

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The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has become one of the most fiercely contested Test series in modern cricket, with India and Australia engaging in epic battles over the years. The rivalry has only intensified in the last ??decade, particularly as India has emerged victorious in the last three series, including two on Australian soil. The upcoming five-match Test series, scheduled to start in late November 2024, is expected to be another chapter in this storied rivalry.

Australia’s quest to reclaim dominance

Australia, led by Pat Cummins, is under pressure to reassert their dominance at home, especially after losing the last two BGT series to India in their own backyard. The 2024 series is critical for Australia, not just for the pride of winning the BGT but also as a preparation for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in 2025. Despite winning the WTC title and the ODI World Cup recent??ly, the loss of the BGT remains a sore point for Australia.

India’s confidence and overseas success

India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, will enter the series with confidence, knowing they have the formula to win overseas, particularly in Australia. Their recent success, including the historic series win under Virat Kohli in 2018-19 and Ajinkya Rahane in 2020-21, has set a high standard. The Indian team’s ability to adapt to foreign conditions and perform consistently has made them a formidable opponent in any away series, particularly against Australia.

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Adam Gilchrist predicts the winner of the BGT 2024-25

As anticipation builds for the upcoming BGT between India and Australia, legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has weighed in on the potential outcome of the highly anticipated series. With India set to tour Australia for the five-match Test series starting in late November 2024, G??ilchrist emphasized the challenge that lies ahead for both teams, particularly for the hosts.

In an interview with The Times of India, Gilchrist highlighted that the onus is on the Australian team to prove their dominance at home, especially after their recent struggles against India in this particular series. Australia have not won the BGT in over a decade, wit??h India securing memorable victories during their last two tours of Australia. Even though Gilchrist went for host to win th??e contest, he acknowledged that India have developed a reputation for being formidable in overseas conditions, making the upcoming series a significant test for Cummins and his team.

“Onus is on Australia to prove they are the dominant force at home. India know how to go away and win overseas. Naturally, I’m going to say Australia, hope they get there. But it’s too close to call. It will be a close tussle,” Gilchrist said.

Also READ: Not Virat Kohli! N??athan Lyon warns Australia about an Indian batte?r who will be difficult to stop in BGT 2024-25

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India are set to embark on a challenging tour to Australia this November for a five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test series, aiming to build on their impressive recent performances against the Aussies in Test cricket. This series will mark the first five-Test series ??between? these two cricketing giants since the 1991/92 season, which also took place in Australia.

India’s recent dominance in Border Gavaskar Trophy

In recent years, India have established a remarkable record against Australia in Test cricket. The last four series between the two sides have all ended in India’s favor, each by a narrow 2-1 margin. This includes their groundbreaking victories on Australian soil in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 series. The latter series was particularly notable as it came amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with India managing a memorable draw at Sydney before clinching victory in the final Test at the Gabba with a severely depleted and inexperienced squad.

Australia’s last series win over India occurred during the 2014/15 season. The Aussies won the first two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane, with the third Test in Melbourne ending in a draw. This series also saw a significant shift in Indian cricket, as MS Dhoni resigned from his captaincy mid-series, handing over the leadership to Virat Kohli.

Australian perspective: Nathan Lyon’s comments

Looking ahead to the upcoming series, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon shared his thoughts with ESPNCricinfo, emphasizing the host team’s determination to reverse their recent fortunes against India. Lyon expressed a strong desire to reclaim the trophy. He acknowledged India’s prowess but remained focused on the goal of winning back the series.

“It’s been ten years of unfinished business, it’s been a long time, and I know we’re extremely hungry to turn things around especially here at home. Don’t get me wrong, India is an absolute superstar side and extremely challenging but I’m extremely hungry to turn things around and make sure we get that trophy back,” Lyon said.

Also READ: Usman Khawaja se??lects Steve Smith’s ?batting position for the BGT 2024-25 against India

Lyon’s warning for the Australian bowlers

Lyon also highlighted Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal as a significant challenge for the Australian bowlers. He mentioned having discussions with England spinner Tom Hartley about Jaiswal’s capabilities, particularly after Hartley’s experiences during the county season with Lancashire.

“I haven’t come across him [Jaiswal] yet, but that will be a massive challenge for all us bowlers. The way he played against England, I watched that quite closely and thought that was quite amazing. I had some really good chats with Tom Hartley about different ways he went about it to different guys which I found quite interesting. I love talking about cricket, so if I can talk to someone who has played Test cricket I might be able to pick up something I’m not aware of. There’s so much knowledge floating around this game that we can always tap into,” Lyon concluded.

Jaiswal’s performance in India’s recent Test series against England was impressive; he amassed 712 runs at an average of 89, including two double centuries and three fifties. Despite Hartley’s efforts, Jaiswal was dismissed only once in five Tests. Jaiswal will be touring Australia for the first time with the senior team, and he will be keen to make an impact against a formidable Australian bowling attack.

Also READ: Not Ro?hit Sharma or Virat Kohli! Wasim Jaffer names 3 Indian players crucial for BGT 2024-25 win over?? Australia

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Australian batter Usman Khawaja has openly expressed his preference for Steve Smith to bat at different position rather than as an opener in the Test line-up. Smith, who has been opening for Australia in Tests since David Warner‘s retirement following the home series against Pakistan in early 2024, has struggled to find his form at the top of the order. Despite Australia’s successful run, including a 2-0 series win in New Zealand, Smith’s performance as an opener remains a concern.

Steve Smith’s struggles as an opener for Australia

In the four matches Smith has played as an opener, he has scored just 171 runs at an average of 28.50, with only one half-century to his name. While the team has seen success, Smith’s struggles with the bat have been evident. His lone significant contribution was a 91 not out against the West Indies in a day-night Test at the Gabba, a match Australia eventually lost due to a standout bowling performance by Shamar Joseph.

Usman Khawaja’s preference for Smith 

Speaking to Fox Cricket, Khawaja emphasized his belief that Smith should return to his usual No. 4 position, where he has historically excelled. “I’ve always loved Steve Smith batting at No. 4, I haven’t shied away from that. I love seeing him come in at No. 4 â€?you get two wickets, and who do you get walking in? The best batsman in the world,” Khawaja said.?? He further elaborated that opening the batting exposes Smith to early risks, which could be avoided by h?aving him come in at his favored position.

Also READ: Not Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli! Wasim Jaffer names 3 Indian players crucial for BGT 2024-25 win over Australi??a

Smith’s legacy and the way forward

Smith is Australia’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests, amassing 9,685 runs at an exceptional average of 56.97 in 109 matches. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure have made him a cornerstone of the Australian Test team. However, the experiment of promoting him to the top of the order has not yielded the desired results. Smith himself has previously expressed a desire to bat higher up the order, aiming to reduce his waiting time to bat and allow all-rounders like Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green to feature in the playing XI.

The Border-Gavaskar series: A crucial Test against India

With the Border-Gavaskar series on the horizon, the Australian team will be looking to field their strongest possible line-up. Khawaja emphasized his preference for Smith at number four, noting that Smith averages 60 in that position, despite his ability to score at any spot in the lineup. He strongly advocates for Smith’s return to the middle order. Khawaja’s call for Smith to move back to No. 4 could be pivotal in ensuring that the team’s batting order is optimized for success against a formidable Indian side.

“I’m not sure what the top six is going to be this summer. I’ve always loved Steve Smith batting at No. 4; I haven’t shied away from that. I know Steve Smith can score runs at one, two, three, four, five, or six, but the man averages 60 at four, so my preference has always been Smudge (Steve Smith) at four,â€?/em> Khawaja concluded.