NEW DELHI: With a commanding 295-run victory against Australia, India have taken the first step towards the World Test Championships final that is scheduled to be held at Lord’s in June 2025.
The 0-3 defeat against New Zealand had made India’s task to qualify for WTC Final tougher with Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka all closing in.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India need to win the five-Test series in Australia 4-0 to directly qualify for the WTC final and that would boost their percentage point above 65 percent.
But by starting the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with a dominating victory, India have their hopes alive to reach their third successive WTC final.
But several other teams are also still in the race for WTC final qualification, each with varying scenarios.
India have increased their points tally to 110 and percentage to 61.11 after the win in Perth. With a strong recent record, India is in a relatively good position, needing three wins from their remaining four matches to secure their place in the final, but cannot take Australia lightly.

Defending champions Australia are placed at the second spot with 90 points and a percentage of 57.69.
Australia need at least four wins from their remaining seven matches to confirm qualification.
At the third spot are Sri Lanka, who have four matches left and need to win three of them to reach the WTC final. The Lankans have 60 points and a percentage of 55.56.
The 2021 WTC champions New Zealand are still in contention but will need to win most of their remaining matches, including a series against England, to stay in the hunt.
The Kiwis are at the fourth spot with 72 points and a percentage of 54.55.
South Africa are the fifth spot and their hopes are alive but dependent on winning their remaining four matches, including crucial home Tests.
Though India and Australia are in the driver’s seat, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and South Africa still have slim chances depending on their performances and results from other teams.

India pacer Harshit Rana credited captain Jasprit Bumrah and star batter Virat Kohli for their constant guidance during the ongoing Perth Test against Australia, which proved instrumental in his impressive debut performance. The 22-year-old, handed his debut alongside all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the high-stakes Border Gavaskar Trophy opener, made a significant impact with a crucial 3/48 spell that helped India seize control of the match.

Speaking at the post-Day 2 press conference, Rana acknowledged the support of Bumrah and Kohli, emphasising how their advice bolstered his confidence and helped him navigate the challenges of the spicy Perth pitch and the Australia batters. The young pacer, who dismissed key players, including the dangerous Travis Head, revealed how both senior players guided him on his lines, lengths, and mental approach, ensuring he stayed focused under pressure.

AUS vs IND, Perth Test Day 2: Highlights

“Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) kept telling me what to do and Virat bhai also gave advice. These things helps a lot. Jassi Bhai or Virat bhai, whoever came on, they kept giving me inputs as to what should be done in bowling, where to put the ball, where not to put it. So that thing brought a different confidence in myself that ‘yes they are telling me then I will do well’,” Rana said.

India’s bowlers turned the tide of the match after the team’s batters struggled on Day 1, managing only 150 runs. While Bumrah led the charge with a phenomenal 5/30 spell, Rana’s three wickets and Mohammed Siraj’s 2/20 added to a collective bowling masterclass that saw Australia bundled out for just 104. Rana’s dismissal of Travis Head, who had been in excellent form leading into the series, was particularly pivotal, cutting short Australia’s chances of building any momentum.

On Day 2, India’s batting fortunes were revived by openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who delivered an unbeaten 172-run partnership. Both players showcased resilience and adaptability, with Jaiswal nearing his maiden Test century on Australian soil and Rahul silencing critics with a composed and unbeaten 62. Their efforts helped India secure a commanding 218-run lead by stumps, setting the stage for a thrilling Day 3.

Rana’s stellar debut, coupled with the collective brilliance of India’s bowling attack and the resurgence of the openers, has positioned the team in a dominant spot. With the guidance of stalwarts like Bumrah and Kohli, Rana’s performance not only highlighted his potential but also demonstrated the team’s ability to nurture young talent in high-pressure situations.

Rohit Sharma Wont Travel to Australia: भारतीय टीम को ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ उसी के घर में 5 मैचों की टेस्ट सीरीज खेलनी है. टेस्ट सीरीज का पहला मुकाबला 22 नवंबर से पर्थ में खेला जाना है. मगर इससे पहले भारतीय टीम के लिए एक तगड़ा झटका देने वाली खबर सामने आ रही है. भारतीय कप्तान रोहित शर्मा ऑस्ट्रेलिया दौरे के लिए टीम के साथ रवाना नहीं हो रहे हैं. 

ऐसे में स्पष्ट है कि रोहित शर्मा सीरीज का पहला टेस्ट मैच नहीं खेलेंगे. उनकी जगह उपकप्तान जसप्रीत बुमराह को कमान संभालनी पड़ सकती है. बता दें कि कप्तान रोहित दूसरी बार पिता बनने वाले हैं. माना जा रहा है कि अगले कुछ दिन में रोहित की पत्नी रितिका सजदेह बच्चे को जन्म दे सकती हैं. ऐसे में रोहित उनके पास रहेंगे.

प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस में नहीं रहेंगे कप्तान रोहित

हाल ही में खबर आई थी कि रोहित पहले बैच में भारतीय टीम के साथ ऑस्ट्रेलिया जा सकते हैं. साथ ही वो जरूरत पड़ने पर पहले और दूसरे टेस्ट के बीच में वापस आ सकते हैं. लेकिन अब यह सभी संभावनाएं समाप्त हो गई हैं.

दरअसल, ऑस्ट्रेलिया दौरे के लिए भारतीय टीम दो बैच में 11 और 12 नवंबर को रवाना होगी. इससे पहले टीम इंडिया के मुख्य कोच गौतम गंभीर मुंबई में 11 नवंबर को सुबह 9 बजे प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस करेंगे. अगर रोहित शर्मा इस बैच के साथ जा रहे होते तब वे भी मीडिया से बातचीत का हिस्सा बनते. भारतीय टीम ऑस्ट्रेलिया के लिए रवाना हो गई है. इसमें रोहित शामिल नहीं हैं. इसका वीडियो भी सामने आया है.

पहले टेस्ट के लिए ऑस्ट्रेलियाई टीम: पैट कमिंस (कप्तान), स्कॉट बोलैंड, एलेक्स कैरी, जोश हेजलवुड, ट्रेविस हेड, जोश इंग्लिस, उस्मान ख्वाजा, मार्नस लाबुशेन, नाथन लायन, मिचेल मार्श, नाथन मैकस्वीनी, स्टीव स्मिथ, मिचेल स्टार्क.

टेस्ट सीरीज के लिए भारतीय टीम: रोहित शर्मा (कप्तान), जसप्रीत बुमराह (उप-कप्तान), यशस्वी जायसवाल, अभिमन्यु ईश्वरन, शुभमन गिल, विराट कोहली, केएल राहुल, ऋषभ पंत (विकेटकीपर), सरफराज खान, ध्रुव जुरेल (विकेटकीपर), आर अश्विन, रवींद्र जडेजा, मोहम्मद सिराज, आकाश दीप, प्रसिद्ध कृष्णा, हर्षित राणा, नीतीश कुमार रेड्डी, वॉशिंगटन सुंदर.

रिजर्व: मुकेश कुमार, नवदीप सैनी, खलील अहमद.

भारतीय टीम का ऑस्ट्रेलिया दौरा (नवंबर-जनवरी 2025)

22-26 नवंबर: पहला टेस्ट, पर्थ
6-10 दिसंबर: दूसरा टेस्ट, एडिलेड
14-18 दिसंबर: तीसरा टेस्ट, ब्रिस्बेन
26-30 दिसंबर: चौथा टेस्ट, मेलबर्न
03-07 जनवरी: पांचवा टेस्ट, सिडनी

NEW DELHI: Pace and bounce. Test cricket in Australia is identified by these two elements. Over the years, no other stadium has represented the fast and furious nature of the Australian pitches than the WACA Ground in Perth.
Indian batsmen, brought up on the low and slow dusty tracks at home, don’t have a formidable record at the WACA, though there have been some memorable and exceptional performances.
India have played four Tests at the WACA and have emerged victorious only once and have also lost their only Test that they played at the new Perth Stadium.
Here’s a look at Team India’s performances in the five Tests in Perth:
1977 – WACA, Perth 2nd Test: Australia won by 2 wickets
India played their first Test at the WACA in December 1977 under the captaincy of Bishan Singh Bedi. Opting to bat after winning the toss, India, riding on opener Chetan Chauhan’s 88 and the gutsy Mohinder Amarnath’s 90 scored 402 runs in their first innings.
Bedi then led from the front with a five-wicket haul but Australia scored 394 thanks to their captain Bob Simpson’s 176.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar became the first Indian batsman to hit a Test hundred at the WACA with a superb 127. Amarnath carried his form through to the second innings and also hit a century, as India declared their second innings at 330/9, giving the Aussies a stiff 339-victory target.
But Tony Mann (105) and Peter Toohey (83) led the run chase as the Aussies won by 2 wickets.
1992 – WACA, Perth 5th Test: Australia won by 300 runs
Australia were already leading the five-match series 3-0 when the fifth Test got underway in February 1992. The Aussies won the toss and David Boon’s 107 powered them to 346.
And then what unfolded on the fastest and bounciest pitch of the world was a pure exhibition of classic batting and dazzling strokeplay when 18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar hit a stupendous hundred against an Aussie attack that had Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes, Paul Reiffel, Mike Whitney and Tom Moody.
Tendulkar’s century at the WACA is one of the most iconic innings in his career. This hundred is remembered not only for its technical brilliance but also for the promise it showed from an 18-year-old Tendulkar against one of the most intimidating bowling line-ups on one of the world’s fastest pitches.
But with the rest of the batsmen hardly making a mark, India were bowled out for 272 in their first innings. Dean Jones’ unbeaten 150 and Tom Moody’s 101 enabled the Aussies to declare their second innings at 367/6.
Mike Whitney ran through the Indian batting line-up taking 7 wickets as India were bundled out for 141 and Australia won the match by 300 runs and the 5-match series 4-0.
2008 – WACA, Perth 3rd Test: India won by 72 runs
This was India’s first-ever Test victory at the WACA and had many heroes. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar scored 93 and 71 respectively in the first innings to power India to 330.
A young and lanky Ishant Sharma bowled a dream spell to Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who was all at sea against the pacer, eventually falling to him. RP Singh took 4 wickets as Australia could manage 212.
VVS Laxman scored a brilliant 79 in the second innings to take India to 294 and set Australia a 413-run victory target. Captain Anil Kumble dismissed Andrew Symonds for his 600th Test wicket. Man of the match Irfan Pathan took 3 wickets as India won the Test by 72 runs.
But India’s victory in this Test is remembered as one of the most celebrated moments in Indian cricket. It not only ended Australia’s 16-match winning streak but also capped India’s comeback after the Sydney Test, which was rocked by the Monkeygate scandal.
Australia had won the controversial Sydney Test that had led to significant tensions and scrutiny over umpiring decisions and sportsmanship. Still, India’s win in Perth is remembered as a triumph of resilience and skill. It was one of the rare instances when an Indian team outperformed Australia on a fast and bouncy pitch, a traditional weakness for sub-continental teams.
This victory not only boosted India’s confidence but also marked a shift in their approach to overseas tours, displaying aggression and adaptability against the world’s best.
2012 – WACA, Perth 3rd Test: Australia won by an innings and 37 runs
On India’s tour of Australia in 2011/12, MS Dhoni and his men could not win a single Test. And when the two teams landed in Perth for the third Test, the Aussies already had an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Ben Hilfenhaus took 4 wickets and Peter Siddle took 3 as India were bowled out for 161 runs in their first innings after being put into bat.
David Warner smashed 180 to power Australia to 369 in their first innings.
Hilfenhaus again took 4 wickets and Peter Siddle again took 3 to shoot out India for 171 to register an emphatic victory by an innings and 37 runs inside 3 days.
2018 – Perth 2nd Test: Australia won by 146 runs
From the 2018/19 season, Australia moved to a new cricket stadium in Perth, known as Optus Stadium, because of modern facilities, larger seating capacity than the WACA, accessibility, improved pitch and playing conditions.
The first Test that the stadium hosted was the second Test between India and Australia in December 2018.
Virat Kohli and his men were on a high after winning the first Test by 31 runs in Adelaide.
Ishant Sharma took 4 wickets as Australia scored 326 runs. Virat Kohli hit a magnificent 123, ably supported by Ajinkya Rahane‘s 51, but India folded for 283 with Nathan Lyon taking 5/67.
Mohammed Shami took 6/56 in the Aussie second innings to bowl out Australia for 243. But India failed to chase down the 287-run target and lost the match by 146 runs.
This was the only Test that India lost on that tour as they went on to win the 4-match Test series 2-1. It was their first Test series triumph on Australian soil.
Cut to 2024, the Rohit Sharma-led side need to win 4 Tests in Australia to directly qualify for the World Test Championships final.