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Boxing Day Test: Australia announced playing XI; Rohit to open for India | Fourth test match preview

Cricket Australia have already announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India. Meantime, from the Indian camp, the news is that Rohit Sharma will open for India.

Dec 25, 2024, 6:01 AM5 min read

Boxing Day Test: Australia announced playing XI; Rohit to open for India | Fourth test match preview | sportzpoint.com

Cricket Australia have already announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India. In the meantime, from the Indian camp, the news is that Rohit Sharma will open up for India. As we get closer to the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, here is everything you need to know before the all-important test.

Match Details

Match: Australia vs India

Date: 26 December - 30 December, 2024

Time: 5 am IST

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia.

Boxing Day Test Session Timings

Toss - 4.30 am IST.

First session - 5 am to 7 am IST.

Second session - 7.40 am to 9.40 am IST.

Third session - 10 am to 12 pm IST.

Where to watch the test match?

Indian fans can watch the test match LIVE on Disney+Hotstar with a paid plan. Moreover, the match will also be televised LIVE on Star Sports TV Channels on Indian Televisions. 

Team News | Australia

Australia have already announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test match. For them, it is great news that Travis Head, who had an injury scare after a match-winning performance at the Gabba and Adelaide, is fit enough to play the fourth test. Head won back-to-back Player of the Match awards and has been a big "headache" for the Indian bowling lineup. 

Boxing Day Test: Australia announced playing XI; Rohit to open for India | Fourth test match preview | sportzpoint.com
Head completes running drills under the watchful eye of fitness trainer, Ross Herridge. | Image: CA via Getty

In the two changes for Australia, we will see youngster Sam Konstas will debut, replacing Nathan McSweeney and Scot Boland will replace injured Josh Hazlewood.

Though Nathan McSweeney had played a lot of balls and went through the early troubles thrown by Indian bowlers, he was released from the squad after not scoring that many runs in the three matches of the series. On the other hand, Sam Konstas is one of the most talked about young batters in Australia at the moment and smashed a stunning ton in the practice match he played for the Prime Minister's XI against India in Canberra.

Sam Konstas at Australia's training session on Christmas Day | sportzpoint.com
Sam Konstas at Australia's training session on Christmas Day. Image | Getty Images

In the bowling lineup, Josh Hazlewood was already ruled out of the third test during the third test and has been replaced by Scot Boland, who has a terrific record in Australia as a pacer. 

Read Also | Boxing Day Test: Indian camp fumes over quality of practice pitches at MCG

The rest of the playing XI is the same for the hosts with Pat Cummins leading the side and Mitchell Starc being his senior-most bowling partner in the pace bowling department. Despite questions over Mitchell Marsh's selection in the side, he was able to keep his place in the playing XI. 

Australia's Playing XI (Confirmed)

Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Team News | India

Well, there are lots of movements in the Indian team at the moment. India have not played that well in the last two test matches and that is showing in the rumoured playing XI.

Senior batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not scored runs and other than Jasprit Bumrah (21 wickets at 10.9) none of the bowlers were able to take wickets. Yashashi Jaiswal has found it had to get going after scoring that ton in the first test. Among all the batters, only KL Rahul looked like the batter who had a proper plan against the Aussie bowlers in these challenging conditions. Moreover, his execution has been superb too. 

Boxing Day Test: Australia announced playing XI; Rohit to open for India | Fourth test match preview | sportzpoint.com
Yashasvi Jaiswal during the partice session at MCG. Image | ICC/X

But, as per the news we are getting from Australia, captain Rohit Sharma will return as an opener and will bat with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order. In that case, KL Rahul like always will have to shift his base for the sake of the team. Rahul will come down to number three. 

Read Also | Every Indian batter who scored a Boxing-Day test ton: Rahane and Rahul and more

Virat Kohli is to stay at his favourite number four position and that suggests that Shubman Gill, who also has not scored that many runs in the series, might have to slide down the order to be able to play. Gill's position is still unclear with Rishabh Pant's batting number being five or six. 

Boxing Day Test: Australia announced playing XI; Rohit to open for India | Fourth test match preview | sportzpoint.com
Ravindra Jadeja in all smiles during the practice session. Image | ICC/X

In the all-rounder's department, though Nitish Kumar Reddy has done well in the opportunities he has had so far, looks like Washington Sundar will come into the playing XI replacing him. With the batting form Ravindra Jadeja showed in the last match, there is no way he would miss the rest of the two tests for India.

Jasprit Bumrah will be the leader of the bowling pack with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep continuing his bowling partners. 

India's possible playing XI

Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah

Boxing-Day Test Match: Fantasy Team Prediction

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Travis Head (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Pat Cummins, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mitchell Starc, Scot Boland

 

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India A's squad for the tour of England: Easwaran named captain, Karun Nair makes a return

Abhimanyu Easwaran was named the captain of the India A team for the tour of England as the BCCI announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour starting from 30th May 2025.

May 16, 2025, 2:58 PM2 min read

India A's squad for the tour of England: Easwaran named captain, Karun Nair makes a return | sportzpoint.com

Abhimanyu Easwaran was named the captain of the India A team for the tour of England as the BCCI announced the India A squad for the upcoming tour starting from 30th May 2025. 

India A will play two first-class matches against the England Lions at Canterbury and Northampton. Then they will play a practice match against the senior Indian team to prepare them for the big series against England. 

Karun Nair was rewarded for his excellent domestic form as he made a return to the India A side. His performance for the A side might decide whether he will be given a chance for the senior team or not.

Abishek Porel, who was named in the last India A's tour to Australia, has been replaced by Ishan Kishan in the side.

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who will be busy in the Indian Premier League for the Gujarat Titans, will join the squad from the second match. 

India A squad for the England tour

India A squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurel (VC) (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan (WK), Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey

India A' schedule for the England tour

 No.

Day & Date (From)

Day & Date (To)

Time (local)

Match

Venue

1

Fri

30-May-25

Mon

02-June-25

10:00 AM

1st first-class

Canterbury

2

Fri

06-June-25

Mon

09-June-25

10:00 AM

2nd first-class

Northampton

3

Fri

13-June-25

Mon

16-June-25

10:00 AM

Intra-squad

Beckenham

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IPL 2025: Will Mitchell Starc have to pay the price for pulling out mid-way? Explained

Many foreign players have returned to India for the remaining matches of IPL 2025, but some have completely refused to come this season. One of them is the name of Australian legend Mitchell Starc.

May 16, 2025, 11:01 AM3 min read

IPL 2025: Will Mitchell Starc have to pay the price for pulling out mid-way? Explained

The excitement of IPL 2025 is set to begin once again on May 17. However, the availability of foreign players has been a major challenge for many teams after the one-week postponement.

Many foreign players have returned to India for the remaining matches of IPL, but some have completely refused to come this season. One of them is the name of Australian legend Mitchell Starc. Starc was part of the Delhi Capitals team in IPL 2025.

Also Read: KKR Redefines Matchday Atmosphere with Unmatched Tifo Displays during IPL 2025

Starc returned due to India-Pakistan tension

However, Mitchell Starc returned to Australia due to tensions between India and Pakistan. Starc was also involved in the match when there was a sudden blackout in the match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.

Many foreign players who played in this match were in shock, but now the situation has become normal and the tournament is starting again. In such a situation, there are many foreign players who have returned.

There is talk of imposing a penalty on Starc

Mitchell Starc was an important player for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, but Starc may be in trouble due to his non-return in the remaining matches. Starc was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 11.75 crore in the mega auction.

In such a situation, it is believed that the Delhi Capitals team can deduct the auction fee if he does not return for the remaining matches of the season, for which the Australian bowler is also said to be ready.

According to the report, Mitchell Starc may face a penalty of 400000 Australian dollars i.e. Rs 3.92 crore if he does not return to IPL 2025. This amount will be deducted from his auction fee.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Here are the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament

Starc's performance in IPL 2025

Talking about Starc's performance in IPL 2025, he has taken 14 wickets in 11 matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy rate of 10.16. Starc bowled very economically this season. So, his return could prove to be a big loss for Delhi Capitals as the team is in dire need of wins to make it to the top four of the tournament. 

Delhi Capitals are currently fifth on the IPL 2025 Points Table and are among the four contenders for the playoffs’ spot. They have three matches remaining, and a win in at least two of them will take them closer to the qualification. Winning all three, will guarantee a top four finish.

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"Wear whites for Virat": RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute

Get ready to witness a sea of whites in Chinnaswamy stadium. RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute. Check the full article for all the details.

May 16, 2025, 7:40 AM2 min read

"Wear whites for Virat": RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute? Yes! Fans are planning a special "wear white" initiative and asking the crowd to show up in whites for the upcoming RCB vs KKR match at Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17, 2025.

As the IPL is set to resume tomorrow, and we will witness Virat Kohli play his first match after his announcement of test retirement, fans are organising a heartfelt tribute for the King!

The viral spread of white wave

A fan-driven moment is going viral recently where they call the crowd to wear white for a collective tribute to Virat Kohli after his test retirement.

Whether you have a test jersey or not, all they ask for is wearing anything white instead of the jerseys of IPL franchises.

Discussions on Reddit

The white tribute takes shape on reddit as fans try to reach out as much as possible.

Reddit discussion on how RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com
Reddit discussion thread on wear white in Chinnaswamy tribute. Image | Reddit

Fans pledge to wear white in Instagram comments

Fans leave heartfelt messages on comments section of official Royal Challengers Bengaluru Instagram page.

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com
Comments on RCB's official Instagram handle. Image | Instagram 

Hashtags like #WearWhiteForVirat, #KohliTestTribute, and #KohliTestFarewell are the ones people are using to make this a trend before the upcoming IPL 2025 match.

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com
Comments on RCB's official Instagram handle. Image | Instagram 

Content Creators spreading the word

Many content creators have joined hands to support this initiative and they are getting huge responses.

Harsha Bhogle reacts on Twitter 

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Most runs in WTC 2023-25 | Updated

The battle for most runs in WTC 2023-25 is intense. See where the highest run-scorers stands following Joe Root, who is in top of the chart!

May 15, 2025, 2:28 PM4 min read

Most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com

The ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 saw some stellar batting performances. Some players have consistently showed how good they are with the bat, and secured their top spot. 

As the WTC 2023-25 is approaching its end, it is now time to look at those huge numbers by some sensational test batters.

Check out these names with most runs in WTC 2023-25.

1. Joe Root (1968 runs) | England 

Joe Root holds the first rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Joe Root in action during the World Test Championship 2023-2025. Image | Mint

Joe Root, who is in the top 5 for most runs in test career among some legendary test batters, holds the 1st rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25. He is a central figure for England in tests.

Root's contribution in the WTC 2023-25 cycle has been immense. He scored 1968 runs in 22 matches, with his highest score being 262 against Pakistan, which is the second-highest individual score by an English batter in WTC 2023-25 cycle.

He scored 7 centuries in this cycle, which is unmatched so far.

Read Also: Joe Root to break Sachin Tendulkar's Record of Runs In Test Cricket, predicts Ricky Ponting

Joe Root stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
2023-2024 22 40 1968 262 54.66 3006 65.46 7 7 1 186 9

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal (1789 runs) | India

Yashasvi Jaiswal holds the second rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrating his double century against England in WTC 2023-25. Image | Instagram 

Yashasvi Jaiswal made his debut in test cricket during the WTC 2023-25 cycle and his journey was nothing short of sensational. He emerged as the highest run-scorer for India and holds the 2nd rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25.

He scored a total of 1798 runs in 19 matches, with 2 back-to-back double centuries against England, which showcased his ability to dominate in this format.

Read Also: IND vs ENG: Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes fastest Indian to complete 1000 runs in Test cricket

Yashasvi Jaiswal stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg  BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
2023-2025 19 36 1798 214* 52.88 2738 65.66 14 10 3 207 39

3. Ben Duckett (1470 runs) | England 

Ben Duckett holds the third rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Ben Duckett celebrating his century against India in WTC 2023-25. Image | Instagram 

The opening batter for England, Ben Duckett, was phenomenal in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. He consistently provided decent starts to his team with the kind of explosive batting he is known for.

Ben scored 1470 runs in 22 matches and holds the 3rd rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25. He scored 2 centuries during his campaign and proved to be one of the key batters for England.

Read Also: Highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25

Ben Duckett stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
2023-2024 22 41 1470 153 36.75 1743 84.33 2 8 2 187 7

Other players with 1400+ runs in WTC 2023-25

The England batters have purely dominated the list for most runs in WTC 2023-25, with their 3 batters appearing in top 5. Harry Brook is the third batter from England who is in the top 5 of this list, having 1400+ runs.

Australian batters like Steve Smith and Travis Head also performed brilliantly in this championship, but only Usman Khawaja could make it to the top 5 by having a 1400+ runs in total.

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

The list will look different after the WTC final between Australia and South Africa, but here is what has happened so far.

Rank Player Span Matches Innings  Runs Highest Avg BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
4 Harry Brook (ENG) 2023-2024 17 29 1463 317 50.44 1755

83.36

4 7 1 144 17
5 Usman Khawaja (AUS) 2023-2025 19 37 1422 232 41.82 3168 44.88 2 6 2 149 5

Next Article

IPL 2025: Here are the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament

Will your favourite overseas IPL star leave mid-season? Check out the list of overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament in IPL 2025.

May 15, 2025, 2:13 PM2 min read

IPL 2025: Here are the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament

As IPL 2025 faced disruptions and was suspended on 9th May, 2025, most of the overseas players returned back to their respective home countries.

The tournament is set to resume from 17th May, 2025, and it raises a crucial question about how many overseas players can rejoin their franchises.

Given their international commitments and other issues, check out the overseas players who might not come for the remainder of the tournament in IPL 2025 for each team.

IPL 2025 Points Table

Firstly, see where each team stands before the tournament resumes.

Position  Teams Matches Played Won Lost NRR Points

1

Gujarat Titans  11 8 3 +0.793 16
2 Royal Challengers Bengaluru  11 8 3 +0.482 16
3 Punjab Kings  11 7 3 +0.376 15
4 Mumbai Indians  12 7 5 +1.156 14
5 Delhi Capitals 11 6 4 +0.362 13
6 Kolkata Knight Riders 12 5 6 +0.193 11
7 Lucknow Super Giants 11 5 6 -0.469 10
8 Sunrisers Hyderabad 11 3 7 -1.192 7
9 Rajasthan Royals 12 3 9 -0.718 6
10 Chennai Super Kings 12 3 9 -0.992 6

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

Overseas players return status for the remainder of IPL 2025

Teams

Return in Doubt

(players who might not come back)

Confirmed Arrivals

(players who are/have come back)

Players who stayed back in India

GT - Jos Buttler (Will be replaced in playoffs), Gerald Coetzee Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Sherfane Rutherford, D. Shanaka, K. Janat, Glenn Philips  
RCB Josh Hazlewood Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Phil Salt, Liam Livingston, Nuwan Thushara, Tim David, Lungi Ngidi -
PBKS Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie Marco Jansen, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Azmatullah Omarzai,  -
MI Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch Trent Boult, Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb Ur Rahaman, Reece Topley, Mitchell Santner -
DC Mitchell Starc, Faf du Plessis Tristan Stubbs, Dushmantha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira -
KKR Moeen Ali, Rovman Powell Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje -
LSG - Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran, Shamar Joseph -
SRH Wiaan Mulder Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Heinrich Klassen, Kamindu Mendis, Eshan Malinga -
RR Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fazalhaq Farooqi Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius
CSK Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Jamie Overton, Sam Curran Matheesha Pathirana, Dewald Brevis, Nathan Ellis  Noor Ahmad

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