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. 

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.

In the bowling lineup, Josh Hazlewood was already ruled out of the third test during the third test and has been replaced by Scot Boland, who has a terrific record in Australia as a pacer.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

Sam Konstas & Usman Khawaja are set to become the first opening partnership for AUS with an age gap of over 18 years

#AUSvIND

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) December 24, 2024

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. 

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. 

💬💬 Jasprit Bumrah's confidence in his skillset, clarity of thought, and simple approach make it very easy for me.#TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma shares his thoughts on captaining Jasprit Bumrah and his impact in the series so far. 👌#AUSvIND | @ImRo45 | @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/WiXulJhqlj

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 24, 2024

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

The Indian Premier League is known to have numerous talented cricketers grace the field over the years. One of the key metrics used to assess a bowler's effectiveness is their economy rate, the number of runs they give away per over.

An economy rate is an important measure for bowlers; it typically measures the average number of runs a bowler concedes in an over. This is particularly true in a fast-paced T20 game, where the objective is to keep the opposition from scoring freely. A low economy rate shows a bowler's ability to restrict runs, often playing a critical role in helping a team control the game.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel fined 25% match fee for breaching IPL Code of Conduct

In this article we will be discussing about the IPL facts of best economy in IPL since 2024.

IPL Facts: Best Economy in IPL Since 2024

5. Digvesh Rathi | 7.04

Digvesh Rathi, a promising bowling allrounder, made his IPL debut in the 2025 season. He has been acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs. 30 Lakh at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Since his IPL debut in 2025, Rathi played only 7 matches and took 9 wickets with an economy rate of 7.04.

4. Varun Chakravarthy | 7.04

Varun Chakravarthy made his IPL debut with Kings XI Punjab in 2019 before joining Kolkata Knight Riders in 2020. Since then, he has been a key player for KKR, known for his exceptional bowling and ability to baffle batsmen with his variations. 

Chakravarthy picked up 31 wickets since 2024 season with a stellar economy of 7.04. Overall He played 78 IPL matches and picked up 93 wickets, including one fifer with an economy rate of 7.44.

3. Prasidh Krishna | 7.00

Prasidh Krishna, who has played for multiple teams in the IPL like Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans, is another bowler known for his high economical rate. Over the course of his IPL career, Manhas played only 6 matches since 2024, with his economy rate consistently staying at 7.00.

Overall Prasidh played 57 IPL matches and picked up 599 wickets, with an economy rate of 8.71.

2. Sunil Narine | 6.09

Since his IPL debut in 2012, off-spinner Sunil Narine has played only for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and a significant role for his team. Narine remains a game-changer, picking up 24 wickets since 2024 season with a stellar economy of 6.09, making him one of the most successful spinners in IPL history.

Overall Narine played 183 IPL matches and picked up 187 wickets, including one fifer with an economy rate of 6.74.

Also Read: IPL 2025 facts: KKR has won every game when this player has played for them

1. Jasprit Bumrah | 6.08

Jasprit Bumrah is undoubtedly one of the best bowlers that India has ever produced. Playing only for the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, Jasprit Bumrah appeared in 16 matches since 2024 and picked up a total of 22 wickets so far. Conceding a total of 430 runs, Bumrah got a bowling economy rate of 6.08.

Taking a shocking decision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has removed fielding coach T Dilip and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar from the Indian team's coaching staff. BCCI has taken this action after India's humiliating defeat in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia. 

According to media reports, by removing the coaching staff and many other members, the BCCI has given a strict warning that the performance of the Indian team in Tests cannot be ignored.

Also Read: IPL 2025 facts: KKR has won every game when this player has played for them

Abhishek became assistant coach eight months ago

Abhishek was appointed as the assistant coach just eight months ago when Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach. However, he has now been relieved of his responsibilities as the assistant coach.

Along with him, fielding coach T. Dilip and strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai have also been sacked. Apart from this, a staff member who used to massage the players in the team has also been sacked.

Abhishek worked with Gambhir in KKR

Rahul Dravid's tenure ended after the T20 World Cup 2024. After this, BCCI appointed Gambhir as the head coach. Gambhir had associated his teammates from Kolkata Knight Riders with the team as his assistants.

Before becoming the head coach of the Indian team, Gambhir was the mentor of KKR and at that time Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate were the support staff in the same team. Morne Morkel had worked with Gambhir in Lucknow Super Giants. He was holding the post of fielding coach since the time of Dravid.

Replacement for Abhishek and Dilip

The BCCI has not announced permanent replacements as per reports. However, the transition is already underway. Sitanshu Kotak, currently with the team setup, will continue in his role. Ryan ten Doeschate will handle fielding duties in place of Dilip. For fitness and conditioning, Adrian Le Roux who is currently with Punjab Kings will fill in for Desai.

India's performance in Border Gavaskar Trophy

Team India struggled in the Border Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. They were inconsistent on both the batting and bowling fronts as the Aussies dominated. The failure was not just about the scoreboard, but the manner in which the team collapsed under pressure.

Also Read: Bengal Cricket: YMCA (College Branch) Clinches Thrilling Victory in Relegation Final, BNR Relegated to CAB Second Division

The result of this loss prompted the BCCI to introspect, and a shake-up the support staff.

The Indian team is set to play a five-match Test series against England starting June 20. They will want to bounce back with the new restructured support staff.

Indian team's star batsman Virat Kohli scored a brilliant half-century in the match against Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. The former captain, who is in great form, became the first Indian to score 100 half-centuries in T20 cricket. 

The Indian stalwart entered the exclusive club, which solely featured David Warner as its sole member. The former Australia star boasts a staggering 108 half-centuries in the T20 format.

Also Read: Most Wickets in 1st Over of IPL

Let's take a look at the batters with most gifties in T20 cricket.

Most Fifties in T20 Cricket

5. Jos Buttler | 86

The England batter Jos Buttler has a fantastic record in the shortest format and has featured in franchise cricket all around the world. Buttler is a part of the Gujarat Titans side in the ongoing IPL season. He has so far played 440 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a total of 12,331 runs with 8 hundreds and the highest individual score of 124.

4. Chris Gayle | 88

The explosive West Indies batter Chris Gayle has played franchise cricket all around the world and has also featured a lot for the national side in the shortest format. Gayle has played 463 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a total of 14,562 runs with 22 centuries and the highest individual score 175*.

3. Babar Azam | 90

The Pakistan batter has not only played a lot of T20 cricket for the national side, but has also featured a lot in franchise cricket. Babar has so far played 311 matches in the format, scoring a total of 11,042 runs with 11 hundreds and the highest individual score of 122.

2. Virat Kohli | 100*

The India star batter Virat Kohli scored his 100th half-century in T20 cricket during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's clash against the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Kohli has so far played 405 matches in the format, scoring a total of 13,134 runs with 9 centuries and the highest individual score of 122*.

Also Read: Most Fifties (and over) in IPL History

1. David Warner | 108

The former Australia batter David Warner has played a total of 400 matches in T20 cricket, scoring a massive 12,925 runs. Along with a humongous number of half-centuries, Warner also has 8 centuries under his name in the format with the highest individual score of 135*.

Indian Premier League has been one of the toughest yet entertaining cricket leagues in the world since its inception in 2008. Since then, many Indian and overseas batters have gone on to score plenty of runs for their teams. In this article, we will discuss all those batters who have scored the most fifties (and over) in IPL history. 

Currently, former Australian batter David Warner holds the record for the most fifties (and over) scored in IPL history with 66 fifties. Indian legend Virat Kohli follows him on the list with 65 fifties. With his consistency, Virat Kohli can go past Warner any time and become the batter with the most fifties (and over) in IPL history. 

Shikhar Dhawan, who is considered one of the best openers in IPL history, has 53 IPL fifties to his name. However, he will not be able to increase that number as he has already hung up his boots. 

Rohit Sharma, with 45 IPL fifties, and KL Rahul with 43 fifties can surely get close to David Warner's number. Rahul has been in tremendous form and has already scored two fifties in IPL 2025. However, Rohit Sharma has struggled to get going this season. 

Read Also | Most runs in IPL since 2018

AB de Villiers and Suresh Raina, two of the greatest middle order batters ever to play in Indian Premier League history, also come upon the list with 43 and 40 IPL fifties to their names. 

Faf du Plessis (38) is another name among the active cricketers who ranks among the top 10 players with most IPL fifties so far. 

Read Also | IPL Facts: Most Man of the Match Awards in IPL History

Most fifties (and over) in IPL History (Top 10)

Since its inaugural season in 2008, the IPL has recognized outstanding individual performances through various awards such as the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer, the Purple Cap for the leading wicket-taker, and the Emerging Player Award for young talents. 

Among such individual awards held in high esteem is the Man of the Match award, given to the standout performer of each game. This award is presented to the player who makes the most significant impact, whether through batting, bowling, or all-round impact.

So let's take a look at the IPL facts of most Man of the Match awards in IPL history.

Also Read: Most Wickets Among Spinner in IPL Since 2023

IPL Facts | Most Man of the Match Awards in IPL

5# David Warner | 18

David Warner is one of the most consistent players in IPL history. He has won the Man of the Match award 18 times and is fifth on this list. He led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title in the 2016 season, where he scored 848 runs. 

Overall, Warner has scored 6565 runs at a strike rate of 139.77 and an average of 40.52. He also holds the record for scoring the most fifties (60) in IPL history. However, Warner remained unsold in the ongoing season.

4# Virat Kohli | 18

RCB superstar Virat Kohli has been playing for the team in the IPL since 2008. Even after scoring over 8000 runs, Kohli is showing no signs of stopping. When it comes to winning Man of the Match awards, Kohli has won 18 awards just like David Warner. Along with 18 POTM, Kohli also has 1 Most Valuable Player of the Season.

Virat is also the highest run getter in IPL with the record of being the first player who scored 7000 runs in IPL history. Overall Kohli made 8190 runs in 249 innings with an average of 38.81 and a strike rate of 132.24.

Kohli has a superb season with the bat in IPL 2016 when he scored 4 hundreds in a single season along with a mammoth 973 runs.

3# Rohit Sharma | 19

Rohit Sharma, with 19 Man of the Match awards, ranks first among Indian players and third overall. He is arguably the most successful captain in IPL history, having led the Mumbai Indians to five titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 seasons respectively. 

Alongside the brilliant captaincy, he is also a good batsman in IPL. He scored 6666 runs in IPL his career so far at an average of 29.36 and strike rate of 131.14.

Read Also: IPL: Most Man of the Match awards by Indian Players

2# Chris Gayle | 22

'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle has established himself as the greatest T20 cricketer of all time with his consistent performances over the years. The left-handed batsman has won the Player of the Match award 22 times in the league. 

Gayle has 4965 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of 148.96 and an average of 39.72. He has scored a record 6 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the history of the tournament. He also holds the record for the highest individual score(175*) in IPL history.

1# AB de Villiers | 25

Former South African batsman AB de Villiers also established himself as one of the leading finishers in T20 cricket. Mr 360 of T20 cricket has won 25 awards in the history of the league, the most by any player. 

Overall AB has scored 5162 runs in 170 innings at an incredible strike rate of 151.68 and an average of 39.70. De Villiers had decided to retire from all forms of cricket in November 2021.

IPL Facts | Indians with Most M.O.M Awards in IPL