The gripping Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 between India and Australia is underway. As India trails 1-2 in the five-match Test series, the final showdown is set to unfold at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting January 3rd (Friday), with the action kicking off at 5 AM IST.
Gambhir Advises Players
With just a day to go before the high-stakes Sydney Test, Indian team's Head Coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the media, shedding light on behind-the-scenes dynamics. Gambhir emphasized that locker room disputes should remain confidential. He expressed that honest discussions with players are crucial since performance is the key to securing a spot in the team. Amidst reports of tension in the dressing room, Gambhir insisted they are just reports, not reality.
Gambhir assured, 'As long as honest individuals populate the locker room, Indian cricket is in safe hands. Performance alone keeps you in the game. Any disagreements or discussions between coaches and players should stay behind closed doors.'
He further added, 'Everything is well. We'll assess the pitch tomorrow and then decide on the playing eleven. Integrity in the locker room is paramount. It’s a team endeavor, and acceptance of this is vital. These are just reports, not facts. No need to comment on them. Honesty matters, and we aim to achieve great things ahead.'
Gambhir also revealed his focus on senior batsman Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma was entirely on strategies to win the Test match. 'Every player knows where to improve. Our sole discussion was about winning the Test matches.'
Source: aajtak
Rohit to Be Dropped from Playing 11?
Questions arose about Rohit Sharma's participation. Gambhir stated, 'We'll finalize the playing eleven after evaluating the pitch conditions at the toss.' India faces a blow with pacer Akash Deep sidelined due to a back issue. However, Gambhir didn't disclose his replacement.
Gambhir noted regarding Akash Deep, 'He's out due to a back problem. The final lineup will be based on pitch assessment. The 28-year-old Akash Deep has bowled 87.5 overs in two tests, possibly suffering from excessive workload. He featured in Brisbane and Melbourne, taking five wickets. Unfortunate missed catches during his spells didn't help his stats. Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna might replace him in the final lineup.'
Australia's Probable Eleven for Sydney Test:
Sam Consistas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
India’s Squad:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Yashaswi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Tanush Kotian.
