And they couldn’t. After a gap of ten years, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) finally ends up with Australia, who also successfully qualified for the ICC WTC Final as well. India didn’t have Jasprit Bumrah when they needed him but to be fair, his body gave out after a tumultuous series. Other bowlers couldn’t prevent Australia from chasing 162 and they were criticised by Sunil Gavaskar, who even questioned Gautam Gambhir. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami weaved magic with the bat at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, solidifying his ICC Champions Trophy spot. Apart from this, one of RCB’s signings got his form back! On that note, here are all the major stories from January 5 (Sunday).
Gavaskar vs Gambhir?
Sunil Gavaskar has blamed India’s Test slump on the coaching staff, particularly head coach Gautam Gambhir, following India’s loss of the BGT. Under Gambhir’s tenure, India has lost six out of 10 Tests, including a historic series defeat to New Zealand at home. Gavaskar criticized the constant changes in the batting order and questioned the lack of improvement in technique and mental preparedness. “What are the coaches doing? Why hasn’t there been any progress?” Gavaskar asked.
Mohammed Shami to ICC Champions Trophy?
Mohammed Shami’s superb cameo with the bat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has turned heads, and he may be staking his claim for a spot in India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Shami’s 42 off 34 balls, including five boundaries and a six, showcased his ability to wield a long handle. His performance has come at a crucial time, with the India-England bilateral series and the ICC Champions Trophy on the horizon and fans moving forward from the BGT.
AB de Villiers’ advice to Virat Kohli
AB de Villiers advised Virat Kohli to reset his mindset during his ongoing slump. He noted that Kohli’s competitive spirit, which is often a strength, can become a weakness when he is out of form. De Villiers observed that Kohli tends to get caught up in individual battles on the field, particularly with opponents or the crowd, which affected his performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He emphasized the importance of refocusing after every ball and suggested that Kohli should avoid getting overly involved in such battles when struggling, as it may hinder his return to form.
Great news for RCB!
Tim David’s blistering 62 off 28 balls for Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL has come as a huge boost for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of IPL 2025. David’s match-winning knock, which included six towering sixes, was just another show of how lethal he could be when on song. This form revival is great news for RCB, who had invested ₹3 crore in David at the IPL 2025 mega auction, as they search for a suitable replacement for Dinesh Karthik.
Rohit, Kohli to play Ranji Trophy?
Following a 3-1 heartbreak, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasized the need of domestic cricket, suggesting that players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are struggling with form, should play Ranji Trophy to regain their rhythm. Gambhir believes that playing red-ball cricket is essential to achieving desired results. Sunil Gavaskar has also advised Rohit Sharma to play Ranji Cricket to regain form, while Virat Kohli hasn’t played a Ranji match since 2012. But, isn’t this a double standard thought by Gambhir?
Rishi Dhawan retires..
Former India all-rounder Rishi Dhawan has announced his retirement from white-ball cricket at the age of 34. Dhawan played 3 ODIs and 1 T20I for India and had a successful domestic career, leading Himachal Pradesh to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) title in 2021. He also played 39 IPL games for the Punjab Kings and the Mumbai Indians (MI). Cricket has been my passion, and my reason for waking up every morning,” he said.
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