Indian Cricket Team Updates

Facing an insurmountable 384-run target after Australia declared their innings at the stroke of lunch, India pulled off a draw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Having lost the first two games, the visitors' conceded the four-Test series and the Border-Gavaskar trophy to Australia. (Also See:  HIGHLIGHTS: AUSTRALIA VS INDIA - 3rd TEST, DAY 5, Melbourne ) Left reeling on 3/19, Virat Kohli (54) and Ajinkya Rahane (48) stabilised the Indian innings and fought to keep the team in the fray taking India to tea in an unbroken stand. But Kohli's departure pushed India further on the backfoot even as Rahane determinedly anchored the innings until Josh Hazlewood ended his defiance. MS Dhoni and Ravichandran Ashwin held the innings together until play was called-off. (Also See:  India's greatest Captain MS Dhoni Retires from Test cricket ) Chasing the stiff target, India lost Shikhar Dhawan to Ryan Harris with just with two runs on the board. Lokesh Rahul who then walked in t

One of India's greatest Test Captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test Rankings MS Dhoni, has decided to retire from Test Cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of Cricket.   M S Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats.   BCCI while respecting the decision of M S Dhoni to retire from Test Cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test Cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India. Virat Kohli will be the captain of the Indian Team for the Fourth and Final Test against Australia to be played in Sydney from the 6th of January 2015. source: bcci.tv

3rd TEST, DAY 5 - AUSTRALIA VS INDIA DAY 5 - TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER, AUSTRALIA VS INDIA Match drawn India 2nd Innings: India 462/8 Overs: 126.2 Run Rate:3.65 INDIA trail by 68 runs Shikhar Dhawan 0, Murali Vijay 11, Lokesh Rahul 1, Virat Kohli 54, Cheteshwar Pujara 21, Ajinkya Rahane48 , MS Dhoni 24*,  Ravichandran Ashwin 8* Ryan Harris 2/30, Mitchell Johnson 2/38, Josh Hazlewood 2/40, Shane Watson 0/14, Nathan Lyon 0/36, Steve Smith 0/10 Australia  2nd Innings: Stumps - Day 4: 261/7 Run Rate: 3.48 Overs: 75 David Warner 40, Shane Watson 17, Steve Smith 14, Chris Rogers 69, Joe Burns 9, Brad Haddin 13, Mitchell Johnson 15, Ryan Harris 21, Shaun Marsh 99, Nathan Lyon 1, Josh Hazlewood 0* Mohammed Shami 2/92, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/75, Umesh Yadav 2/89, Ishant Sharma 2/49 India 1st Innings: India 462/8 Overs: 126.2 Run Rate:3.65 INDIA trail by 68 runs Shikhar Dhawan 28, Murali Vijay 68, Cheteshwar Pujara 25, Ajinkya Rahane 147, Lokesh Ra

Australia were leading by 326 runs in the second innings with Shaun Marsh batting on 62 with Ryan Harris (8*) at the crease when play ended on Day 4. With rain playing spoilsport, the home team were 261/7 at the end of an extended day’s play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.  (Also See:  HIGHLIGHTS: AUSTRALIA VS INDIA - 3rd TEST, DAY 4, Melbourne ) David Warner (40 off 42) got Australia off to a blazing start to capitalise on the existing 65-run lead after the hosts had bowled India out for 465 earlier in the morning. And his opening partner, Chris Rogers went on to score a scratchy 69 and anchor the first part of the innings. After his departure, Marsh held up one end even as Australia lost wickets at regular intervals and took the team to an advantageous position. Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav claimed two wickets each while Mohammed Shami took one to keep the visitors in the fray.  Warner cut Umesh Yadav through point to start off with a boundary. While Ro

3rd TEST, DAY 4 - AUSTRALIA VS INDIA DAY 4 - MONDAY 29 DECEMBER, AUSTRALIA VS INDIA AUS lead by 326 runs Australia  2nd Innings: Stumps - Day 4: 261/7 Run Rate: 3.48 Overs: 75 David Warner 40, Shane Watson 17, Steve Smith 14, Chris Rogers 69, Joe Burns 9, Brad Haddin 13, Shaun Marsh 62*, Mitchell Johnson 15, Ryan Harris 8* Mohammed Shami 1/75, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/56, Umesh Yadav 2/73, Ishant Sharma 2/49 India 1st Innings: India 462/8 Overs: 126.2 Run Rate:3.65 INDIA trail by 68 runs Shikhar Dhawan 28, Murali Vijay 68, Cheteshwar Pujara 25, Ajinkya Rahane 147, Lokesh Rahul 3, MS Dhoni 11*, Virat Kohli 169, Ravichandran Ashwin 0, Mohammed Shami 12, Umesh Yadav 0, Ishant Sharma 0* Ryan Harris 4/70, Mitchell Johnson 3/135, Josh Hazlewood 0/75, Shane Watson 1/65, Nathan Lyon 2/108, Steve Smith 0/11 Australia  1st Innings: Australia 530 Overs: 142.3  Run Rate: 3.71 David Warner 0, Chris Rogers 57, Shane Watson 52, Shaun Marsh 32, Joe

India were trailing by 68 runs in the first innings with two wickets in hand at stumps on Day 3 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ajinkya Rahane’s (147) superlative batting performance and Virat Kohli’s carefully compiled innings had kept India in the fray. However the end of the 262-run stand triggered a batting collapse in the last session of the day. With four wickets falling in quick succession Australia were back in the reckoning. And with Kohli departing in the last over of the day for 169, India were 462/8 at the end of day’s play with Mohammed Shami batting on nine. The Kohli-Rahane partnership was the key to the shift in fortunes for the better part of the third day after Australia had dominated for the first two days. After the visitors lost Cheteshwar Pujara and the inform Murali Vijay in the first hour of day's play, the pair joined forces to script India's revival. Coming together at 147/3, both batsmen scored centuries and added 262 for the fourth wic

3rd TEST, DAY 3 - AUSTRALIA VS INDIA STUMPS: DAY 3 - SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER, AUSTRALIA VS INDIA India 1st Innings: India 462/8 Overs: 126.2 Run Rate:3.65 INDIA trail by 68 runs Shikhar Dhawan 28, Murali Vijay 68, Cheteshwar Pujara 25, Ajinkya Rahane 147, Lokesh Rahul 3, MS Dhoni 11*, Virat Kohli 169, Ravichandran Ashwin 0, Mohammed Shami 9* Ryan Harris 4/69, Mitchell Johnson 1/133, Josh Hazlewood 0/75, Shane Watson 1/65, Nathan Lyon 2/108, Steve Smith 0/11 Australia  1st Innings: Australia 530 Overs: 142.3  Run Rate: 3.71 David Warner 0, Chris Rogers 57, Shane Watson 52, Shaun Marsh 32, Joe Burns 13, Brad Haddin 55, Mitchell Johnson 28, Ryan Harris 74, Nathan Lyon 11,  Steve Smith 192, Josh Hazlewood 0* Mohammed Shami 4/138, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/134, Umesh Yadav 3/130, Ishant Sharma 0/104,  Murali Vijay 0/14 Format: TEST Toss: Australia, who chose to bat Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, R