New Zealand bowled India out for 245 to wrap up victory within three days of the second Test. India’s streak of 18 consecutive Test series wins at home - a record dating back to 2012 - is over.
India’s superstar batter Virat Kohli is badly out of form. Now the tourists have made a shock selection call ahead of their gold-plated Test series against Australia starting next month.
The unbeaten hosts overpowered New Zealand by 70 runs in a high-scoring match on Wednesday to march into the World Cup final.
If the cricket gods are smiling on India,the crowning moment will come on Sunday with captain Rohit Sharma marking an undefeated campaign by lifting the World Cup in front of 130,000 fans.
Ultimately it was money,and the prospect of Indian broadcast rights swelling revenue for the LA games by something in the region of US$200 million,that ensured cricket’s passage to the Olympics
After three matches played at breakneck pace on crumbling pitches,the final instalment has followed a more glacial tempo.
From Ahmedabad crowd chants for Modi to Albanese’s linked arms with the Australian cricket team,this was theatre of the absurd as the fourth Test began.
Australia’s victory in Indore meant that in 19 Tests played since the BCCI signed a new broadcast deal in 2018,no fewer than 30 days had been left unused due to rapid finishes.
Pete Handscomb’s soundness against spin is no accident,but even he was enveloped in the chaos of the Delhi Test.
Australia will be challenged in the mind as much as with their physical ability in India.
In a lifetime of watching cricket,no innings I have seen showcased the art of batting better than Virat Kohli’s matchwinning performance against Pakistan.