BCCI to Drop Two Seniors from Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja, and Ashwin from India’s Test Setup After BGT 2024-25 – Report

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Read Original Content: BCCI to Drop Two Seniors from Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja, and Ashwin from India’s Test Setup After BGT 2024-25 – Report

Following a shocking 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand on home soil, India’s position in the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings has dipped, and so has the stability of certain veteran players. 

Now, as India heads to Australia for the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), there’s speculation that “at least two of the four seniors—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin—may be playing their final Test series”, a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The recent series against New Zealand highlighted a worrying decline in form for India’s senior players, especially Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Rohit managed just 91 runs across the three matches, averaging 15.17, while Kohli was only slightly better, accumulating 93 runs at an average of 15.54. 

Both struggled to handle the New Zealand spinners, with their vulnerability against spin becoming a point of concern. This dip in form has led to uncertainty about their future in the Test squad, particularly with the crucial BGT series ahead.

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also appeared far from their best. Known for his skill on home turf, Ashwin’s bowling lacked the sharp edge that has often troubled visiting teams, and Jadeja’s all-round contributions were limited, raising doubts about their long-term roles in the team.

India’s WTC Rankings

On November 3, 2024, India experienced a rare home series whitewash, losing all three Tests to New Zealand, with the final nail in the coffin being a narrow 25-run defeat in Mumbai. This series loss marks India’s first home whitewash since South Africa’s 2-0 victory back in the 1999-2000 season. 

The outcome also saw India’s points percentage (PCT) drop from 62.82 to 58.33, knocking them down to the second spot in the WTC standings, just behind Australia, who now hold a PCT of 62.50.

New Zealand’s series sweep has given their own WTC aspirations a considerable boost, lifting them to fourth place with a PCT of 54.55. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka holds third place with a PCT of 55.56, and South Africa sits fifth at 54.17, keeping the competition for the WTC final spots intense.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: A Must-Win Series for India

As India prepares for their five-match Test series against Australia, the stakes are incredibly high. To secure a place in their third consecutive WTC final without relying on other results, India will need to win at least four out of the five upcoming Tests. However, the task is challenging, as the matches are scheduled in Australia, where the hosts are in a relatively stronger position, needing four wins from their remaining seven games to stay in the top two.

Read Original Content: BCCI to Drop Two Seniors from Rohit, Kohli, Jadeja, and Ashwin from India’s Test Setup After BGT 2024-25 – Report

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