The opening Test of the Ashes 2025-26 series concluded in a rapid two days at Perth Stadium, with Australia securing an eight-wicket victory over England. Despite the game’s brevity and the challenging conditions, the ICC match referee controversially awarded the Perth pitch a ‘very good’ rating.

However, Australian opener Usman Khawaja strongly disagreed with this assessment, publicly and emphatically criticizing the Day 1 surface for its unpredictable and dangerous nature. Khawaja’s comments, made at an event for his foundation, highlight the disparity between player experience and official pitch ratings.

Usman Khawaja rejects ‘very good’ rating by ICC with strong criticism

Khawaja, speaking at an event for his Usman Khawaja Foundation, publicly condemned the Perth Stadium pitch, contrasting his view sharply with the ICC’s highest possible rating. The Australian opener was uncompromising in his assessment of the Day 1 surface, emphasizing the undue difficulty and danger it posed to the batters: “Nineteen wickets on the first day and about 20 people got hit, that’s a great wicket – that seems real fair.” He criticised the unpredictable “up and down” bounce as the hardest factor to deal with, explaining the difficulty for batsmen: “You can’t really predict up and down. Up and down is the hardest – sideways is a little bit easier but up and down, your hands can’t catch up.”

Khawaja stressed that the conditions were so severe they troubled the world’s elite players, noting the difficulty in connecting with the ball: “He’s missing the middle of his bat by a long way – he does not miss the middle of his bat. He’s getting hit in the elbow, he’s getting hit.” He insisted this issue was recurring, having observed “The same thing happened last year in the Indian Test.” The bater did concede that the pitch improved later, stating: “So day one wicket at (Perth) is a piece of s*, I’m happy to say that. It has been last year, it was this year. They do get better. Day two, day three, and then day four, they start to crack up.”

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: Australia announce 14-man squad for the Gabba Test, Pat Cummins still out

England’s Bazball blasted by Travis Head in Perth as Australia clinches shortest Ashes Test result in 104 years

The Ashes series commenced with a stunningly brief First Test in Perth, concluding in a dominant eight-wicket victory for Australia inside just two days, marking the shortest completed Ashes match since 1921. England, opting to bat first, were quickly run through by the Australian fast bowlers, who repeatedly exploited a pitch that provided excessive seam movement and unpredictable bounce, leading to an astonishing 19 wickets falling on the chaotic opening day. Although England managed a 40-run first-innings lead, their middle-order suffered a catastrophic collapse in the second innings, setting Australia a challenging but chaseable target of 205 runs on the second afternoon.

The chase was transformed from daunting to decisive by the promotion of Travis Head, who stepped up to open in the absence of the injured Khawaja. Head played a brutal, career-defining counter-attacking innings, blasting 123 runs off just 83 balls, reaching his century off 69 deliveries, the second-fastest in Ashes history, to completely flatten the English attack and make a mockery of the aggressive ‘Bazball’ tactics. This whirlwind performance, which saw Australia motor past the target at an unheard-of run rate, secured a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series for the hosts, leaving the English camp, in the words of their captain, “shell-shocked” and struggling to comprehend their rapid capitulation ahead of the day-night fixture at the Gabba.

Also READ: Fans stunned as Australia captain Alyssa Healy goes unsold in WPL 2026 mega auction

Ranchi: Following the 0-2 loss in the just-concluded Test series, India are looking to push the restart button. And what better way than to bank on two of the stalwarts of the ODI format, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as the hosts aim for a turnaround in fortunes. India stand-in skipper KL Rahul feels the freshness and experience of the senior pros will be more than helpful in this situation. “Taking singles is as important as hitting boundaries in ODI cricket and in Test cricket, maybe not as much in the T20 format. That’s something Virat has done so well over his career, and it’s something that we have looked at Virat and tried to learn,” Rahul said when asked about Kohli putting a lot of importance on singles at the nets on Friday.

“Even in the dressing room, we all talked to him and Rohit about how we can get better as batsmen, and how we can rotate the strike a lot more. “He’s obviously the master at doing that in ODI cricket. We are really happy that he is back in the dressing room. He is very excited to be here and play these games,” added Rahul. Apart from Kohli and Rohit, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is likely to add value to the squad. “He’s done the job time and again. I’m happy to have him back again with the ODI team. He missed out on the Australia series, but he was key in us winning the Champions Trophy with bat and ball and in the field. He is someone who can do everything. I think it’s great to have players that have experience, have done it time and again,” said Rahul. Quinton will make a grand impact for us: SA batting coach Hoping to continue their recent form in Tests, South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince said on Saturday they need to improve in “clutch moments”. Accepting Kohli and Rohit’s impact on the game, the former Proteas batter said they are focusing on the damage the duo can cause to the hosts. However, he was quick to add that De Kock could have a similar impact for the Proteas. “He’s massive. Just like Rohit and Virat strengthen India, Quinny has a similar effect for us,” Prince said. “His experience and the quality he showed in Pakistan boosts the dressing room,” he added.

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Awadh was aghast. The city collapsed like a lamp about to lose its flame. Men, women and children followed him as though Ayodhya itself was walking away. They did not see a prince going to the forest, it was like something being forcefully torn away with the strings of hope that he might stay hanging loose. The moment he stepped away, the capital of the Kosala kingdom felt emptied of life. This is how Maharishi Valmiki portrays Ram’s departure for his 14-year vanvas in Treta Yuga.The grief that filled Ayodhya in Valmiki’s verses did not stop at the edge of the forest. It travelled through centuries. It lived through kingdoms, invasions and courtrooms. It became devotion and politics. It became movements and marches. The 500-year-long Ram Janmabhoomi struggle was never just about land. It was about bringing Ram back. This time in Kaliyuga.

Generations came and went, but the question survived: When will Ram Lalla return?He did return. On January 22, 2024, when the consecration ceremony of the deity was held. What was once a memory in scriptures and prayers finally took form in stone and light. The temple that had lived in longing now stands as faith fulfilled, and a civilisation reclaimed what it never stopped believing was its own.

November 25, 2025, marked the final milestone with the completion of the temple and a “Dhwajarohan” event, attended by PM Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.Addressing a gathering after the flag hoisting event on November 25, the Prime Minister stated that today the city of Ayodhya is witnessing yet another pinnacle of India’s cultural consciousness.“This Dharma Dhwaja is not merely a flag, but the flag of the renaissance of Indian civilisation,” he said, explaining that its saffron colour, the glory of the Solar dynasty inscribed upon it, the sacred Om depicted, and the engraved Kovidar tree symbolise the greatness of Ram Rajya.

The story that had begun 500 years ago with the desecration under Mughal invader Babur slowly entered courtrooms, legal arguments and the political landscape. Each petition was an echo of a civilisational longing. Every verdict and every stay order became footsteps in a centuries-long journey.Ayodhya did not forget. Neither did the people who came on foot from distant villages, nor the saints who guarded the belief like a flame, waiting for the Ram Lalla’s temple to rise again.The struggle took different shapes over the centuries. Mahant Raghubir Das and others filed suits not for power or land, but for the right to worship. The movement was still quiet then, but the silence was deceptive. The devotion was gathering strength!The Origin Of The DisputeThe story did not begin with courts or politics. It began in the sixteenth century when the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi was torn down, and a mosque was constructed under Babur’s general, Mir Baqi. The temple was demolished, but the faith was not. Hindus continued to worship at the site. The belief that this was Ram’s birthplace never broke. It lived through devotion, pilgrimage and collective memory.Muslim Chronicles on AyodhyaSeveral works in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu discussed the demolition of the Ramjanmabhumi temple and its replacement by Babri Masjid. In the book “The Ayodhya Temple-Mosque Dispute: Focus on Muslim Sources” by Harsh Narain, there’s a mention of Al-Hind-u fi al- ‘Ahd al-Islami (India in the Islamic Era) by Maulana Hakim Sayyid Abd al-Hayy, which was translated into Urdu by Maulana Shams Tabriz Khan, under the title Hindustan Islami Ahd mein.

In Tarikh-i Awadh (1919), written by Muhammad Najmul Ghani, it is stated: “Babur got the mosque built after demolishing the Janmasthan and used in his mosque the stone of the same Janmasthan, which was richly engraved, precious kasauti stone, and which survives even today.”The Fasanah-I Ibrat, written by Rajab Ali Beg Surur in 1860, but first published in 1884, stated: “…a glorious mosque was built up during King Babar’s regime on the spot where Sita ki Rasoi tomb (?) is situated in Awadh. During this Babari (dispensation) the Hindus had no guts to be a match for the Muslims.Harsh Narain’s work states that the Qaysar-u’t Tawarikh, which is an Urdu historical chronicle that describes the Janmabhoomi demolition and mosque construction, located the mosque in Sita ki Rasoi as well as the Janmasthan. It acknowledged, “…all the temples of Ayodhya were turned into mosques by the Sultans of the past.”European Account on JanmabhoomiIn one of the multiple accounts of foreign travellers, Joseph Tieffenthaler, the Austrian Jesuit, who stayed in India from 1743 till his death some four decades later, toured Awadh between 1766 and 1771. According to Meenakshi Jain’s The Battle For Rama work, he was the first to refer to the destruction of a temple at Rama’s birthplace by a Mughal ruler. He saw Hindus worshipping a religious structure in the form of a vedi (cradle) in the premises, but said nothing about Muslims offering namaaz. He also noted the large gatherings of Hindus on the occasion of Rama Navami (Rama’s birthday). He wrote: “Emperor Aurenzgebe got the fortress called Ramcot demolished and got a Muslim temple, with triple domes, constructed at the same place. Others say that it was constructed by ‘Babor’…”Tieffenthaler also provided the earliest European documentation of the Hindu Janmasthan platform, which was later called “Ram Chabutra”.

He futher writes: “However, there still exists some superstitious cult in some place or other. For example, in the place where the native house of Ram existed, they go around 3 times and prostrate on the floor. The two spots are surrounded by a low wall constructed with battlements. One enters the front hall through a low semi-circular door… On the 24th of the Tschet month, a big gathering of people is done here to celebrate the birthday of Ram, so famous in the entire India.”As dynasties and empires changed, the sacredness of the Janmabhoomi did not fade. The temple had fallen, but the birthplace was not forgotten. Devotion shifted to the Ram Chabutra in the outer courtyard, where pilgrims prayed, and saints kept vigil. Akharas, fairs and local traditions kept the belief alive.Struggle During British RuleWhen the British arrived in the mid-1850s, they did not end the conflict. They fenced the site into two courtyards. Muslims offered namaz inside, while Hindus worshipped at the Ram Chabutra outside. The land had one history but two claims.In 1885, Mahant Raghubar Das filed the first suit to build a temple, but it was rejected. However, the worship continued.In 1934, clashes damaged the mosque, and the British repaired it, still avoiding the core question. The dispute remained unresolved and alive.

Post-Independence Legal BattleIndependence did not settle Ayodhya. In December 1949, idols of Ram Lalla were found inside the disputed structure. Authorities sealed it and declared the site disputed. The idol stayed inside, and worship continued from outside, while namaz stopped. In 1950, Gopal Singh Visharad and Paramhans Ramchandra Das filed suits seeking worship inside. More cases followed: Nirmohi Akhara in 1959 claimed management rights, and the Sunni Waqf Board in 1961 contested the property. The courts froze the status quo. The fight moved from streets to case files, petitions and orders.

The Unlocking That Changed IndiaBy the 1980s, the dispute had moved beyond the courtroom. The VHP adopted the Ram Janmabhoomi cause, and the RSS gave the campaign nationwide strength. The turning point came in 1986 when the Faizabad court ordered the gates of the structure to be opened, and the government allowed it. Within hours, darshan began, and Hindus entered after decades. Namaz did not resume. A locked shrine became an open site of worship, and the dispute that had waited behind iron bars stepped into public life.

The opening of the gates in 1986 changed more than access to the temple. It changed the direction of Indian politics and public sentiment. For decades the issue had been faith and legal argument. Now it became a movement that spread into homes, streets and television screens. The telecast of Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan in 1987–88 turned the story of Ram into a national cultural moment. Families paused their Sundays to watch it. Streets emptied. Temples saw new crowds. Faith acquired momentum, and the Ram Janmabhoomi question began entering everyday life.

In 1989, the VHP laid the foundation stone (shilanyas) near the disputed site with the approval of the Rajiv Gandhi government, and the issue moved further into national consciousness. The same year, the BJP officially adopted the Ram Mandir demand through the Palampur Resolution. A religious and cultural movement had now gained a clear political face.

In 1990, LK Advani launched the Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, mobilising lakhs of supporters across the country.

The yatra provoked a counter-mobilisation and heightened tensions. When Kar Sevaks attempted to move towards the disputed site, the Uttar Pradesh government under Mulayam Singh Yadav ordered police firing. Several kar sevaks were killed. The movement intensified further.

From late November 1992, lakhs of kar sevaks had gathered in Ayodhya under multiple Hindu organisations. The call for kar seva had built expectations that something decisive would happen on the ground. The events reached a climax on 6 December 1992. Crowds demolished the disputed structure, which opened a new chapter of religious, political and legal conflict.

After the incident, the court cases multiplied. Commissions were formed. What began as a locked shrine had turned into one of the defining movements of modern India.

After the 1992 demolition, the dispute shifted permanently into the courts. The central government acquired the site in 1993 and asked the Supreme Court to settle ownership. The title suits were transferred to the Allahabad high court, which examined archaeological, historical and documentary evidence. The 2003 ASI excavation report remains consistent with a large pre-existing structure below the demolished mosque. In 2010, the high court ruled that the land be divided among three parties, but the judgment was appealed by all sides. The case then moved to the Supreme Court, where a Constitution Bench heard extensive arguments on law, title, belief and history. In November 2019, the top court delivered its final judgment: The land was awarded for the construction of a Ram temple, and an alternative site was directed to be allotted to the Muslim side. The verdict ended the centuries-long legal battle and settled ownership of the Janmabhoomi.

After the Supreme Court’s 2019 verdict awarding the disputed land for the construction of a Ram temple, plans for building began in earnest.The Prince Who Was Promised

A trust was formed to oversee development, and construction work proceeded over the next few years with architectural planning, sanctum layout, and preparations for consecration. On 22 January 2024, the new temple was inaugurated with religious ceremonies.

On November 25, the “Dwajarohan” ceremony, hoisting the saffron flag atop the temple, reaffirmed the Mandir’s consecration and the restoration of the wounded civilisation. The long-standing legal and historical dispute thus entered a phase of physical reconstruction and symbolic closure, as devotees welcomed the final restoration of what they regard as their heritage.If one scrolls through the Ram Mandir movement wire-to-wire, the demand for the temple emerges not just as a caravan of facts and emotions, but as a testament to a faith that never faded. Those in the frontline of the movement, especially the Hindu community, continued their worship at the site, whether in the outer courtyard earlier or before the idol after 1949, sustaining an unbroken thread of devotion, which helped in healing and rekindling the oldest civilisation.

Nasa has released a new image of the Red Spider Nebula, revealing never-before-seen details of NGC 6537. Captured with the James Webb Space Telescope’s Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam), the image shows the nebula with remarkable clarity, its full structure stretched across a dense backdrop of thousands of stars. The European Space Agency (ESA) described the picture of the month as a “cosmic creepy crawly.”Planetary nebulae like the Red Spider form when Sun-like stars reach the ends of their lives, shed their outer layers, and expose their hot cores. Ultraviolet radiation from these cores ionises the surrounding gas, causing it to glow for a relatively brief period — only a few tens of thousands of years.A key highlight in Webb’s new view is the nebula’s central star. In older optical images from telescopes such as Hubble, it appears faint and blue. With Webb’s infrared sensitivity, however, it shows up as red, revealing a surrounding shroud of hot dust. Nasa notes that this dust likely forms a disc around the star. Although only one star is visible, researchers believe a hidden companion may also be present, which could help explain the nebula’s narrow waist and wide outflows.Webb’s data also expose, for the first time, the full reach of the nebula’s dramatic lobes — the “legs” of the spider. These lobes, traced in blue by light from H₂ molecules, form closed, bubble-like shells that extend roughly three light-years from end to end. They have expanded over thousands of years as gas has steadily flowed out from the nebula’s centre.Closer to the core, the telescope reveals signs of ongoing activity. An elongated purple “S” shape marks the path of a fast-moving jet that has slammed into older material, helping carve the rippling structure that defines the nebula today.The observations come from Webb GO programme #4571 (PI: J. Kastner), which aims to understand how jets and outflows from central stars shape bipolar planetary nebulae. According to Nasa, NIRCam’s advanced near-infrared capabilities made it possible to uncover these newly revealed structures in the image released on October. 26, 2025.

The BCCI shared a new video on Saturday from Team India’s training session at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, giving fans a glimpse of senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma gearing up for their return to ODI cricket. The three-match series against South Africa begins on 30 November, and the experienced pair will be seen again in blue after stepping away from T20Is and Test cricket. They now feature only in the one-day format at international level. In the clip posted online, a light-hearted moment involving Rishabh Pant and Kohli has caught the attention of fans. Pant was keeping during the nets when the pacer delivered a good-length ball to Kohli. The former captain danced down the track and produced a cleanly struck pull shot that left Pant impressed. Reacting instantly, Pant said from behind the stumps, “Bhai ji, acha ball tha yeh. Tagda maar diya,” praising both the delivery and Kohli’s effortless timing. Rohit and Kohli last played an ODI together during the tour of Australia in October. In that game, Rohit produced an unbeaten match-winning 121, while Kohli supported him with a fluent 74 not out. Their 168-run partnership set the tone for India’s win. As the Ranchi opener approaches, both batters stand on the brink of major milestones. Rohit, who currently sits at the top of the ODI batting rankings, is closing in on the 20,000-run mark in international cricket. He has amassed 19,902 runs across 502 matches, including 4,301 in Tests, 4,231 in T20Is, and 11,370 in ODIs. The Indian captain needs only 98 more to become the fourth Indian to enter the elite 20,000-run club after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid. Kohli is on the verge of creating history as well. One more hundred will move him past Tendulkar for the most centuries by a batter in a single international format. Both legends are currently tied with 51 tons each, with Tendulkar’s tally coming in Tests. Kohli’s next century will make him the first to reach 52 in one format. Only these two greats have managed to score 50 or more hundreds in any single format of the game.

Sydney Sixers Women will take on Sydney Thunder Women in the 31st match of the Women’s Big Bash League 2025 at North Sydney Oval tomorrow. This crosstown Sydney derby promises a high-stakes contest as both squads aim to strengthen their playoff ambitions with two valuable points on offer.​

Sydney Sixers are riding on strong form, featuring a stacked lineup led by Ashleigh Gardner (captain) and seasoned stars like Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Sophia Dunkley, and the returning Amelia Kerr. Recent contributions from the top order and wicket-taking bowlers Maitlan Brown and Lauren Cheatle have kept them near the top of the table. Sydney Thunder have shown flashes of brilliance this season, boasting a core of Phoebe Litchfield (captain), Tahlia Wilson, international all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu, England star Heather Knight, and the pace of Shabnim Ismail and Hannah Darlington. However, recent batting collapses have hampered their momentum in the league.​

The Sixers clinched a narrow win over Hobart Hurricanes in their last outing, with standout performances from Dunkley (50 runs) and Perry setting up respectable totals. Their bowling efficiently defended runs under pressure, led by Gardner and Mady Villiers.​Thunder, despite a strong start to the season, were unable to build partnerships against Melbourne Renegades and struggled to cross 70 in their last match, needing their middle order and bowling unit to regroup.

SS-W vs ST-W, WBBL 2025: Match details

• Date and Time: November 30; 10:10 pm IST/ 04:40 am GMT/ 03:40 pm Local
• Venue: North Sydney Oval, Sydney

SS-W vs ST-W, Head-to-Head Record in WBBL

Matches played: 19 | Sydney Thunder won: 07 | Sydney Sixers won: 11 | No result: 01

North Sydney Oval Pitch Report

North Sydney Oval presents a balanced yet batting-friendly surface for the Sydney Sixers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women WBBL clash, with true bounce and quick outfields favoring stroke-makers early on. Seamers like Cheatle and Shabnim Ismail may extract swing and movement in the powerplay, but the flat pitch eases as the game progresses, often leading to high scores around 160-170 in the first innings. Teams winning the toss typically bat first to capitalize on these conditions, while spinners such as Gardner could find grip later. Expect a run feast under lights if dew plays a role, rewarding aggressive top-order batting from stars like Perry and Litchfield.

Squads

Sydney Sixers: Ellyse Perry, Sophia Dunkley, Alyssa Healy (wk), Ashleigh Gardner (c), Amelia Kerr, Erin Burns, Maitlan Brown, Mady Villiers, Mathilda Carmichael, Caoimhe Bray, Lauren Cheatle, Courtney Sippel, Emma Manix-Geeves, Elsa Hunter, Lauren Kua

Sydney Thunder: Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson (wk), Phoebe Litchfield (c), Heather Knight, Chamari Athapaththu, Anika Learoyd, Laura Harris, Hasrat Gill, Taneale Peschel, Shabnim Ismail, Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Lucy Finn, Ella Briscoe, Alexandra Mavros

Also READ: WBBL|11: Meg Lanning guides Melbourne Stars to top of the table with 45-run win Melbourne Renegades

SS-W vs ST-W, WBBL 2025: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Sydney Thunder Women wins the toss and bowls first
• Sydney Thunder Women’s powerplay score: 40-50
• Sydney Thunder Women’s total score: 170-180

Case 2:

• Sydney Sixers Women wins the toss and bowls first
• Sydney Sixers Women’s powerplay score: 55-65
• Sydney Sixers Women’s total score: 180-190

Match result: Team bowling first to win the game.

Also READ: WBBL|11: Sophie Devine’s all-round show powers Perth Scorchers to a dominant win over Melbourne Renegades

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

When competitive appearances become few and far between, every outing becomes an event. The airport arrivals. Hotel departures. Out-and-about visuals. The doomscrolling on social media gets a different vibe with choicest, peppy songs in the background. Immediately, nostalgia brings a smile to the face while many, including yours truly, look for cues in the body language.That is what seeing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma does to you now. The omnipresent figures of Indian cricket up until 12 months ago barely went off the screen earlier considering the amount of cricket they played. Retirements from T20Is and Tests has changed all that.

As much as this is a challenge for the fans to come to terms with, it is possibly even more difficult for Rohit (38) and Virat (37) to navigate with the reduced game time. For players accustomed to non-stop cricket, playing just a handful of ODIs presents a unique challenge. Dealing with the ageing body, preventing rustiness from creeping into their game, shutting out the outside noise and readjusting their focus to lock on the 2027 ODI World Cup target.Both have already mentioned about having a crack at the multi-nation event in South Africa and their recent actions are clearly pointing in that direction. Rohit has undergone a tremendous transformation; not only has he lost over 10 kgs, but he has also overhauled his lifestyle. From portion control to intense focus on workouts, the former India captain has never had such a razor-sharp focus on fitness. The time off not only allowed him to reboot but also put his body through a continuous boot camp.“Dubey ji” has become a regular feature in his social media uploads but it’s not just for laughs. Amit Dubey is a seasoned physiotherapist who works with the Mumbai Indians and has spent a lot of time with Rohit in the last few months. He even travelled with the 38-year-old to Ranchi (for the first ODI against South Africa on November 30).

Rohit is not leaving anything to chance. No matter what the world says, even he, by now, would have figured that as long as the bat is firing and the body remains in shape, the World Cup dream is alive. Batting sessions at Centre of Excellence, the Azad Maidan and indoor nets keep the batting in check while the barbells and weights take care of the rest.It hasn’t been any different for Virat. Yes, the time zone is different because he is with his family in London when not playing for the country and even there he has ensured to keep the rust away. For a cricketer who revolutionised fitness in the country, there was not an iota of doubt about him remaining in shape, even at 37, and that has been the case. For Virat, it was never about cricket and fitness. A champion of the format, he has cracked the chanceless template for the ODI game in the last few years and has elevated the consistency to even higher levels.The only worry with the former captain was whether he would still have the desire to continue playing for almost two years. The desire to embrace the relentless grind for one last dance in South Africa.

The Australia series was his first appearance for India after the Champions Trophy and that is where even the dressing room got the vibe that ‘King is not going anywhere.’ He didn’t have good outings in the first two ODIs but rolled back the years with that chanceless stand with Rohit in the final ODI. The series was lost but RoKo reminded everyone of their class in the format and why they are still up for the challenge.But it isn’t going to be just about cricket and fitness going forward. Both Rohit and Virat would need to shut off outside noise, deal with the selection committee, and secure the backing of the coaching set-up and the BCCI. It sounds foolish that players of this repute, stature and talent need to worry about these things in a format which they have bossed for over a decade but the recent events would have made them a bit more vigilant.ALSO READ | Why Agarkar, Gambhir are to blame for home Test debaclesRohit’s unceremonious exit as ODI skipper and the non-committal tone in statements made by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir would have ensured the two legends keep their guard up at all times.Almost every press conference attended by Agarkar has included a RoKo question but has not produced an assuring response. The same has been the case with Gambhir as the duo has maintained that the World Cup is still more than two years away.“They are part of the squad at the moment in Australia. They are incredible players, but it is not the forum to harp on about individual players. Two years from now, it is difficult to say what the situation will be. Who knows, there can be younger players who will take the spot. Both are great players, and they will not be put to the test in every match. Once they start playing, we will assess the situation. It is about winning trophies, not just runs. It is not like if they score three hundreds in the Australia series, they will play the World Cup in 2027. We have to take the situation into consideration,” Agarkar had said at the NDTV World Summit 2025.

“Look, 50-over World Cup is still two-and-a-half years away, and I think it is very important to stay in the present,” Gambhir had echoed similar views in a press conference after India beat West Indies 2-0 in their Test series.“That is very important. Obviously, they are quality players, they are coming back, their experience is going to be a handful in Australia as well. Hopefully, those two guys will have a successful tour, and more importantly, as a team, we will have a successful series.”There are strong murmurs that the decision-makers are waiting for a slip-up by Rohit or Virat – whether it’s a dip in form or fitness concerns. It is reliably learnt that chief selector Agarkar has assured he will act tough if they don’t play in the domestic circuit after the South Africa ODIs. While Rohit is likely to turn up for Mumbai, it is understood that Virat plans to play some Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Delhi in Bengaluru.

Indian cricket team on the eve of the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi. (IANS)

Before that, though, Virat is likely to fly back to London after the culmination of the three ODIs vs South Africa but could well link-up with the Delhi team in Bengaluru. There hasn’t been any communication with the DDCA in this regard but India’s No.3 had more or less sorted his schedule for the rest of the year in Australia itself. There could be an alteration to this plan according to the team’s schedule for the New Zealand ODIs, starting January 11, but Virat could turn up for a few games of VHT, starting December 24.The noise will continue. Statements will continue to be made but the three-ODI series starting Sunday gives the fans an opportunity to enjoy the event, which snowballs into a spectacle on matchday.The number of Instagram Reels will exponentially increase, different tracks will be tried but the thumb will not give up when the scrolling continues. In the chaos that Indian cricket continues to be, Rohit and Virat remain the much-needed calm.Over to the 2027 World Cup now: 22 months to go…