India has done the unthinkable by beating Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth by 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match BGT 2024/25. Captain Jasprit Bumrah starred with the ball, picking eight wickets in the game, as India took one step closer to directly qualifying for the WTC Final 2025.

India strike first blow to Australia in BGT, win series opener in Perth by 295 runs

India seamer Mohammed Siraj picked up two big wickets inside the first session on day four to help India inch closer to drawing first blood in the BGT opener in Perth.

BGT, Perth Test, Day 4: Mohammed Siraj strikes twice in first session as India inch closer to win

There is no stopping Yashasvi Jaiswal in Perth, as the Indian opener remains unbeaten on 141, with India taking a 321-run lead at lunch on day three of the first Test against Australia.

BGT - Perth Test, Day 3: Yashasvi Jaiswal nears 150 as India’s lead cross 320 at lunch

Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian captain for the Perth Test against Australia, picked a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the BGT opener; his spell of 5/30 restricted Australia to 104 in reply to India’s moderate 150 on day one.

Record Alert: Jasprit Bumrah goes past great Andy Roberts, James Anderson for most away Test five-fors

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood frustrated India with a 25-run stand for the final wicket but failed to prevent them from taking the lead, as the visitors wrapped Australia on 104 in their first innings in Perth.

BGT, Perth Test, Day 2: Australia all out on 104 as captain Bumrah completes five-for

The Indian captain for the first Test against Australia, Jasprit Bumrah, picked four wickets, including removing Usman Khawaja and veteran batter Steve Smith on successive balls to lead India’s comeback on day one in the Perth Test, with Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana chipping in with theirs.

BGT, Perth Test, Day 1: Jasprit Bumrah leads India’s comeback after batters disappoint in 1st innings

Ace India batter Virat Kohli has struggled to score Test runs in bulk for the past five years, something he enjoyed doing for most of his career. And with him touring Australia at 36, his reflexes and limitations are probably more exposed to everyone, which the hosts would like to bank on and keep him quiet throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024.

BGT 2024/25: Glenn McGrath urges Australian bowlers to go hard at ‘emotional and down’ Virat Kohli

Former Australia greats Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist expressed their reservations over the hosts’ squad selection criteria for the first Test against India in Perth starting November 22.

BGT: Australia's squad selection criteria for Perth Test baffles Hussey, Gilchrist

India Test captain Rohit Sharma will fly to Australia with the Indian Test squad while his participation in the first Test in Perth remains uncertain, per the latest report.

BGT: Rohit Sharma to fly to Australia but Perth Test participation remains uncertain – Report

New Zealand blanked India 3-0 in the recently concluded Test series, becoming the first team to clean-sweep India in their home conditions. That blow hit everyone - from players to analysts and fans to former legends, harder, with ex-India captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar coming down hard on Rohit Sharma’s men over this result.

‘Cricketing world agrees…’ – India legend slams BCCI’s ‘short-gain policies’ after New Zealand whitewash

KL Rahul and keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel are two BGT-bound Indian players flying to Australia a week earlier than the remainder of the Test squad. The duo will feature for India-A, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, in the second unofficial Test, scheduled for November 7 start at the MCG, to get some match practice ahead of the marquee Australia series beginning on November 22 in Perth.

KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel to feature in second India-A game ahead of Australia Tests

Australia on Monday left out their Test stars for the home Twenty20 series against Pakistan, with a new captain set to be named. The three-match T20 series next month will conclude only four days before Australia embark on the first of a five home Tests against India.

Squad announcement - Australia rest Test stars Pakistan T20Is; Glenn Maxwell in mix to lead Oz

Ace Indian seamer Mohammed Shami missed out on making the 18-man squad for the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia starting November 22 in Perth. The BCCI selectors named a star-studded pace attack, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the bunch.

All not over for Mohammed Shami as India quick may link up with squad midway into Australian tour – Reports

As Australia gears up for the home Tests against India starting November 22 in Perth, head coach Andrew McDonald has hinted at including uncapped opener Sam Konstas in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar series.

BGT: Sam Konstas in line for Test debut against India, hints Australia head coach Andrew McDonald

Harshit Rana’s inclusion in the India team for the Australia series raised eyebrows, while Mohammed Shami’s absence worried the fans. Late on Friday night (Oct 25), the BCCI announced a jumbo 18-man squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series starting November 22 in Perth.

‘Harshit Rana's selection for BGT is completely Gambhir’s choice’ – BCCI source ahead of Australia Tests

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins said the team management is not considering David Warner’s proposal to make a comeback for the India Test series starting November 22 in Perth.

‘We love Davey but he’s retired’ - Pat Cummins shuns David Warner’s comeback proposal for India Tests

Cheteshwar Pujara is a Test cricket giant all across, let alone for India. The closest thing to the great Rahul Dravid is him, and ironically, his batting position, technique, temperament, style of play and ability to tire the opposition are similar to that of ‘The Wall'.

Shubman Gill is a safe bet at no 3 but India still needs Cheteshwar Pujara in Australia. Here's why

Ace India seamer Mohammed Shami has confirmed that he is 100% pain-free now and wishes to play for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy to get match-ready for the Australia Tour that begins on November 22.

Mohammed Shami is 100% pain-free, aims to play Ranji games before Australia tour

Cricket Australia chief selector George Bailey has ended all speculations over Steve Smith’s batting position against India in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar series.

Australia selector George Bailey confirms Steve Smith’s batting position against India; Green ruled out of BGT

Australia seems to have run out of options to replace David Warner at the top, especially in Tests, and with the Border-Gavaskar series looming, they are exploring all options available, including replacing Steve Smith with Travis Head.

Should Travis Head open against India in Tests? Ian Chappell says NO, explains why

Australia great Steve Smith admits being ‘clueless’ over his batting position against India in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar series Down Under. Since David Warner’s Test retirement earlier this year, Smith volunteered to open, only for him to become the pale shadow of himself at the top of the order.

‘I have no idea’ - Steve Smith ‘clueless’ over batting position against India in Border-Gavaskar series

Ace India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is in line to make a shock return to Test cricket for the first time in six years. Having last appeared in the whites for the country in 2018, Pandya is now gearing up for the five-match Test series Down Under starting November 22.

Hardik Pandya gears up for ‘shock’ Test return with BGT looming, training video goes viral - WATCH

Everyone is talking about Rishabh Pant since his return to competitive cricket earlier this year. Even as his sixth Test hundred during the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh made headlines for all right reasons, former Australia captain-turned-broadcaster Ian Chappell reckons Pant would continue being a thorn in the flesh for the hosts during the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar series.

Ian Chappell warns Australia of Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah as visitors chase history Down Under

Ace Australia spinner Nathan Lyon admits taking six to seven years to acknowledge the pressure he felt playing under the shadow of the late Shane Warne, calling it a privilege.

‘Warne is the greatest ever, to play under his shadow is privilege,’ says veteran spinner Nathan Lyon