Drama—one word to sum up the Boxing Day Test action. Sam Konstas was just three years old when Virat Kohli made his international debut for India. Yet, the modern-day master didn’t ignore a single opportunity to show who is the boss here. But the damage by Konstas was done. He took on Jasprit Bumrah, something that we rarely see. While Kohli got 20% fine and a demerit point, the Australian media seemingly didn’t bog down and are planning to reply in a quite thick manner. Apart from this, we had updates on two of India’s versatile all-rounders, Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag. On that note, let us look at top headline-making cricket stories from December 26.
Why “clown” Virat Kohli?
The Australian media has launched a personal attack on Virat Kohli, labelling him “Clown Kohli” in a Western Australian newspaper. The publication featured a photo of Kohli with a joker nose imposed on it. This comes after Kohli’s altercation with Sam Konstas, which earned him a reprimand and a 20% match fee deduction. The Australian media has a history of targeting Kohli, and this latest incident is seen as a mind-game tactic to unsettle him. However, it is quite contrasting: they welcomed Kohli saying “King” and now are potentially targetting him in such a manner.
Jasprit Bumrah’s magic continues in BGT
Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance with both old and new ball continues to haunt Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). In the Boxing Day Test, Bumrah’s crucial breakthroughs halted Australia’s progress, showcasing his ability to turn the game around with a brief yet impactful spell. He dismissed Usman Khawaja and then struck gold with two overs of precision, bowling Travis Head and forcing Mitchell Marsh into an error. Bumrah’s magic once again swung momentum in India’s favour, but again, he wasn’t supoorted very well.
Riyan Parag is back!
Young Indian batter Riyan Parag has returned to the nets after a shoulder injury. This is a massive boost for Team India, as Parag aims to regain match fitness and secure a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy squad. After a promising IPL 2024 outing and an impressive debut against Sri Lanka, Parag’s career was fast-tracked. He’s now eyeing a comeback in the IND vs ENG ODI and T20I series. He could be an X-factor for India for sure.
Hardik Pandya to play in VHT
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to make his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, playing for Baroda against Bengal on December 28. This will be Pandya’s first 50-over match in over a year, having last played in the ODI World Cup 2023. Pandya had missed the opening phase of the tournament due to personal reasons. His return to the 50-over format is a huge boost, as he had previously expressed his desire to make a comeback in this format. He could be a bridge that India require for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Pakistan player abuses Rabada
The Boxing Day Test in Centurion saw sparks fly as Pakistan’s Kamran Ghulam and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada engaged in a fiery battle. Ghulam, struggling against Rabada’s relentless pace, allegedly directed abusive language towards the pacer and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne, escalating tensions. Amid near-misses and dropped chances, Ghulam reached a gritty fifty. However, his innings ended at 54 after a mistimed shot off Daryn Paterson landed in Rabada’s hands.
Good news for GT, KKR
In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, several IPL stars made a statement with impressive performances. Shahrukh Khan stole the show with his maiden List A century, scoring 132 runs off 85 balls for Tamil Nadu against Uttar Pradesh. He stitched the highest-ever sixth-wicket stand in VHT history. His explosive innings helped Tamil Nadu win by 114 runs. Other notable performers included Mayank Agarwal, who single-handedly won the match for Karnataka, and rising stars Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Abhishek Sharma. These surely are superb signs for the Gujarat Titans (GT) and obviously KKR.
