Suryakumar Yadav, a standout performer for India in T20I cricket, has revealed that the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is his number one cricket stadium in Australia, describing it as one of the most historic grounds in world cricket.  During a recent interaction on YouTube, Yadav spoke fondly about the memories that he associates with the ground and talked about how looking forward to playing in the venue in the white-ball series against Australia early next year.

“It's definitely an MCG, Melbourne, definitely one of the iconic stadiums," Yadav said. "I had an opportunity in 2022, Virat Bhai (Kohli) played the innings of a lifetime. I am really excited to play there I will go for a T20I."

The Mumbai batter was referring to the now-famous India vs Pakistan clash during the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, when Virat Kohli scored a magical 82 off 53 balls* to lead India to a thrilling four-wicket victory with 90,293 fans in attendance, the largest-ever crowd for a T20I match between the two nations. Yadav scored a brisk 15 in that match before being dismissed by Haris Rauf, and asserted that night will always remain one of the best cricketing experiences he has ever had. 

Q: Which is your favourite stadium in Australia? [Suryakumar Yadav YT]

Suryakumar Yadav said "It's definitely MCG, Melbourne - one of the iconic stadiums - I got an opportunity in 2022, Virat bhai played his innings of the life - I am really excited to play there, I am going to… pic.twitter.com/JGnYPOzdJm

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 31, 2025

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The MCG: A Historic Ground Where Legends of Cricket Are Made

The MCG, or the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was established in 1853. It is Australia’s largest stadium with a crowd capacity of over 100,000. The MCG has witnessed some of the greatest historical moments of the game of cricket including the World Cup Final in 1992, the Centenary Test in 1977 and the World Cup final in 2015 when there was an official attendance of 93,013. But Yadav said the MCG is more special than just historical significance or the attendance total stating that "the atmosphere, the crowd, the history, everything about the MCG is special.”

Yadav’s tour with India to Australia in 2025 includes a T20I match at the MCG on November 9 in case Yadav had a chance to impress the crowd in the grand old arena once again. With his fearless stroke making and 360-degree batting approach, he will welcome another opportunity to present his T20I form at a venue that favors aggressive cricket.

The MCG is also a cultural landmark with major events including the AFL Grand Final and the MCG will feature in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics when that happens. As Suryakumar prepares to pursue future plans to return, the MCG remains a cultural icon that seems to offer hope of creating some cricketing magic.

The action moves to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia and India face off in the second T20I of the five-match series. After the opening match in Canberra was washed out due to persistent rain, both teams will be desperate for a full game tonight to take an early lead in the series.

India were left frustrated by the weather in the first T20I after dominating the first innings at 97 for 1 in just 10 overs when rain forced the players off. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and opener Shubman Gill looked in fine touch, setting a solid foundation before the heavens opened. Despite the washout, India would take confidence from the batting intent shown by their top order.

Australia win toss, elect to bowl first as rain threatens to disrupt play in the second T20I at the MCG

At the toss in Melbourne, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won and opted to bowl first, hoping to take advantage of the conditions that might assist the pacers early on. He mentioned that the pitch looked good for cricket and expressed his team’s excitement to play at the historic venue. Australia made one change to their lineup, with Matthew Short replacing Josh Philippe.

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Suryakumar Yadav, on the other hand, said that losing the toss wasn’t a concern for India since they were prepared to bat first anyway. He reiterated that the team wants to stick with their aggressive brand of cricket, aiming to set a strong total and let their spinners take control later in the innings. India have gone in with the same XI that played in Canberra, continuing to back the combination of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel in the spin department.

Weather once again looms as a factor, with rain expected around the scheduled start time. However, forecasts indicate an improvement later in the evening, giving hope for at least a shortened contest.

If India can post around 170–180, it should be a competitive score given their spin options and Bumrah’s ability to control the death overs. Australia, meanwhile, will rely on their powerful middle order led by Marsh, Head, and Tim David to chase effectively under lights.

Playing XIs:

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Matthew Short, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.

Ace batter Virat Kohli of Team India and former Australia opener David Warner were seen sharing a special moment before the third and final ODI on Saturday, October 25, at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The visual of the modern-day greats talking prior to the toss captured the attention of the fans quickly as they looked back on their years of exciting battles against each other on the field in every format.

Kohli and Warner's spirit was evident as they embraced and exchanged small chat before Team India finished their warm-up routine. The two players have played against each other many times in the past, through international cricket or in the high-pressure games of IPL cricket. One of the more memorable pairings came in the IPL 2016 Final, when Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Kohli's Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the first title.

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For Warner, the SCC meeting was especially meaningful, given that the ground had significant sentimental value, as this was the very venue where the Australian opener played his last red-ball fixture at the beginning of 2024. For Kohli, it was, however, the return to favourite ground(s), where he played his last Test at this venue earlier in the same year in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Before the match, Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bat first, with the home team looking for a rare ODI whitewash over India, following their victories in Perth and Adelaide that made the series already won by the Men in Yellow to finish the contest on their terms.

After Kohli’s expected Test retirement that would happen in May 2025, Warner expressed his admiration through an emotional posting on Instagram for his final friendly opponent in the cricket 'battlefield'. "Absolute legend of our game... I will never forget our first match against each other when we were young players, and you had to fill the shoes of some great players from India, and you did not disappoint... Thank you for being you and getting the best out of all of us who competed against you."

Following recently making a return to international cricket from a seven-month break, Kohli certainly had a difficult series with back-to-back ducks in the recent Test series against Australia, but the image of him and Warner together generates a reminder to cricket fans outside the battle, the respect and admiration for the spirit of the game prevails.

Veteran Indian opener Rohit Sharma has rewritten the record books once again, claiming a historic benchmark during the second ODI against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. The 38-year-old is now the first Indian batter to accumulate 1000 ODI runs against Australia, on Australian shores, cementing his spot as one of the modern greats.

Rohit entered the game needing just two runs to reach the milestone and did so with his very first boundary of the innings. With this accomplishment, Rohit wrote another gleaming testament to his illustrious ODI career, continuing to showcase his class in conditions away from home.

Surpassed Sourav Ganguly's Number

Earlier in the innings, Rohit broke Sourav Ganguly's record of 9,146 runs, making him India's second-highest run-scorer as an ODI opener, and fifth in the overall history of the country. Of the 54 openers who have surpassed the 3000-run mark in ODIs, Rohit remains the only one with an average exceeding 50, affirming the type of consistency and dominance he has shown at the top.

ALSO SEE: WATCH : 'No Handshake' ends? Shubham Gill spotted in viral video ahead of IND vs AUS 2nd ODI

Rohit’s One-day International Record in Australia

Rohit has not recently found success Down Under. He has always shown an ability to adjust well to Australian conditions while playing against pace and bounce, and produce against high-quality bowling attacks. He is one of India's steadiest performers abroad. In 20 ODIs played on the territory, he has now cracked the 1000-run mark, including four 100s and two 50s, more than any other Indian batter has.

Eyes on Another World Record

Rohit is also on the verge to break another history making record. The right-handed batter currently has 344 sixes in ODI cricket, just seven short of 351 held by Pakistan legend, Shahid Afridi - the most in the history of ODI cricket. Given that there are still two matches to play in the series, Rohit has a real chance to break Afridi’s record and become the all-time leader in sixes across all ODI matches.

As India try to level the series after losing the first ODI, Rohit’s form and experience will be vital. After making history in Adelaide, the captain of the Indian team will now be looking to turn his history making effort into a match-winning one for his team.

As Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss at the Adelaide Oval, he elected to bowl first against India in the second ODI of the series. Australia currently has a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and have made three changes to their playing XI, whilst India has once again elected to stick with the same XI, despite suffering a crushing loss in the first ODI at Perth.

Australia have replaced Josh Philippe, Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Ellis with Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett, respectively. Carey's inclusion brings further depth into the middle order, and experience behind the stumps after a good stint for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield. Zampa bolsters their spin options, and Bartlett takes the place of Ellis whilst adding a little extra pace to the mix.

Australia's pace attack has a big boost with Bartlett, as India look to square the series

The omission of Nathan Ellis raised a few eyebrows, especially given the reasonable pickup he had in Perth – he bowled a couple of brilliant deliveries which had ending Gill's innings, as well as taking 1/29 off five overs. However, Bartlett is in line with the Australian mindset and tactic thinking. Bartlett is renowned for his ability to swing the new ball and working to fuller lengths, both aspects that can translate positively on the Adelaide surface. His tall height and skillset can create an uncomfortable state for the Indian top order, who struggled against pace and bounce in the 1st ODI. 

ALSO SEE: McGrath, Gillespie, Fleming share their favourite Indian fast bowlers

Another reason for a change in pace bowling is Australia's rotating squad policy. They have several pacers like Pat Cummins, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Ben Dwarshuis on the recovery from injury, and the management are being conservative  in terms of load management. Ellis is also a member of Australia's T20I squad for the upcoming series against India, therefore he is being managed for the shorter format where his ability will be more viable at the death.

There were no changes to India's playing XI after the loss. The experienced top order of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill are once again expected to set the tone, and keep the side alive in the series. 

With cool conditions and early movement anticipated, Australia's choice to bowl first may pay off. India, on the other hand, will hope to counter early swing and post a competitive score on a ground that is generally a high scoring one.

Playing XIs:
Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.

In a recent video by The Fast Bowling Cartel on YouTube, Australian cricket legends Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, and Damien Fleming shared their picks for the top five Indian ODI fast bowlers. Their selections sparked lively discussions among fans, highlighting both India’s current stars and iconic figures from the past.

Glenn McGrath’s Picks

Glenn McGrath, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, placed Jasprit Bumrah at the top. He praised Bumrah’s unorthodox action, lethal accuracy, and ability to deliver under pressure. McGrath’s full list:

Jason Gillespie’s Picks

Jason Gillespie echoed McGrath’s admiration for Bumrah, calling him a game-changer for India. He also highlighted Shami’s wicket-taking prowess and appreciated Agarkar and Srinath for their contributions to India’s pace evolution.

Damien Fleming’s Picks

Damien Fleming also ranked Bumrah as number one and called Kapil Dev “a trailblazer for Indian fast bowling.” Fleming gave Srinath the third spot for his dominance in the 1990s and included Zaheer Khan for his swing and role in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph.

Analysis and Fan Reactions

All three legends unanimously ranked Jasprit Bumrah at the top, reflecting his unique bowling action and clutch performances. Kapil Dev consistently featured near the top, underscoring his legendary status. Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in all lists highlights his impact in contemporary cricket.

Fans were intrigued by the choices of Ajit Agarkar over Zaheer in two lists, sparking debates on social media. Meanwhile, Srinath’s presence in multiple lists serves as a reminder of India’s pace-bowling foundations in the 1990s.

This discussion celebrates India’s rich fast-bowling legacy, from Kapil Dev’s era to Bumrah’s current dominance, showcasing the rise of Indian pacers as a global force.

Marnus Labuschagne has been called into Australia’s squad for the three-match ODI series against India, starting Sunday, after all-rounder Cameron Green was ruled out with side soreness. The selectors didn’t want to risk him ahead of the Ashes starting next month. “Green will have a short rehab and is expected to return in round three of the Sheffield Shield as part of his Ashes preparation,” Cricket Australia said.

Marnus Labuschagne Replaces Injured Cameron Green in IND vs AUS ODI Series

Labuschagne wasn’t in the original squad but earned his place after scoring 159 for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield match on Thursday, his fourth century of the season. This is the third last-minute change for Australia in the first ODI.

🚨 LABUSCHAGNE IS BACK IN ODIs 🚨

- Marnus Labuschagne replaces injured Cameron Green in the ODI series against India. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/42lK15Y1mV

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 17, 2025

Josh Philippe replaces the injured Josh Inglis, and Matthew Kuhnemann comes in for Adam Zampa, who is unavailable for personal reasons. For India, the focus will be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are back in action after retiring from Tests and playing only one format now.

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Australia Squad for First ODI:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc.

From Second ODI onwards: Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis.

Veteran Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell recently unveiled his combined Australia-India-England ODI XI, sparking interest among cricket fans worldwide. The 37-year-old shared his selections in a video released by Fox Cricket on their official YouTube channel on Tuesday, October 14.

The announcement comes just days before India’s highly anticipated white-ball tour of Australia, which promises exciting contests between the world’s top teams. Maxwell’s picks reflect his understanding of the modern ODI format and the standout players who have dominated in recent years.

India’s tour of Australia begins on October 19 with a three-match ODI series, followed by five T20 internationals. The series will serve as a key build-up for both sides ahead of next year’s major ICC tournaments.

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Glenn Maxwell’s Combined ODI XI Features India-Australia Stars, Excludes England Players:

For the opening pair, Glenn Maxwell had to choose between Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Mark Waugh. Without hesitation, he picked the iconic Indian duo — Rohit and Sachin — to open his dream ODI lineup.

When it came to the middle order, Maxwell had another tough choice among Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Ricky Ponting, Eoin Morgan, Michael Clarke, and Michael Bevan. He selected Kohli at the crucial No. 3 position, followed by Australia’s legendary captain Ricky Ponting and consistent finisher Michael Bevan, forming a strong and balanced middle order.

For the all-rounder position, Glenn Maxwell chose Shane Watson, preferring him over notable names like Yuvraj Singh, Kapil Dev, Andrew Symonds, Mark Waugh, Andrew Flintoff, and Ben Stokes. In the wicket-keeping role, he went with former Indian captain MS Dhoni, picking him ahead of legendary options such as Adam Gilchrist and England’s Jos Buttler.

In the bowling section, Glenn Maxwell had an impressive list of options to choose from, including Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Adam Zampa, Darren Gough, and James Anderson. The selection featured some of the finest pacers and spinners from India, Australia, and England’s cricketing history.

At No. 8, Glenn Maxwell selected former Australian speedster Brett Lee, known for his fiery pace and 380 ODI wickets. He chose Anil Kumble as his lead spinner and added India’s ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, widely regarded as one of the best across formats, at No. 10.

To complete his lineup, Maxwell included the legendary Glenn McGrath at No. 11, emphasizing his consistency and control. Interestingly, his combined Australia-India-England ODI XI did not feature a single English cricketer, highlighting the dominance of Indian and Australian players in his all-time selection.

Glenn Maxwell Reveals His Ultimate Australia-India-England Combined ODI XI:

Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Anil Kumble, Jasprit Bumrah, Michael Bevan, Shane Watson, MS Dhoni (WK), and Glenn McGrath

In a major update for fans of Australian cricket, star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell provided the good newsthat he's optimistic he can return to full fitness to play in the final three T20Is against India. The Men in Blue will tour Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is, starting on October 19. Maxwell, who continues to focus on T20 cricket following his ODI retirement, was sidelined from the squad for the New Zealand series due to a wrist injury.

The injury occurred when Maxwell was struck on the hand by a powerful shot from Mitchell Owen during a practice session, forcing him to undergo surgery. Speaking about his recovery, the Australian all-rounder shared that the operation was necessary to improve his chances of participating in the India series.

"I think having the surgery last week sort of gives me a little bit more hope of playing some part in that India series, if I can get myself right. The only reason I had the surgery was that the options they gave me were to miss that series completely or have surgery, and it gives me a slim chance to hopefully play a part. And if not, I'll be ready earlier for the BBL, and I think it leaves me in good standing to get the rest of my body right," Maxwell said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Maxwell Opens Up on His Injury and Recovery Process

It is worth noting that Cricket Australia has so far announced the squad only for the first two T20Is against India. Maxwell revealed that the injury was purely accidental and unfortunate, as the ball hit directly on the bone rather than on the flesh, which would have made a big difference.

See Also: India’s assistant coach confirms unchanged playing XI for second Test against West Indies

Reflecting on the incident, he humorously added that he now prefers not to bowl to big-hitters like Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Mitchell Owen, to avoid any similar accidents in the future. Despite the setback, Maxwell remains optimistic about making a strong comeback later in the series or at the very least before the Big Bash League.

Monstrous batting performance by Harjas Singh. The Australia U19 World Cup-winning all-rounder smashed 35 sixes in his record-breaking 314-run knock during an NSW Premier Cricket league match for Western Suburbs. From the beginning of the innings, Singh was in a commanding position, hammering the ball in every corner of the field. During the innings, he looked especially strong on the leg side. 

The southpaw's innings was not only about his hard hitting but also an example of sensible batting. He made those big hits only when he spotted opportunities. On Saturday, he first reached the 50-run mark facing only 33 balls, reached 201 off 102 balls, and scored 88 from his final 23. 

"Definitely that's the cleanest ball-striking I've ever witnessed from myself, for sure. It's something I'm quite proud of because I've worked in the off-season quite a bit on my power-hitting, and for it to come off today was quite special," Singh told Fox Cricket after the match. 

 

 

 

 

 

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"I've missed out on the last season or two, worrying about stuff outside my own game. But I feel like I've brought myself to just worrying about what's going on with my own game." 

Who is Harjas Singh? 

Harjas Singh is a former Australia Under-19 batter who was with the World Cup-winning side in South Africa last year. In the final of the World Cup, the batter hit 55 against India, the top individual score in the match for his team. With the triple ton, Harjas comfortably placed himself in the pages of the record book. According to media reports, it is now the highest limited-overs score in first-grade premier cricket anywhere in Australia.