Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two former captains of the Indian cricket team, thanked the Sydney and Australian crowd after their last international innings down under. The former celebrated a fine knock of unbeaten 121 runs while Kohli remained undefeated on 74 runs to complete the chase by nine wickets with 12 overs to spare. 

Ravichandran Ashwin, after finishing since international cricket and taking IPL retirement, signed for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL). The Cricket Australia chief, Todd Greenberg, revealed that India’s biggest stars would continue to get wooed to join and feature in the Big Bash League.

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“I think in the short to medium term, it is realistic. We’re going to keep the dialogue open. Ravi (Ravichandran) Ashwin's coming is a really important moment for the BBL, and it will highlight the strength of bringing Indian players into the league. What that manifests over time, I think, is to be seen.” Greenberg expressed.

CA chief sheds light on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future in BBL

Ashwin’s presence would increase the popularity of the Big Bash this year, and if somehow Kohli and Rohit join one of the franchises, then it would take the league to another level in the market.

“Some of that will depend on whether we take private capital into the BBL, which is an open conversation for us at the moment. But I think you’re going to see an enormous explosion of interest around the Thunder this year on the back of Ravi Ashwin playing. There’s one thing the best leagues have all over the world in every sport – they have access to the best players, and the BBL should be no different from that.” He continued.

“The noise emanating from the heaving SCG reached fever pitch during the evening as Rohit and Kohli, along with their fanatical supporters, turned a supposed dead rubber into a victory parade for two demi-gods playing what was almost certainly their final international games in Australia. It was a reminder of the unmatched favor the Indian diaspora has for the sport.” Cricket Australia chief concluded.

Cricket Australia has significantly upgraded the live match-day experience by expanding its Cricket Radio feature within the official CA Live app. This new initiative, powered by NRMA Insurance, will provide real-time, uninterrupted audio commentary directly to fans’ phones for major competitions, including the ongoing Australia-India men’s white-ball series, the Ashes, WBBL, and BBL.

In a major move for accessibility, the app will now offer a dedicated Hindi-language commentary feed for attendees at the men’s white-ball matches against India. Delivered by JioStar and its popular broadcasters, this feature allows fans to enjoy the action in their preferred language by simply using headphones and selecting the feed in the app’s Match Centre.

Although it may seem like this live in-stadium commentary is new for Australian fans, English cricket venues have been doing this for a while! But rather than access via an app, spectators there use a small ear-radio device to get live commentary and critical moments of the game while watching the action in front of them.

CA Live App Enhances Accessibility and Fan Engagement

Alex Lavelle, Executive General Manager, Digital, Marketing and Communications at Cricket Australia, highlighted the innovation’s role in making the sport more inclusive. “It’s part of our commitment to making cricket more accessible and inclusive for all Australians and now we’re proud to offer audio commentary, including Hindi for the first time on the Cricket Australia Live App,” Alex said.

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He added, “This innovation ensures fans can feel closer to the action and enjoy a richer live experience. Fans can access no delay cricket radio via the CA Live App for the men’s white ball series, The Ashes, BBL and WBBL.” For fans outside the stadium, live English commentary remains available nationwide through broadcast partners SEN, ABC, and Triple M. To access the in-stadium Cricket Radio, users need to download the CA Live App, enable location services, and log in with a free Cricket Plus account.

The New South Wales all-rounder, Jack Edwards, has been called for his first international series, while Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dwarhuis are fit to return for the last few games of the five-match T20I series against India, with the young quick pacer, Mahil Beardman, also called up for the T20Is. Cricket Australia confirmed the host of changes for two white-ball squads. 

Marnus Labuschagne has been released from Australia's ODI squad ahead of the final game in Sydney. Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abnott will miss the back-end of the T20I series as the latter will leave the third T20I in Hobart while recovering from a split webbing in his hand.

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Matthew Kuhnemann was recalled to the squad for the third game in Sydney alongside Edwards. Josh Philippe has been added to the T20I squad as the back-up option of Alex Carey, with Josh Inglis yet to return to full fitness from his calf strain.

Glenn Maxwell returns for Australia’s T20I series against India

Maxwell will return for the last three T20Is after being ruled out of the first two games and the New Zealand trip due to fracturing his wrist. Dwarshuis has been named for the fourth and fifth clashes in Queensland. It’s a surprise call-up for the 20-year-old Bradman for the last three T20Is.

Edwards’ call-up to the 50-over squad has come on the back of some fabulous performances for the Australia A side on their recent tour of India. He made 88 in the second four-day game in Lucknow and took 4/56 and smashed 89 off 75 in the second and third 50-over games in Kanpur, respectively.

His addition to the squad provides the national side a chance to trial an all-rounder-heavy line-up in the dead rubber in Sydney. This would present a chance for the management to rest either one or both of Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for the third game.

Australia’s T20I squad vs India

Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott (first three matches only), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman (last three matches only), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis (last two matches only), Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood (first two matches only), Glenn Maxwell (last three matches only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

In a promising development for Australian cricket fans, multiple top T20 players from Pakistan will be available to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued the long awaited No Objection Certificates (NOCs). The development comes just weeks before the BBL is set to begin on December 14, ending a long period of uncertainty that had pushed franchises and fans alike to the edge of their seats.

The suspension of NOCs in September after Pakistan lost a tight Asia Cup 2025 final against India, had left stars like Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan in limbo. With players barred from playing in overseas leagues, they had little option but to play domestic competitions like the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, leaving BBL franchises scrambling to modify their plans.

Following thorough negotiations, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi guaranteed CA that NOCs would not be denied any players that met the basic fitness requirements and could make them available for their national teams. Players will now be allowed to play in up to two leagues overseas in a given year, provided they are not needed for over five-match cricket in the coming series with England and New Zealand. Todd Greenberg, the CEO of CA, welcomed this new order, stating, “The flair of Pakistani cricket brings excitement and quality to our league, both on and off the field.”

BBL Poised for a Star-Studded Season as Pakistani Players Suiting Up 

Franchises have already been getting ready to take advantage of these stars. The Brisbane Heat created a dedicated section for fans called the “Shaheen zone,” and the Melbourne Stars have had special ledges setup for Rauf. On the field, Babar will be in a position to anchor the middle order for the Sydney Sixers; Afridi’s raw pace is sure to trouble opposing batters, and Rizwan’s glove work will be important for the Renegades. Analysts are even indicating that attendance and viewership may increase by up to 20% simply because of the star power these international players bring.

ALSO SEE: South Africa end 18-year wait for Test win in Pakistan during PAK vs SA 2nd Test

Although cricket fans in Pakistan have had a mixed reaction- happy for the players' financial gain, but frustrated with the uncertainty of the board attitude - this is a reminder of the fine line between domestic needs and international exposure to the 'game'. With the final BBL drafts fast approaching, the approval of Pakistan's best T20 players is not only exciting but also exciting for spectators; we anticipate an exciting series of games, sold out arenas, and magnificent moments to witness in Australia.

Highlights Include:

Players Approved: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan

BBL Impact: More engagement with fans, multiple players receiving substantial contracts

PCB Position: Approvals were based on performance of the national team

CA Position: "Thrilled- Pak flair adds to our product" -Todd Greenberg

Cricket Australia has officially announced that public ticket allocations for the upcoming T20I between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) have been completely sold out. The match, scheduled for Friday, October 31, has achieved this milestone more than three weeks before the game, highlighting the massive excitement among fans. This adds to what is shaping up to be one of Australia’s biggest cricket summers, with public allocations for all 12 days of the Ashes series also fully booked.

The AFL member tickets went on sale today, followed by MCC member tickets being available from tomorrow. This increased demand is an indication of the immense hype surrounding the India-Australia rivalry. Overall, ticket sales for the Men’s ODI and T20I series have crossed an impressive 175,000, with only about 30,000 tickets still available across the remaining eight matches of the tour.

Public tickets for matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Manuka Oval have already been exhausted, while the Adelaide ODI and the Gabba T20I are also nearing full capacity. Both venues have fewer than 5,000 public tickets left each, according to Cricket Australia.

CA CEO Todd Greenberg on Fan Enthusiasm

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg expressed delight over the overwhelming fan response. He said, “The huge crowd anticipated for the Melbourne T20I is another strong indicator of the incredible interest in this series. We’re thrilled to see fans embracing the Australia vs India contest with such passion, and we look forward to delivering a world-class experience both on and off the field.”

Greenberg further added, “To have over 175,000 tickets sold with 13 days until the first ODI in Perth is a phenomenal result. It speaks volumes about the strength of the rivalry and the enthusiasm of fans across the country.”

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Australia vs India 2025: Full Schedule

There is already a different buzz for the return of two superstars and veterans of Indian cricket, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, through the three-match ODI series against Australia down under. They have already retired from the shortest and longest format of the game and will return in the national colours for the first time since the Champions Trophy 2025 final.

Cricket Australia has confirmed that public ticket allocation for the T20I game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has now been exhausted. This is now a huge milestone with Australia promising it to be one of the biggest cricket summers along with the Ashes 2025/26, which is due to begin on November 22. It has also been revealed that 12 days of the Ashes series has also been exhausted as the press release revealed.

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Now the MCG T20I, which is scheduled to happen on October 31, has reached the milestone more than three weeks ahead of the match day. It reflects the extra-ordinary demand of the fans for the exciting series.

Public ticket allocation exhausted for Australia vs India 2025 T20I series

The announcement comes as the overall ticket sales for the ODI and T20I series have crossed 175000 with just 30000 tickets remaining across the eight games. The Sydney and Manuka Oval games have already been exhausted, while the Adelaide ODI and Gabba T20I are finishing slowly.

The summer only gets bigger 🤩

Tickets for the summer are in huge demand - don’t miss out 🎟️ https://t.co/XP4qyEjwG4 pic.twitter.com/j0hiXS5ho8

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) October 6, 2025

“The huge crowd anticipated for the Melbourne T20I is another strong indicator of the incredible interest in this series. We're thrilled to see fans embracing the Australia v India contest with such passion, and we look forward to delivering a world-class experience both on and off the field.  To have over 175,000 tickets sold with 13 days until the first ODI in Perth is a phenomenal result.” Todd Greenberg, CA CEO, expressed as quoted by the Cricket Australia press release.

The opening game of the trip will begin on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth before the action moves to Adelaide and Sydney. The T20I series will begin on October 29 in Canberra before it continues to spread in Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast, and Brisbane.

Seasoned all-rounder Grace Harris has been ruled out of the Australia Women squad for the upcoming 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The 32-year-old suffered a calf injury while fielding during Australia’s series-deciding third ODI against India Women in Delhi last week.

Cricket Australia has named fellow all-rounder Heather Graham as a like-for-like replacement for Harris, as the team looks to defend their title and chase a record-extending crown in the subcontinent. Heather has been fast-tracked into the squad for the World Cup, making this her return to ODI cricket after a six-year gap.

Heather Graham has participated in just one ODI for Australia back in October 2019 during a home series against Sri Lanka in Brisbane. Although she has limited ODI experience, the 29-year-old remains a strong T20 player after honing her craft in the WBBL in Australia and in The Hundred in England. She was also part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise during the WPL 2025 season earlier this year.

Australia Eye Record Title Defense

Australia, winners of the 2022 Women’s World Cup, will kick off their campaign on October 1 against rivals New Zealand in Indore. Alyssa Healy, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter, will be at the helm of the seven-time champions, together with Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, and Elyse Perry.

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With the selection of Heather Graham into the side, Australia aims to keep the balance of the group, and the hope is for a solid all-round performance during the tournament. The retention of the title is the team's focus as they adapt to the conditions in India and Sri Lanka.

The legendary and rare cap by the former Australia captain and opening batter, Donald Bradman, during the 1946-47 Ashes series has been bought by the National Museum of Australia for a price of AU$438500, which is nearly US$286700. The cap has been collected by the Canberra museum, with the federal government also contributing half of the cost.

The former right-handed Australia batter wore the cap when he led the national side in the 1946-47 series, which was the first to be played against England after the Second World War. They won the five-match Test series by 3-0, lighting a fuse for the 1948 tour, where the Australia side went undefeated in the United Kingdom.

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“You'd be hard-pressed to meet an Australian who hasn't heard of the great Donald Bradman, arguably the greatest cricketer of all time.” Tony Burke, the Arts Minister, expressed that while purchasing the cap, which is now an important piece of the national history, for future generations.

Donald Bradman’s baggy green cap bought for over $400000 price

The New South Wales batter has overall smashed 6996 runs in 80 innings of the Test matches at an average of 99.94, thanks to 29 centuries and 13 half-centuries at the best score of 334 runs. In first-class cricket, he clubbed 28067 runs in 338 innings at an average of 95.14 with 117 centuries and 69 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 452 runs.

“Now to have one of his iconic baggy greens in the National Museum of Australia means visitors will have the opportunity to get up close and connect with our sporting and cultural history.” Burke shed light on the statement as the cap now sits with other memorabilia of Bradman.

“Sir Donald's baggy green marks the life of Australia's most celebrated batsman and reflects a time when sporting heroes gave Australians hope, following the heartbreak and hardship of the Second World War. We are delighted this national treasure has found a home here at the National Museum of Australia for all Australians to enjoy.” National Museum director, Katherine McMahor, welcomed the cap in museum collections.

The former Australia captain and coach, Bob Simpson, has passed away at the age of 89 in Sydney. It’s a huge loss for Australian cricket, which has now lost a giant in the form of their former captain and coach. He was succeeded as the coach by one of his former players, Geoff Marsh, as the more senior side shifted their style under the leadership of Mark Taylor since Allan Border retired in 1994.

Simpson went on to coach Leicestershire and Lancashire for short periods of English cricket. Interestingly, Simpson worked as the coaching advisor for Rajasthan during the Ranji Trophy in India and the consultant for India’s men’s team during the late 1990s.

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“Bob Simpson was one of the greats of Australian cricket, and this is a sad day for anyone fortunate to have watched him play or who benefited from his wisdom. Bob's decision to come out of retirement to successfully lead the Australian team during the advent of World Series Cricket in 1977 was a wonderful service to the game, and his coaching set the foundation for a golden era for Australian cricket.” Cricket Australia chair, Mike Baird, expressed.

Former Australia captain and coach Bob Simpson dies at 89

In his 70s, he coached the Netherlands through a successful qualification campaign during the 2007 World Cup.  He was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia in 1978, which was upgraded in 2008 for his services as a coach, consultant, and administrator. In 1965, he was named the cricketer of the year in Wisden.

RIP to a true cricket legend.

A Test cricketer, captain, coach and national selector - Bob Simpson was a mighty figure in Australian cricket, giving everything to our game.

Cricket Australia extends our thoughts and sympathies to Bob’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/U8yGeZNmCb

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) August 16, 2025

Bob smashed 4869 runs in 111 innings of Test cricket at an average of 46.81, scoring 10 centuries and seven half-centuries at the best score of 311 runs. In the FC format for New South Wales, he drilled 21029 runs in 436 innings, thanks to 60 centuries and 100 fifties, besides bagging 349 wickets at an average of 38.

He initially retired from the game in 1968, having captained in 29 of the 50 Test matches. But then, he made a return as the leader of the side at the age of 41 and went on to lead them during the two five-match home series against India and five-away Tests against West Indies in the Caribbean.

The Australian cricket team has lost its former captain and coach, Bob Simpson, who died in Sydney at the age of 89 on the morning of August 16. He was one of the most influential players in their history, having played 62 Tests between 1957 and 1978, with an average of 46.81, thanks to 27 half-centuries and 10 centuries at the best score of 311 runs.

In first-class cricket of Australia, for New South Wales, Simpson clubbed 21029 runs in 436 innings at an average of over 56, with 60 centuries and 100 half-centuries at the best score of 359. With the ball, he picked up 349 wickets at an average of 38.07.

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Initially, Simpson retired from the game in 1968 after an 11-year career as one of the finest openers of the country. But then, he decided to make his return to the game as Test captain in Australia’s hour of need post the World Series in 1977. He led the side to five home Tests against India and five away Tests in the Caribbean at the age of 41.

Know Bob Simposon who made his Test comeback for Australia at 41

Against England, in Manchester in 1964, Simpson celebrated his maiden Test century in the 30th fixture. It was followed by two more double centuries and an average of more than 54 as the captain after not making a century and carrying an average of 33.67 before he took the role from Richie Benaud during the 1963-64 home summer.

Simpson and Bill Lawry still have the record for the highest Test opening partnership against West Indies of 382 runs. He was again called up to the cricket board in 1986 during their poor Test performance in 1968 as a nation, where they didn’t earn a series victory for more than two years.

Along with captain Allan Border, the Sydney-born was instrumental in developing a culture of discipline and hard work for the young players who were selected in the younger group, including Dean Jones, Steve Waugh, Merv Hughes, and David Boon. In 1987, he was included in the selection panel chaired by Laurie Sawle, where he picked up the players of the golden era of Australian cricket, including Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, and others.