BCCI President Sourav Ganguly announces Rs 5 crore bonus for team India

Australia unleash bouncer barrage on Pujara, Gill departs after swashbuckling 91

Indian batting unit was always anyway facing an uphill task of batting a total of 100 overs and chasing 328 runs to win the Gabba Test, and the Australian pace attack did not make life easier for Cheteshwar Pujara as well. Australian captain bright Mitchell Strac to attack both Pujara and Subman Gill to attack with a barrage of the short ball, but he was wayward and failed to apply any pressure on the duo. In one of his over, Gill and Pujara unleashed a counterpunch as the left armer was smashed for three fours and one six off a short ball in a span of six balls. Later, Paine turned to an accurate Josh Halewood and he started the barrage of short balls that clearly unsettled India’s number three. Pujara was hit on his elbow, his fingers were jammed against the bat handle, while another snorter of a short ball knocked him on his helmet. Pujara clearly looked unsettled after the aggressive bit of bowling from Australia but as always holding it on for India as the tourists have batted 54 overs and are at 153 for the loss of two wickets on the final day of the series-decider Test at the Gabba.

Daily Round up | Jan 18: India face uphill task despite Siraj's fifer

India have been handed a target of 328 runs by Australia after the hosts were bowled out for 294 in the second innings of the fourth Test in Brisbane. Here’s a look at the daily updates from the day. India to chase 328 India ended the penultimate day at 4/0 against Australia in Brisbane. The visitors have been handed a target of 328 runs in the second innings. Australia were bowled out for 294 after Steve Smith scored 55 while opener David Warner fell two short of a fifty. The pick of the bowlers for India was Mohammed Siraj who bagged a fifer while Shardul Thakur scalped four wickets during the course. The series is presently levelled at 1-1. England beat Sri Lanka England registered a 7-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Galle after chasing down a paltry total of 74. The visiting team had few early hiccups after they were reduced to 14/3 but Jonny Bairstow and Daniel Lawrence didn’t allow any further fall of wickets and took the team over the line. BCCI considers pulling out of Asia Cup The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering to pull out of the Asia Cup as per a report in Times of India. “Further, the Asia Cup – even if it was scheduled – would’ve probably been played around the same time as the ICC Test Championship final. If India don’t make the final, the industry would’ve preferred the Asia Cup instead. Now, the chance of such a thing happening look bleak so it’s a kind of catch-22 right now,” TOI quoted an official aware of the development as saying. Ranji trophy not on cards: Reports The BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is pretty determined to hold the Ranji Trophy but the timing is a huge factor. "He is serious that the Ranji Trophy should be conducted at any cost," said an important member of the BCCI. "Can we pull it off? We don't know,” as per Cricbuzz. “We’re just being practical. Let’s face it – the pandemic still hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s here and our lives continue to remain dispossessed by it. There are 38 First Class teams and a bio-bubble of that degree is simply not possible.” Mitchell Starc stares injury scare Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc complained of discomfort in his hamstring during the fourth day if the final Test against India in Brisbane. “I saw the same thing when he was walking back, he was grabbing at his right hamstring,” said Smith after the end of day’s play.

SMAT Round up | Jan 18: Jharkhand, Chhattishgarh etch wins in Super Over

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy had some exciting day as two matches went into the Super Over. Chhattisgarh’s encounter against Uttarakhand was decided in the Super Over where Chhattisgarh eventually won the match while Jharkhand too grabbed the victory in the same manner. Himachal Pradesh vs Maharashtra Himachal Pradesh won by 4 wickets Maharashtra- 117/9 Himachal Pradesh- 121/6 (Rishi Dhawan- 61*) Chhattisgarh vs Uttarakhand Match tied (Chhattisgarh won the super over) Uttarakhand- 167/8 (Jay Bista- 91) Chhattishgarh- 167/9 Gujarat vs Baroda Baroda won by 12 runs Baroda- 176/4 (Vishnu Solanki- 59*) Gujarat- 164/9 Jharkhand vs Hyderabad Match tied (Jharkhand won the one - over eliminator) Jharkhand- 139/9 Hyderabad- 139/8 (Ajay Dev Goud- 4/22) Odisha vs Assam Odisha won by 4 wickets Assam- 148/5 Odisha- 154/6 (Subhranshu Senapati- 64) Uttar Pradesh vs Karnataka Karnataka won by 5 wickets UP- 132/8 Karnataka- 136/5 Punjab vs Tripura Punjab won by 22 runs Punjab- 183/3 (Mandeep Singh- 99*) Tripura- 161/4 (Milind Kumar- 64*) Jammu and Kashmir vs Railways Jammu and Kashmir won by 7 wickets Railways- 133/9 J&K- 135/3

Gavaskar lauds India's extraordinary display of 'resolve, fortitude and fighting spirit'

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has showered praise on the touring Indian side for standing up to every contest and challenges thrown at them by the Australian side in the series. India need 324 runs with all 10 wickets intact while Australia need to run through the Indian team that has refused to give up in the series so far on the final day of the Tests at the Gabba. Gavaskar said that irrespective of the result in the ongoing Test, one must remember that how tough it has been for the teams in the past to compete in Australia and the level of ‘extraordinary’ success this team has been able to achieve over the course of four Test matches must make every fan of the team really proud of the players. "It doesn't matter what happens here at the Gabba... We Indians can and will be truly proud of our cricketers. I have led Indian teams on tours of Australia and know first-hand just how challenging it can be. But what we have witnessed in the series is something extraordinary," Gavaskar said during his commentary stint with the host broadcaster Channel Seven. The fight for the Border Gavaskar Trophy has reached to the pinnacle of the competition as the four-match Test series between Australia and India has reached to the last day of the final Test with no clear signs of who will emerge as the winner. He also urged the Australian people and commentators to recognise the exemplary level of mental toughness and skills put on display by the Indians even while struggling with loss of so many key players over the course of series. He also said that the mental fortitude showed by the team India has been a fitting tribute to his Australian counterpart Allan Border who was known for his mental strength in his playing days and with whom Gavaskar shares legacy in the name of Border-Gavaskar Trophy "...the trophy that was made to honour myself and great Allan Border, a captain who embodied everything we have seen in this series, mental toughness and skill (sic)," he said and then signed off with a stunning narrative: "I know you Australians respect, most of all, in yourselves and in opponents. I know you will always remember what these Indians have achieved here this summer,” Gavaskar added. Gavaskar also pointed out the length of the time these Indian players have been away from their families amid a raging pandemic that asked more than just on-field performances to compete on as difficult a tour as in Australia. Gavaskar also pointed out that many of the injuries in the Indian camp were impactful in nature and were inflicted by the fearsome quick bowling and pitches that took stern examination session after session, but the team showed exemplary guts to fight it out in the face of severe strain and adversities. "Resolve, fortitude and fighting spirit displayed by the team has been inspiring. Most have been away from home and in quarantine for over five months. They have been routed in the most crushing way with the world watching. They have seen friends battered and broken. They have been tested to the cricketing and mental limits every turn, every minute. Even under the most intense strain, they have never stopped fighting. And they may still somehow manage to take the trophy home.” Gavaskar opined during his commentary on during the fourth day’s play in the Gabba Test.