Rohit Sharma is set to return as an opener, while KL Rahul will bat at No. 3 in India’s Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne, reports Times of India. India is considering playing two spinners, with Washington Sundar likely to partner Ravindra Jadeja, leaving Nitish Kumar Reddy out despite strong performances. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is one wicket away from 100 international scalps against India and five away from a 700-wicket milestone. The 4th Test holds significant stakes as Starc aims to join legends Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Brett Lee in Australian cricket history.

Australia announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test against India, confirming Travis Head’s availability after passing a fitness test for his groin injury. Head, who scored centuries in the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, remains a key player in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Additionally, 19-year-old Sam Konstas will debut as an opener, becoming Australia’s youngest Test debutant since 2011. Konstas replaces Nathan McSweeney and brings aggressive intent, showcasing impressive performances in domestic and A-team games. Scott Boland also returns, replacing injured Josh Hazlewood. Australia hopes to dominate India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Manu Bhaker, 22, voiced anguish after being excluded from the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna shortlist despite her historic Paris Olympics achievements. “I shouldn’t have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country. In fact, I shouldn’t have become a sportsperson,” she told her father, expressing deep disillusionment. Bhaker, who won two bronze medals in the 10m air pistol events, became the first Indian post-Independence to achieve this feat. Despite applying for the award, she was overlooked, sparking outrage among fans and experts. Many have urged the sports ministry to recognize her unparalleled contributions to Indian sports.

The ICC has announced the schedule for the Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament will start on February 19, with Pakistan playing New Zealand in Karachi. India’s league matches, including the big clash against Pakistan on February 23, will take place in Dubai. The final will also be held in Dubai if India qualifies; otherwise, it will be in Lahore. Matches will follow a hybrid model, split between Pakistan and the UAE. Group A features India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Bangladesh. Group B includes Afghanistan, Australia, England, and South Africa. All games will start at 2:30 PM IST.

Badminton champion PV Sindhu tied the knot with Hyderabad-based entrepreneur Venkata Datta Sai in a grand traditional Telugu wedding on December 22 in Udaipur. The intimate ceremony, attended by close family and friends, reflected regal charm as Sindhu donned a radiant cream saree, complemented by Sai's cream sherwani. Following the wedding, the couple hosted a lavish reception in Hyderabad on December 24. Datta Sai, Executive Director of Posidex Technologies, is admired for his humility and business acumen. Sindhu, an Olympic medalist and World Champion, embarks on this new chapter, blending personal joy with her illustrious sports career.

Manu Bhaker, 22, India’s first Independence-era athlete to win two Olympic medals at Paris 2024, is heartbroken over her exclusion from the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna shortlist. "I shouldn't have gone to the Olympics and won medals for the country," Bhaker told her father after the snub. Despite clinching two bronze medals in the 10m air pistol events and applying for the award, her name was overlooked. Bhaker’s father called the decision “devastating” and urged the government to recognize her efforts. Fans criticized the sports ministry, highlighting her 28-medal tally post-Tokyo. "Her achievements deserved automatic recognition," a source remarked.

Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s highest wicket-taker among active bowlers, shocked fans by announcing his retirement during the Border Gavaskar Trophy after the third Test in Brisbane. Explaining his decision, Ashwin said, “I’ve never been a person who holds onto things. The game always stood ahead of me.” He added that he felt his creative side had no future or direction. Reflecting on his journey, Ashwin shared, “I’ve got no regrets. Cricket gave me meaning in life.” He retires with 537 Test wickets, leaving behind a legacy shaped by his deep passion for the sport.

India will play their Champions Trophy matches in the UAE after Pakistan, the tournament host, chose it as a neutral venue. The decision comes after India refused to visit Pakistan, citing government advice. Due to strained political ties, India last toured Pakistan in 2008. The two teams only face off in multi-nation tournaments, such as the ICC World Cup. The Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams, will take place in February and March 2025. This will be Pakistan's first time hosting an ICC event since the 1996 World Cup. Matches between the rivals will remain on neutral grounds.

Shooter Manu Bhaker, a double-medal winner at the Paris Olympics, is surprisingly absent from the Khel Ratna Award nominations. Reports suggest the omission may stem from Bhaker not applying for the award, though her family claims she did. The sports ministry officials cite procedural issues, while others call for suo moto recognition of Bhaker’s achievements. Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar are among the nominees. Congress MP Vijay Vasanth has also urged the government to honor Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently retired. The controversy has reignited discussions about fairness in award selections.

A controversy surrounding Ravindra Jadeja's alleged Hindi-only press conference led to the cancellation of a friendly cricket match between Indian and Australian journalists in Melbourne. Scheduled for Sunday at Junction Oval, the match was called off after some members of Team India’s backroom staff and Indian media boycotted the event. Australian media claimed Jadeja refused to answer questions in English, but Indian journalists and the team's media manager denied this, asserting Jadeja only responded to Hindi queries from traveling reporters. Cricket Australia had organized the fixture, which was scrapped due to insufficient players following the boycott.