India's singular focus over the next two months is on winning the five-match series in Australia and the players will not be distracted by the race to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final, head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Monday.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday fired a shot back at Ricky Ponting for questioning Virat Kohli's form and place in Indian team, saying the Australian legend should only be concerned about cricket in his country.

India will finish in the top two of the WTC 2023-25 points table and qualify for the WTC 2025 final if the Rohit Sharma-led side manages to win at least four Tests in Australia.

India coach Gautam Gambhir on Monday backed "incredibly tough men" Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prove their critics wrong and find form in Australia.

Addressing the media before flying out from India, Gambhir also confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah would lead Team India if captain Rohit Sharma failed to turn up for the five-match series opener.

Tristan Stubbs has scored a patient 47 not out off 41 balls as South Africa beat India by three wickets in the second Twenty20 to level the four-match series 1-1.

Batting great Javed Miandad believes the Men in Green should stop playing cricket against India in retaliation for the BCCI’s refusal to allow the Indian team to tour Pakistan.