Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 - Can India make it 3 in a row?

Apart from South Africa & West Indies, you have to go back to the 19th century to realize no touring team in Australia has won 3 consecutive test series down under. The great West Indian team for the late '70s & '80s never lost a series in Australia from 1977 to 1992. Such was their dominance that they convincingly thrashed them on all tours, beating Australia in Australia is no mean feat.

The same was repeated by a resurgent South African team that also won 3 consecutive test series while touring Australia between 2008 & 2016. Dale Steyn, Philander, Morne Morkel & Rabada were able to exploit the pitch conditions & take the skin out of Australian batsmen. Especially, when Australia was rolled out for 80-odd runs in 1st innings of the Hobart test in 2016. That 1st innings marked the end of many Australian careers.

Coming back to the Border Gavaskar trophy. India is questing for a similar feat that great West Indian & South African teams have achieved before, that is to win 3 consecutive test series on Australian shores. Tough ask? But possible. India will be playing a long 5 test series; it can be exhaustive & the team would desperately need a barrage of fast bowlers to make the unthinkable happen of winning 2024-2025. Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami are sure starters, considering Shami returning from his injury post the ODI World Cup, would need game time against NZ at home before travelling to Australia. I think most of the bowling will rotate around these 3 stalwarts. India should pick Umesh Yadav based on the experience he has in Australian conditions. Akash Deep during the recent series showed a lot of promise against England at home, hence he should be also on that flight to Australia. During the last tour to Australia India had to fill in Natrajan & Saini for the final test when there was no one else available, not sure if either of them will find a place in the squad. However, Avesh Khan has shown a good promise & can be considered. I think the 4 spinners that India would take would be Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar & Kuldeep. Jurel as Pant’s backup is also a sure-shot selection.

To perform in tough Australian conditions, taking 20 wickets to win a match is not an easy task, hence all the bowlers will need a lot of cushions from their batsmen putting up big scores. Considering the fag end of their careers, this could well be the last tour to Australia for Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli. Maybe considering Virat’s fitness he might have 1 more tour left for Australia in around 4 years. Jaiswal who showed so much promise against England, will be tested by the likes of Starc, Cummins & Hazlewood. This will be a big test for all the debutants who played against England this year, the likes of Sarfaraz, Patidar, and Padikal. Though Sarfaraz is a compact player, he might have trouble with the extra pace & bounce on Aussie pitches. But it will be interesting to see what team Rohit fields in for the 1st test at Perth. With Virat & KL back – they both will be sure starters along with Rohit, Jaiswal, Gill, Pant & Jadeja. India would need an allrounder to back up this combination so that India would be able to accommodate 3 fast bowlers if not 4. Not sure if R Ashwin would fit in, but he is more than a decent batsman.

The challenge is immense but would be a perfect revenge for the ODI World Cup & ICC Test Championship finals losses. I think this could be the most anticipated test series in the next few months. Also, riding a lot is the ICC Test Championship final at Lords in 2025. I think it would be a repeat of 2023 between India & Australia.

This Indian team has all the bases covered & dares to do the hat-trick of test series victories in Australia. Come 22nd Nov – the scene will be set in Perth & hope to see a very competitive series in recent times.

-            Madhur Kapoor (Cricket Enthusiast)


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