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India will enter the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 with added resolve after their recent Test loss to New Zealand. This five-match series is crucial for India, not just for pride but for securing a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final. To qualify, India needs to clinch a 4-0 victory against Australia.
Australia vs India: Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
The series kicks off on November 22 in Perth, followed by a Day/Night Test in Adelaide from December 6-10. The remaining matches will take place at iconic venues: The Gabba in Brisbane (December 14-18), Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26-30), and SCG in Sydney (January 3-7). India, who have dominated the last two Border-Gavaskar series, is motivated to make it a hat-trick of wins in Australia and prove their mettle after their recent disappointment.
Also READ: BGT 2024-25: Ricky Ponting predicts the leading run-scorer and highest-wicket taker of AUS vs IND Test series
Pat Cummins highlights the key danger for Australia
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, has singled out Rishabh Pant as a major threat to his team in the upcoming series. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Cummins acknowledged Pant’s explosive form since his return to Test cricket, where he has scored 422 runs in five matches at an average of 46.88 and a strike rate of 86.47, including a century and three fifties. Cummins remarked that Pant’s ability to change the momentum of the game quickly makes him a player Australia will need to manage carefully.
“Yeah, he is someone who always moves the game on pretty quickly, so for some of the players, you have to have some sound plans, too. He’s played well, he had a good series out here in Australia next time. So yeah, we know he can be dangerous when he gets going, so [we’ll] try and have some good plans and hope they come off,” Cummins said.
Pant has been a force to be reckoned with in Australia, boasting an outstanding average of 62.40 from 12 innings, accumulating 624 runs, which includes a century and two scores over 80. His ability to thrive on Australian pitches makes him one of the most dangerous players in the series. As India targets their third consecutive BGT victory in Australia, Pant’s performances will be critical to their success. His ability to dominate and change the course of the game quickly will be a focal point for both India and Australia.
