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India and Australia are gearing up for the much anticipated third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25. Scheduled to take place at the iconic Gabba stadium in Brisbane, the match will run from December 14 to 18. With the series poised at 1-1 after two enthralling contests, this match holds immense significance, not just for the series win but also for qualification to the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final. Both teams have much to prove, and fans expect an enthralling battle between two cricketing giants.
India’s defeat in the Adelaide Test against Australia
Australia made a strong statement in the second Test at Adelaide, coming back from a 295-run loss in the first Test at Perth to claim a comprehensive 10-wicket victory. The win was powered by stellar performances from key Australian players. Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler, taking 8 wickets across the match, while Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, contributed significantly with 7 wickets of his own.
The batting side was led by Travis Head, who played an extraordinary innings, scoring 140 runs off 141 balls in the first innings, and Marnus Labuschagne, who added a solid 64 runs off 126 balls. This well-rounded effort saw Australia level the series and set the stage for an intense clash in Brisbane.
India, on the other hand, had a mixed performance in the first two Tests. While they showed promise in the opening match at Perth, which they won by a commanding 295-run margin, their batting lineup struggled to replicate that form in Adelaide. The team’s inability to post competitive totals, combined with Australia’s strong bowling attack, saw them suffer a resounding defeat.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s insights for the Brisbane Test: A potential change for India
Cheteshwar Pujara, the seasoned Indian batter turned commentator, has weighed in on the potential changes to the Indian side for the third Test. Speaking on the topic, Pujara emphasized that, in his opinion, the only change that might be necessary would involve bringing in Washington Sundar in place of Ravichandran Ashwin. Pujara, known for his thoughtful analysis, shared his views during an interview on Star Sports.
“I feel the only change might happen. Since the batting wasn’t good, Washington Sundar can come in place of R Ashwin. Should someone come in place of Harshit Rana? In my opinion – no. You backed him and he performed well in the first match. The second match was bad for him,” said Pujara.
Also READ: AUS vs IND: Should India drop Harshit Rana for the third Test against Australia?
The cricketer-turned-commentator stated that Harshit Rana shouldn’t be dropped for one poor performance, highlighting his value as a bowler. He emphasized the need for team support to maintain his confidence. The only potential change could be replacing Ashwin with Sundar to strengthen the batting lineup.
“However, the team will have to support him. He is a good bowler. You cannot drop him just because one match went bad. We will have to see what the team management thinks but probably only change for me – if they feel the batting lineup needs strengthening, Washington can play for Ashwin,” Pujara added.
Sundar had shown his value as an all-rounder in the first Test in Perth, contributing effectively both with the ball and the bat. In the first innings, Sundar managed to take two crucial wickets, while in the second innings, he made a valuable contribution of 29 runs, helping India secure a 295-run win. Despite this performance, Sundar was replaced by Ashwin in the Adelaide Test, a move that did not pay off as India suffered a heavy loss.
Harshit Rana: A retained option?
One of the key points raised by Pujara is the matter of Rana, who had mixed performances in the first two Tests. Rana, who made his debut in the series, showcased promising signs in Perth with figures of 3/48 in the first innings and a total of four wickets across the match. However, he had an indifferent outing in Adelaide, failing to take any wickets and conceding runs at a high rate. Despite this, Pujara stands firm on his belief that Rana should not be dropped:
“Rana picked up four wickets, including impressive figures of 3/48 in the first innings, in the first Test in Perth. However, he was wicketless in Adelaide and proved quite expensive apart from bagging a pair with the bat. You backed him and he performed well in the first match. The second match was bad for him. The team will have to support him. He is a good bowler. You cannot drop him just because one match went bad,” Pujara concluded.
