India‘s remaining project within the ongoing World Take a look at Championship (WTC) cycle will probably be a tour to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), scheduled to begin in November 2024 and conclude in January 2025. This five-Take a look at collection is about to seize important consideration from cricket fanatics worldwide. India have just lately been one of many few groups to problem Australia on their house turf, having clinched collection victories in each the 2018-19 and 2020-21 excursions with a 2-1 margin. The upcoming collection is predicted to be a gripping spectacle.
The legacy of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane
India’s earlier excursions to Australia featured notable contributions from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who have been instrumental in India’s center order. Pujara, with 103 Take a look at matches, gathered 7,195 runs at a median of 43.60, together with 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries, together with his highest rating being an unbeaten 206. Rahane, who performed 85 Exams, scored 5,077 runs at a median of 38.46, together with 12 centuries and 26 fifties, with a high rating of 188. Collectively, they shaped a reliable middle-order partnership.
The decline and choice adjustments
Following India’s historic win at The Gabba in Brisbane in January 2021, each Pujara and Rahane skilled a noticeable decline in efficiency, resulting in their exclusion from Take a look at choice for over a yr. Rahane’s final Take a look at look was in opposition to the West Indies in July 2023, whereas Pujara final performed in opposition to Australia in June 2023 at The Oval. The nationwide selectors have since moved on from them, in search of recent expertise for the group.
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Dinesh Karthik names potential alternative forward of BGT 2024-25
Talking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik, the previous Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has advised that Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan might be supreme candidates to fill the void left by Pujara and Rahane. Each gamers demonstrated their prowess within the house Take a look at collection in opposition to England earlier this yr, and Karthik believed they’re sturdy contenders for the upcoming BGT in Australia. Karthik acknowledged the problem of changing two stalwarts like Pujara and Rahane however expressed confidence in Gill and Khan’s capability to rise to the event.
Karthik remarked, “Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan—each of those batters have excelled in opposition to England within the current house collection. I anticipate each will probably be chosen for the Australia tour and can purpose to carry out at their greatest. It stays to be seen if they’ll fill the numerous footwear of Ajinkya and Pujara, however they possess the standard and caliber to succeed,”
Earlier than heading to Australia, India will host Bangladesh and New Zealand in a two-match and three-match Take a look at collection, respectively. The collection in opposition to Bangladesh is about to start on September 19 in Chennai.
