India’s forthcoming five-match Test series in Australia stands as the most eagerly awaited event left in the cricket calendar for this year. The matches between these two teams have historically been pivotal, often determining major titles, which only adds to the anticipation for this series. The stakes are particularly high as Australia aims to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in almost a decade and avoid a third consecutive home Test series defeat to India. This sets the stage for a highly charged and potentially dramatic tour.
In the 2018/19 season, India achieved their first-ever Test series victory in Australia. They remarkably repeated this success in the 2020/21 series, even with numerous first-choice players unavailable due to injuries and other factors. Rishabh Pant’s dynamic batting was instrumental, particularly in the series-deciding Test at the Gabba, where his unbeaten 89 led India to a historic win. Matthew Hayden, the former Australian batsman, has expressed curiosity about how Pant will perform in the upcoming series and how India’s batting lineup will handle the Australian bowlers.
Also Read: Sri Lankan Star Breaks 41-Year-Old Test Record Held By Indian Cricketer
Hayden praises Rishabh Pant
“Guys like Rishabh Pant have got a muscle memory and the thirst for victory. He was such a key player last time he played there and the Australian public loved him as well, because of the nature of the way he played his game,” Hayden said at the CEAT Cricket Awards.
“It was exciting. It was innovative. It was just fresh and good. Then you have got your old stewards, like Virat Kohli, (he) will want to make an impression again. From a batting point of view, I’m excited to see how India have that strategy to take on the Australian conditions,” Hayden added.
Also Read: Jay Shah Set To Become New ICC Chairman: What’s Next for Indian Cricket?
Australia’s last victory over India in a bilateral Test series was back in 2014/15. Since then, no team has come close to breaking India’s dominance in their own backyard. Moreover, in the previous two series hosted by Australia, there were several contentious decisions that further complicated their attempts to challenge India’s supremacy.
