Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Team India will be defending the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and a series in Australia would be very important for them. The stakes would be high in this important series as India would look to retain its proud record and garner important WTC points.
It will be a defining season for Rohit Sharma’s team, especially beginning November 22 in Perth, after their 3-0 whitewash in New Zealand-they slipped from the top of the WTC table and when Australia rose to first place-and as the race to the WTC Final at Lord’s in 2025 tightens. India will have to tick several boxes before this series begins.
The Big Two: Form Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli
For over a decade, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have formed the backbone of Indian batting; however, form has become a serious cause for worry going into this Perth Test. How both players perform for India in the opening Test in Perth will be watched with rapt attention since they could not be considerable assets for the team in India’s recent home season.
Here’s a table summarizing the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli:
| Player | Runs Scored | Average | Key Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 133 | 13.30 | Struggled with consistency |
| Virat Kohli | 192 | 21.33 | Slightly better, but still below par |
Hope for India seems to lie in their strong batting performance, and thus, coming back to form for these two key players will be crucial.
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Selecting Bowling Attack For Perth
Perth’s traditionally fast bowler-friendly pitch has also recently shown numbers that spinners can play a big role here. Nathan Lyon has been Australia’s lead spinner and what the Indians have been confronting in the shape of a multi-talented unit with several quality spinners.
Here’s a table summarizing the key spinner statistics for Perth:
| Bowler | Matches at Perth | Wickets Taken | Average | Key Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Lyon | 5 | 27 | 18.00 | Excellent record, strong in Perth |
| Ravindra Jadeja | N/A | N/A | N/A | Potential selection for spin duties |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | N/A | N/A | N/A | Experienced, but less suited for Perth |
| Washington Sundar | N/A | N/A | N/A | Strong recent form, could be an option |
India will need to evaluate their options based on pitch conditions and opposition, with Lyon’s success at Perth highlighting the importance of spin in the region.
Among Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Washington Sundar, India might have to choose between one of them to lead the spin attack for this crucial role, which very much remains dependent on the conditions and the opposition’s batting line-up.
Consolidating The Batting Line-up
Lately, India’s batting order has been in some flux; players as deep as Sarfaraz Khan have been shuffled around various positions. Lack of clarity in such core positions might eventually affect the stability as a whole. Once a magnificent scorer for India, even in the first Test in which he batted in all three innings. His last three innings were a major derailment for this star batsman with just 10 runs from them.
India will have to discuss this matter and get a more settled approach to their batting lineup before the Perth Test.
The Lead Spinner Drama
India cannot play three spinners, at least not here, in Australia. Picking the right lead spinner thus becomes important right from the start of the series.
Ravindra Jadeja has been in good form in his last two visits to Australia, with an average of 14 wickets at 21.78.
Washington Sundar has done well, especially in the last two Tests, with 16 wickets.
Ravichandran Ashwin has over 500 Test wickets but may not be that effective in Australian conditions in comparison to the other two.
Here’s a table summarizing the spinner options for India ahead of the series in Australia:
| Bowler | Wickets (Last 2 Series in Australia) | Average | Key Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 14 | 21.78 | Strong record in Australia, proven effectiveness |
| Washington Sundar | 16 | N/A | Impressive recent form, good showing in last two Tests |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 500+ | N/A | Veteran with extensive experience but less suited for Australia |
India will have to take a final call, depending upon the pitch and the opposition’s batting line-up, but something as important as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ is in question here.
The Mohammed Siraj Enigma
Mohammed Shami is missing out on this series, and India does not know much about their pace line-up. They have Jasprit Bumrah as a sure starter, but questions hover around Mohammed Siraj’s form. Siraj, who had claimed 13 wickets in his first Test series for India in Australia, has picked just six wickets in four Tests on his home ground at an inflated average of 42.33.
If Siraj doesn’t get back to form, India will be tempted to try some of the less-experienced pacers such as Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, or Nitish Reddy; of course, Prasidh has Test cricket experience though he has played in just two Tests.
Here’s a table summarizing the key pace bowling options for India in the absence of Mohammed Shami:
| Bowler | Matches Played | Wickets Taken | Average | Key Performance Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | N/A | N/A | N/A | Guaranteed starter, India’s top pace bowler |
| Mohammed Siraj | 4 | 6 | 42.33 | Struggling for form after strong debut in Australia |
| Prasidh Krishna | 2 | N/A | N/A | Limited Test experience, but promising potential |
| Harshit Rana | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yet to debut, inexperienced at Test level |
| Nitish Reddy | N/A | N/A | N/A | Uncapped at Test level, less experience |
India’s pace attack will depend on Siraj’s form and the performance of younger, less-experienced bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Reddy.
India’s Hopes Heading Into 2025 WTC Final
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy and WTC points are on the line for India when they embark on their series in Australia. From the shape of their star batters to the choice of their spin and pace attacks, every selection will hold enormous importance in their pursuit of a WTC Final at Lord’s.
India will be looking to key players to come good as the series unfolds, and their fate in this World Test Championship or possibly for years to come could be decided by it.
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