New Delhi: After suffering their first Test series whitewash after 24 years and a Test series defeat in 12 years, India will be aiming to bounce back strongly when they take on Australia in the much-anticipated five-match Test series in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. India will have to win at least 4 out of the five Test matches against Australia to guarantee their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 20023-25 final.
While winning four Test against the hosts in their own backyard appears to be an improbable task, India will be looking to give their all to do the unthinkable against Australia. India have won their last two Test series in Australia and will be aiming for a third straight victory this time around. However, the visitors will start far from favourites after their recent flop show against New Zealand at home.
India have multiple concerns to address and some gaping holes to plug in their squad before the start of the 1st Test in Perth which gets underway on Friday, November 22. From dealing with captain Rohit Sharma’s absence to concerns regarding Virat Kohli’s Test form, India have some huge issues to deal with ahead of what promises to be a cracker of a Test series.
4 major concerns for India ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25:
Virat Kohli’s form
Virat Kohli’s current form is one of the biggest concerns for India heading into the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Kohli has not been in the best of touch with the willow in the longest format this year and is yet to score a half-century in 2024. The senior India batter has managed only 250 runs across six Tests this year at a poor average of 22.72.
He struggled for runs in the recently concluded three-match Test series against New Zealand at home where he managed only 93 runs in three Tests without a single fifty. Despite boasting of a phenomenal record in Australia where he has six Test tons to his name, Kohli’s form doesn’t inspire much confidence and the Indian team will hope the senior batter can find his mojo in the 1st Test in Perth.
Thin middle-order
The middle-order is a huge concern for India ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to lack of experience and Test match calibre. With no Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara this time around, the Indian middle order is set to face its biggest test Down Under. With Shubman Gill in doubt for the 1st Test, Devdutt Paddikal is expected to bat at no.3 while KL Rahul is likely to open in Rohit Sharma’s absence.
With Rahul moving up the order, Sarfaraz Khan might retain his place in the middle order and will face a stern test in pace-friendly conditions in Perth. India are reportedly considering playing Nitish Reddy to increase their batting depth in the series opener, however, barring Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja, none of the others have enough experience to counter the quality Australian pace attack in conditions such as Perth.
Rohit Sharma’s absence
Skipper Rohit Sharma is set to miss the first Test against Australia in Perth after the birth of his son and his absence has further complicated the matters for the Indian team. In his absence, Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in the first Test. Though the senior pacer has been part of the leadership group for a while now, Bumrah has so far led India in only 1 Test which the visitors lost against England in Birmingham 2 years ago.
It remains to be seen how Bumrah will fare in his first Test match as captain against Australia, who are the reigning world Test champions and will be raring to go against the visitors. Rohit’s absence has also increased India’s headache in the batting line-up as Rahul’s promotion leaves the middle order thin on firepower.
Gautam Gambhir’s temper
The honeymoon period is already over for India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who faced intense criticism after the hosts were whitewashed 3-0 by New Zealand at home. The pressure will be high on Gambhir in the Australia Test series and the way he carries himself and maintains his composure will define India’s campaign Down Under.
Former Australia captain Tim Paine had recently said that Gambhir’s temper would matter more for India than the forms of their premier batters Kohli and Rohit. “The concern for India right now isn’t Rohit Sharma’s batting, isn’t Virat Kohli’s batting — it’s their coach and his ability to stay calm under pressure,” said Paine, who knows a thing or two about dealing with the pressure in the high-profile series.
Gambhir’s tactics and his decisions have already come under the scanner after India’s defeat against New Zealand and mistakes in Australia will only make his position untenable. Gambhir will have to be far more composed and use his tactical acumen to ensure India earn a positive result in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
India have some major concerns to address ahead of the start of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. While Virat Kohli has not been in the best of form, Rohit Sharma’s absence has increased India’s complications. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
