India’s most awaited Test consignment is less than a month away. India and Australia are scheduled to play the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 starting 22 November. Pat Cummins, the Australian skipper is set to present a welcome to the Indian team in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.
The defending champions, India, won the BGT 2022-23 at home by 2-1, their fourth consecutive trophy win. In the history of the BGT, India has won the series 10 times against Australia’s 5 times, with one series ending in a draw.
This series marks Pat Cummins’ first as Test captain against India. Cummins has had notable success leading Australia against India, dealing India two tough defeats in major tournament finals in 2023.
Under his leadership, Australia triumphed over India in the World Test Championship final, followed by a victory in the ODI World Cup title clash against Rohit Sharma’s squad in November.
Cummins is well aware of the challenge India brings to the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. When asked about his expectations for the pitch conditions as Australia hosts India, he couldn’t resist making a playful remark, hinting at the intriguing battle that lies ahead.
PAT CUMMINS on Pitches
During an interview with The Grade Cricketer, Pat Cummins said; “I wish, if I had my way, the pitches would be looking like those bushes behind you (laughs).”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have any say so we will wait and see. Last couple of seasons, the wickets have been awesome. It feels like if someone has scored a hundred, they have batted the house down. Taken them a few sessions whereas my first couple of years, some of those wickets were so flat,” Pat Cummins added.
When asked about his opinion on the competition of bat and ball, he said, “I just hope there is a bit of balance between bat and ball. I think some of those Indian spinning wickets as well, I think that last tour, Delhi we should have won, it just get the teams close to each other if you get the wickets like that, but you don’t listen to our players complaining about those types of wickets.”
All and all, India are going to face a tougher challenge this time around in Australia.
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SOURCE- CRICit by Hindustan Times
