Many former cricketers have called the Border-Gavaskar Trophy the modern-day Ashes. The Indian team broke the monotony under the leadership of Virat Kohli when they won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 on Australian soil. Then, two years later, they defied all odds to win the trophy under Ajinkya Rahane despite a dismal show in first Test. Now, months ahead of the Test series, former Ricky Ponting predicted that Australia will reclaim the trophy. In response, former India head coach Ravi Shastri who was a part of the two trophy wins on Australian soil has made a bold claim.
“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia over five Test matches is going to be a humdinger. Remember, India have beaten Australia twice on the last two tours and Australia have not had a hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade and that’s the reason why everyone will be waiting for these two heavyweights of Test match cricket over the last five to eight years to go head-to-head,” Shastri said on ICC review.
“It is going to be one heck of a series and India have every chance of making it a hat-trick because they’ve got their bowlers fit and if they can bat well, they can tickle (beat) Australia once again,” he added.
Shastri hails Australia’s bowling attack
Shastri feels Australia are thirsty to win the trophy as they have one of the greatest fast-bowling attacks
"We know what Australia will be wanting (revenge)," Shastri noted. "They will be thirsty, they'd be looking to go at the throats of the Indians because they’ve been beaten there (in Australia) twice.
"The attack is pretty much the same. One of the greatest fast bowling attacks – [one of the greatest] all-round attacks when you add Nathan Lyon there – in a long, long time. And one of the best in the history of the game. They'll be looking for those 20 wickets, game after game to help Australia win the series."
The last time India and Australia played a Test was in World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final. India failed to win WTC again.
The five-Test series will begin on November 22 in Perth.
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