Australia and India gear up for a five-match Test series starting November 22 in Perth’s Optus Stadium. It’s a crucial series for both sides and especially for India who need to win big and depend on other results to reach the final of the ICC World Test Championship in June 2025. Notably, India have won each of the last two series Down Under by 2-1 margin (4-match series). A hat-trick of results and a fifth successive series win would inflate the Asian giants.
After Perth, the action will shift to Adelaide Oval, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. After a humiliating defeat to New Zealand at home, India would be raring to pick themselves up and showcase their credentials. Once again, the onus will be on several match-winning stars from both sides to make a difference and set the tone.
Here, we look at 5 player battles that can set the tone for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
1.Pat Cummins vs Virat Kohli
Australian skipper and fast bowler Pat Cummins will be raring to have a crack in home conditions. A champion performer, Cummins, with his offerings and purchases, would test the best. One expects Cummins to go the aggressive away and target India’s Virat Kohli, who remains the best bet for the visitors despite battling poor form for a while now in the longest format. Cummins has enjoyed bowling to Kohli and is the biggest threat for the Indian.
As per ESPNcricinfo, Cummins has dismissed Kohli 5 times in the format from 12 innings. Kohli has faced 269 deliveries, scoring only 96 runs with a strike rate of 35.68. Kohli averages 19.20 in this battle and has faced a staggering 221 dot balls. On Australian soil, Kohli has been dismissed 4 times by the right-arm pacer.
Kohli, who owns 1352 runs in Australia, has managed 982 runs against pacers in this nation, being dismissed 21 times. Meanwhile, Cummins has claimed 152 wickets at home, averaging a solid 19.69.
2. Nathan Lyon vs Rishabh Pant
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon will bring his experience into play. A veteran of 530 wickets, Lyon has enjoyed bowling against India. In 27 matches, he has 127 scalps at 31.56. He has claimed nine five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls. Despite the fast pitches in Australia, Lyon has enjoyed a commendable return, taking 259 wickets at 30.88. Lyon will be aiming to keep Rishabh Pant quiet and get the job done against the southpaw.
Pant is a major weapon in India’s ranks, and he could be the match-winner with his aggressive knocks in the middle order. Notably, he enjoys facing the spinners, and this promises to be an interesting battle. Looking at the duel, it has been balanced. Across 12 innings, Lyon has dismissed Pant 5 times. However, Pant has scored 229 runs off Lyon’s bowling from 347 balls, striking at 65-plus. He averages 45.86.
Against spin on Aussie soil, Pant averages a solid 57.80 and has struck at 68-plus. He owns 289 runs from 422 balls faced. Meanwhile, Lyon has managed to take 88 wickets against left-handed batters at 24.57 in Australia.
3. Mitchell Starc vs Yashasvi Jaiswal
Australian left-arm quick Mitchell Starc would be keen to set the tone for his side by targeting the young Yashasvi Jaiswal upfront. Starc, with his sheer pace and variations, is likely to trouble Jaiswal, who has featured in only one series across SENA – vs South Africa. And notably, he didn’t fare well in that series, scoring just 50 runs across four innings at 12.50. So Starc, with all his experience, could unsettle Jaiswal.
Across 4 innings, Jaiswal has scored only 33 runs against left-arm pacers, being dismissed three times. He averages only 11 in this regard. Meanwhile, across 25 innings, Jaiswal has scored 505 runs against pace, with 13 dismissals in his kitty. He averages 38.84. Overall, Jaiswal has scored 1407 runs from 26 innings with three tons and 8 fifties. He has struck at 70-plus.
Starc has claimed a hefty 358 scalps in his career at 27.74. Notably, 217 of his wickets have come at home. Starc has enjoyed bowling to left-handed batters, dismissing them 113 times at 25.71. At home, he has dismissed lefties 69 times at 24.39.
4.Jasprit Bumrah vs Steve Smith
Jasprit Bumrah is India’s fiercest pacer and remains Australia’s biggest threat. A sheer performer in SENA nations, Bumrah will be raring to show his consistency across the 5-match series. One player he wants to impress against is Steve Smith, who loves to face India. When two of the best players face off, fireworks are expected. Smith will be back at his usual number four place after a poor run in his limited time as an opener. Bumrah has what it takes to unsettle the star batter.
Bumrah has bowled to Smith across 5 innings, dismissing the senior player once. Smith has scored 52 runs from 114 balls in this duel. His strike rate is 45.61. Smith has accumulated 4701 runs in Australia at a terrific 62.68. On the other hand, Bumrah has claimed 32 scalps on Aussie soil from 7 innings at an impressive 21.25.
Out of Bumrah’s 173 wickets, 113 have come from SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). He averages 23.28 and has claimed 6 fifers.
5. Mohammed Siraj vs Travis Head
Travis Head will look to be India’s nemesis and play match-winning knocks. Head, who is a crucial asset in the middle order, can change the complexion of matches with his aggressive knocks. Once set, he can bat for long periods and unsettle the rhythm of the bowlers. Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj could be a vital cog against Head.
Siraj, who impressed on India’s previous tour of Australia, will be a key figure in complementing Bumrah. Notably, the right-arm pacer has bowled to Head across 5 innings, conceding 68 runs from 82 balls. However, he has dismissed Head twice. Head averages 34 and owns a solid strike rate of 82.92. On Aussie soil, Siraj has found success once against Head across two innings. Head has 15 runs off 24 balls in Australia versus Siraj.
Across 6 innings, Siraj has 13 scalps in Australia at 29.53. Notably, he has dismissed left-handed batters six times in Australia at an average of 17. In SENA nations, Siraj has 48 scalps at 30.33. On the other hand, Head has scored 1922 runs on home soil at a solid 50.57.
