The much-awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024 is all set to kickstart from 22nd November 2024 with the 1st Test getting underway at the Optus Stadium in Perth. India lock horns with Australia in a gripping and exciting Test series on Australian soil.
India had outclassed Australia in their last 2 Test series Down Under and would be facing a tough litmus test against Pat Cummins and co. Notably, India lost a Test series at home for the first time in 12 years, just ahead of this high-octane clash.
India lost the first 2 matches against New Zealand in a 3-match Test series at home and several chinks in the armour were exposed of the Indian cricket team. The misfiring batting department and their inability to play spin were glaring issues that plagued the entire team.
On the other hand, Australia last played a 5-match ODI series versus England and they had won the series, 3-2.
In this article, we take a look at the top 3 batters to watch out for in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25:
1. Virat Kohli (India)
The legendary batter of Team India, Virat Kohli, unleashes his beast mode, whenever he plays Down Under. The 35-year-old cricketer has the ability to activate his best form against Australia and time and again has unleashed his batting prowess on the Ozzies.
He has amassed 2042 runs in this format against Australia and has a fantastic average of 47.48. Notably, the former Indian captain has a highest knock of 186 runs against Australia in March 2023.
2. Steve Smith (Australia)
The backbone of the Australian cricket team, Steve Smith, will be another key player to watch out for in this Test series. He has the ability to smear the bowlers all across the park and can act as a thorn for the bowlers of India.
He has an enviable record in this format against India and has scored 2042 runs in 19 Tests with a staggering average of 65.87. Steve Smith also has smashed 9 centuries against India in this format.
3. Washington Sundar (India)
An off-beat choice, Washington Sundar can be a key player to watch out for in the Indian team in this upcoming Border Gavaskar Test Series 2024. He recently had a fabulous outing against New Zealand in the 2nd Test match at the MCA Stadium in Pune where he picked up 11 wickets and scored 18* and 21 runs respectively.
Prior to this, he had smashed a knock of 62 runs in the historic 4th Test match between India and Australia, Down Under, at The Gabba.
Also read: 3 Reasons Why Virat Kohli Can Stage A Huge Comeback In The Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
