The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), a fierce rivalry in Test cricket, returns on November 22 in Perth, Australia. This five-Test series marks the first time the BGT will be played over such a long format, with a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) at stake.
India, the current holders of the BGT, face an uphill battle after a disappointing 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand. Their chances of qualifying for the WTC final now hinge on a successful defense of the BGT.
India’s batting lineup has been a major concern, with skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs. Sharma scored only 91 runs in six innings against New Zealand, while Kohli managed just 93. Their poor form has sparked debate about their future in Test cricket, especially if India fails to qualify for the WTC final.
Despite their recent struggles, India has a strong history in the BGT, having won their last two Test tours of Australia. However, the team coached by Gautam Gambhir has not had the ideal preparation this time, with repeated batting failures at home.
Interestingly, six Indian legends have played their last Test matches in the BGT: Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and MS Dhoni. With several senior players in the current squad, including Ravichandran Ashwin (38), Rohit Sharma (37), Virat Kohli (35), and Ravindra Jadeja (35), it remains to be seen if any of them will join this illustrious list after this BGT.
