The AUS vs IND 1st Test will start the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is set for November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. With both teams eyeing a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Australia seeks revenge for past defeats in the contest. India, though, faces challenges on their road to redemption.
Match Details & Live Streaming
| Information | Details |
| Date & Time | November 22, 7:50 AM IST |
| Venue | Optus Stadium, Perth |
| Broadcast & Live Streaming | Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar |
Australia’s Quest for BGT Revenge
Australia has been dominant at home. But, their loss to an injury-ridden India in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Series remains a sore spot. They haven’t won the series since 2016, and the desire to reclaim the trophy is palpable.
The Optus Stadium pitch has been prepared to favor Australia. It offers pace, bounce, and ample grass cover. They’ll miss all-rounder Cameron Green due to injury. But, debutant Nathan McSweeney could step up. At the top of the batting order are Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith. They have great records at home. Meanwhile, Australia’s biggest asset is its bowling attack. It is led by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. With a perfect 4-0 Test record at Perth, the hosts are the clear favorites heading into this clash.
India’s Redemption Mission
For India, this match is about more than defending their Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It’s about staying in the race for the WTC 2025 final. However, the odds are stacked against them. India’s morale is low after a home whitewash. Injuries to key players Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have hurt their chances.
India’s skipper Jasprit Bumrah and coach Gautam Gambhir want fresh talent. They target youngsters like Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel. Virat Kohli, who thrives on Australian soil, will aim to lead the charge in what could be his farewell series.
India’s batting, however, remains a concern. KL Rahul, who is likely to open, faces immense scrutiny given his recent struggles. India’s inexperienced lineup will face a test on a pitch that favors pacers.
Pitch Report: Optus Stadium, Perth
The Optus Stadium pitch is a quintessential Australian surface designed for fast bowlers. With a thick grass covering, bounce and pace will play a key role, particularly under overcast skies, where lateral movement will challenge batters.
- Average 1st Innings Score: 456
- Average 4th Innings Score: 150 (Chasable target)
- Key Insight: Teams batting first have a big advantage. Batting last on a bad pitch is very hard.
Spinners will have little impact at first. They will only help as the ball gets older. For batters, the margin of error will be slim, making shot selection critical. Winning the toss and opting to bat first is a no-brainer for both captains.
Key Players & Stats
India
- Virat Kohli: 259 runs in 2 games at Perth | Average: 64.75 | SR: 50.38
- Jasprit Bumrah: 32 wickets in 7 games in Australia | Average: 21.25 | Economy: 2.47
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 1119 runs in 11 games | Average: 55.95 | SR: 76.64
Australia
- Marnus Labuschagne: 519 runs in 3 games at Perth | Average: 103.80 | SR: 62.99
- Steve Smith: 2042 runs vs India | Average: 65.87 | SR: 52.50
- Mitchell Starc: 23 wickets in 4 games at Perth | Average: 19.00 | Economy: 2.88
Probable Playing XIs
Australia
- Usman Khawaja
- Nathan McSweeney
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Travis Head
- Mitch Marsh
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Nathan Lyon
- Pat Cummins (c)
- Josh Hazlewood
- Mitchell Starc
India
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Virat Kohli
- Rishabh Pant (wk)
- Dhruv Jurel
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah (c)
Winner Prediction
Given the squad’s form and depth, and the Optus Stadium conditions, Australia is a strong favorite to win the 1st Test and lead the five-match series 1-0. Perth’s strong record and India’s weak batting favor the hosts.
