India and Australia will face off in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024. It starts on November 22 in Perth. This historic series is the first five-match contest in over three decades between the two cricketing giants. It is a high-stakes affair, with World Test Championship (WTC) qualification on the line.
India, after winning two Test series in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21), wants to maintain its dominance there. However, the team faces major setbacks before the first Test. Skipper Rohit Sharma and star opener Shubman Gill are unavailable. This forces changes to their lineup.
IND vs AUS: What’s at Stake?
The stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams in this five-match series.
- India must win all five Tests to qualify for the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.
- Australia, after their WTC final and ODI World Cup wins over India, are eager to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They want to end a decade-long winless streak at home against their rivals.
With the series promising fierce competition, all will watch the XIs for the first Test.
India vs Australia: Likely Playing XI for 1st Test
India’s Likely XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah (C), Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep
Key Notes:
- Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the first Test due to personal reasons. So, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah will lead the team.
- Shubman Gill is out with a finger injury. Devdutt Padikkal, promoted from the India A squad, is expected to replace him.
Australia’s Likely XI
Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (C), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
India’s Updated Squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Full Squad:
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal
Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
Full Schedule of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024
- 1st Test: November 22, Perth (7:50 AM IST)
- 2nd Test: December 6, Adelaide (Day-Night, 9:30 AM IST)
- 3rd Test: December 14, Brisbane (5:50 AM IST)
- 4th Test: December 26, Melbourne (Boxing Day, 5:00 AM IST)
- 5th Test: January 3, Sydney (5:00 AM IST)
Challenges Facing India Ahead of the 1st Test
- Key Player Absences:
- Losing both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill puts extra pressure on India’s batting lineup. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will need to step up as openers.
- Recent Poor Form:
- India comes into the series after a humiliating 3-0 ODI loss to New Zealand at home this month. It has raised questions about the team’s morale and readiness.
- High Stakes:
- With WTC qualification on the line, India can’t afford to lose any matches. The team will need to play with urgency and precision in every Test.
The Road Ahead
As India and Australia prepare for the first Test in Perth, the series promises a thrilling clash of strategy, talent, and resilience. With Australia trying to end their winless streak and India facing setbacks, this series will be a defining moment for both teams. It is historic and five matches long.
Will Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian squad rise to the challenge? Or will the Aussies reclaim their dominance at home? The cricketing world is set for an unforgettable showdown.
