As the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has highlighted the pressure on Australia to reassert their dominance at home.
With India set to tour Australia for the five-match Test series starting in November 2024, the stakes are high. Australia, under Pat Cummins, faces the challenge of reclaiming the trophy after failing to win the series for nearly a decade.
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What did Adam Gilchrist say about Australia's challenge?
Gilchrist believes that the onus is on Australia to prove their strength on home soil. India has won the last two editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, making it essential for the Aussies to make a strong comeback.
"Onus is on Australia to prove they are the dominant force at home. India know how to go away and win overseas," said Gilchrist, via the Times of India.
While backing Australia to win, Gilchrist admitted that the series would be a close one. He pointed out the strength of India’s current squad, particularly their fast bowling line-up.
"Naturally, I'm going to say Australia, hope they get there. But it's too close to call. It will be a close tussle," he added.
The upcoming series is important for Australia, especially after losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3 in 2023 in India. Australia managed to bounce back by winning the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup.
Spinner Nathan Lyon has expressed his hunger to bring the trophy back to Australia. He said that it has been ten years of "unfinished business" with India in red-ball cricket.
With both teams eyeing a spot in the World Test Championship Final in 2025, the upcoming series is going to be intense. As Gilchrist and other former players have noted, the pressure is on Australia to prove their dominance at home and break India’s winning streak.
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