The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is considered one of the most anticipated series in the India and Australia cricket calendar. And why not? Since its inception, we’ve witnessed some of the most exciting Test matches between these two countries, whether it’s the historic 2001 Test match in Kolkata or the 2003 game in Adelaide, both of which are examples of high-quality Test cricket. Now, with India set to travel to Australia for the BGT starting from 22nd November, this one-and-a-half-month trip will see five nail-biting Test matches.
In recent years, India has dominated this trophy, with away series wins in 2018 and 2020 and also at home they did really well, thanks to many young players who seized their opportunities, likes of Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj, they all passed the ultimate test. This time, too, several young players could get the opportunity to play for the first time. So, who are those young guns we might see in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time?
Players who could play Border-Gavaskar Trophy for first time
Yashasvi Jaiswal
The first and foremost name anticipated to grab attention is Yashasvi Jaiswal. The question that accompanies him is, how will Jaiswal play against bowlers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood? Australian pitches, especially surfaces like Perth, are not a batter’s paradise, Jaiswal will face his real test on those surfaces. Since Jaiswal’s debut in July 2023 in Test cricket, he has undoubtedly been a favorable choice for skipper Rohit Sharma, and with Shubman Gill now coming in at position three, it opens the gate for Jaiswal to open and charge aggressively against bowlers, as he did in the last few series. It will be interesting to see how things go for him in Australia, especially against bowlers like Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, who are famous for their disciplined line and length.
Sarfaraz Khan
The second name that snatches the spotlight is Sarfaraz Khan. Whether it’s about performing in red-ball domestic tournaments or playing for India against England and scoring fifties with an aggressive approach, he has done it all. Now, he could be in the mix and possibly get a chance in the playing XI as well. Sarfaraz, known for building innings and then taking on bowlers if necessary, possesses both attributes while batting in the middle order, where the situation is often unpredictable, depending on the progress of the batting team. Taking all this into account, he performed impressively. In the recently held Irani Cup, he stamped 222 runs in the first innings against the Rest of India and helped Mumbai to clinch the trophy. Sarfaraz could also get an opportunity to play for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Akash Deep
First against England and then Bangladesh, Akashdeep came and became a bowling hero for India in whites. With his pace and accuracy, he has been slowly and steadily becoming India’s go-to bowler for taking wickets. India already has Jasprit Bumrah, whose ability needs no introduction, and Mohammed Siraj, who performed exceptionally well the last time he traveled to Australia. Now, with Akashdeep on one hand, and if we expect Mohammed Shami to make his comeback, there could be no better pace bowling lineup to take on the Australian batters. Since Akashdeep is gaining a reputation as a wicket-taking bowler, he is also becoming a contender to get into the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy Schedule
| Date | Test Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
| Fri, 22 Nov 2024 | 1st Test | Perth | 07:50 |
| Fri, 06 Dec 2024 | 2nd Test (D/N) | Adelaide | 09:30 |
| Sat, 14 Dec 2024 | 3rd Test | Brisbane | 05:50 |
| Thu, 26 Dec 2024 | 4th Test | Melbourne | 05:00 |
| Fri, 03 Jan 2025 | 5th Test | Sydney | 05:00 |
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