Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025: The IND vs AUS Test series is just few days away with the anticipation around it growing everyday. India are the defending champions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and they are eyeing a fifth consecutive series victory against the Aussies. India are coming off a 3-0 home series defeat against New Zealand and this has allowed many fans and experts question their credentials as far as the longest format of the game is concerned.

The Indian team will be without their regular skipper Rohit Sharma in the first Test match. Rohit stayed back in India due to the birth of his second child and might join the team ahead of the Adelaide Test match, the infamous ‘Pink Ball’ Test match. In Rohit Sharma’s absence, Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side in the series opener.

Michael Clarke Feels Rohit Should Be Nervous

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy comes in at a crucial juncture of the World Test Championship 2025 cycle. Both India and Australia are the top two teams of the ongoing WTC. India’s 3-0 drubbing against New Zealand has virtually ended their hopes of qualifying for the WTC finals but they still have an outside chance left.

ALSO READ | Marnus Labuschagne Rattles Pat Cummins With Fiery Bouncer, Warns India Ahead Of 1ST BGT Test

Former Australia skipper, who won them an ODI World Cup in 2015, Michael Clarke feels that Rohit Sharma might be under the pump. According to Clarke, if India defeat Australia in the series opener, Sharma’s credentials as the skipper of the Test team might be questioned.

‘I think these expectations of how good he is, will certainly bring the best out of him. Some people can shy away from it but I don’t think that he will. I think he will get better. If he captains the first Test, that will inspire him to lead from the front. I will be nervous. I will be worrying if I was Rohit Sharma coming to Australia‘, said Clarke while speaking on TAB YouTube channel.

India’s Trial By Fire Down Under

ALSO READ | India’s Predicted Playing XI For 1st Test at Perth vs Australia Without Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill

Cricket fans are in for a blockbuster contest between India and Australia that will start on November 22, 2024. The Indian cricket team will play five Test matches against Australia and they will have to win four out of them to even think of qualifying for the World Test Championship Finals. If India end up losing even one match, their hopes of qualifying for the WTC Finals will be shattered.