NEW DELHI: The extremely anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is simply not far away now. India will likely be taking part in a five-match sequence in Australia for the primary time because the bilateral contest was rechristened as BGT in 1996.
The stake may be very excessive this time. Because the introduction of ICC World Check Championship (WTC) to boost the standard format of the sport, each Check sequence has change into an necessary step in the direction of the qualification for the WTC closing.
India have been one of the constant groups within the quick historical past of WTC, reaching the ultimate within the earlier two cycles. The present cycle is the third within the WTC historical past and India are very a lot in rivalry of constructing a hat-trick of finals. Whereas, Australia are the defending champions and are on prime of the present WTC standings, forward of second-placed India. So, it is the conflict of the 2 table-toppers and the sequence could have a serious influence on the qualification of the WTC closing subsequent yr.
To make the issues worse, India’s sudden residence whitewash by New Zealand made it virtually a do-or-die scenario for them. India might want to win 4 of the 5 matches to safe a spot within the WTC closing, with out requiring beneficial outcomes from different groups.
Traditionally, Australia have dominated the competition at residence, successful 14 of the 27 BGT matches Down Underneath.
India have managed to win simply six matches in Australia. However extra importantly, 4 of these six got here within the final two sequence, which India gained each instances with 2-1 margin.
As India get able to play BGT for the primary time in all 5 main Check venues in Australia, let’s try how the guests had carried out in every of them to date within the prestigious bilateral showdown.
* India have performed seven matches every in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, whereas dealing with the hosts thrice every in Brisbane and Perth to date.
Adelaide: M 7 | IND 2 | AUS 4 | D 1
India performed their first BGT match Down Underneath on the Adelaide Oval in December 1999, which the guests misplaced by 285 runs. It turned out to be a forgettable sequence for India as they have been whitewashed 0-Three by Australia.
Adelaide has hosted BGT matches in each sequence since. India have managed to register two victories within the venue – by 4 wickets in December 2003, and by 31 runs in December 2018. Each these victories had important impacts on the result of the respective sequence.
The 2003 win was India’s first BGT match win Down Underneath and it helped the guests draw the four-match sequence 1-1. In truth, India took a 1-Zero lead with the win within the sequence after a draw within the Brisbane opener.
And in 2018, India once more took a 1-Zero lead after the win in Adelaide, which was the opening match of the four-match sequence. The guests then went on to win the sequence 2-1.
Melbourne: M 7 | IND 2 | AUS 4 | D 1
Like Adelaide, India began their BGT match on the iconic Melbourne Cricket Floor with an enormous 180-run defeat within the Boxing Day Check in 1999. Since then, the guests have misplaced three extra matches in Melbourne within the subsequent six encounters, whereas successful in two.
In truth, India misplaced 4 consecutive matches at MCG earlier than drawing the 2014 Boxing Day Check. However, India turned it round by successful the final two matches there, which performed important components within the guests successful the final two sequence Down Underneath.
Sydney: M 7 | IND 0 | AUS 3 | D 4
The one floor in Australia the place India are but to open their BGT account is Sydney Cricket Floor. The guests have additionally suffered their greatest defeat Down Underneath at SCG, after they have been hammered by an innings and 141 runs in January 2000, leading to India shedding the primary BGT in Australia 0-3.
India have misplaced three matches in Sydney in seven encounters, whereas managing 4 attracts – the one venue with a number of stalemates too.
However the attracts in Sydney have additionally performed their components in India’s beneficial sequence outcomes through the years.
The primary attract January 2004 helped India end the sequence 1-1. And the attracts within the final two sequence have been a part of India’s profitable marketing campaign.
#BGT IND vs AUS: Ashwin unlikely to play earlier than the third Check | #BeyondTheBoundary
Brisbane: M 3 | IND 1 | AUS 1 | D 1
India had combined outcomes at The Gabba in Brisbane. The primary encounter their resulted in a attract a drawn sequence in 2003-04.
Brisbane missed out because the host within the subsequent two sequence, earlier than returning within the 2014-15 showdown. In 2014, India misplaced the match by 4 wickets which resulted within the guests shedding the sequence 0-2.
However The Gabba will likely be remembered for India’s valiant three-wicket win within the final sequence in January 2021. The match noticed Rishabh Pant’s gorgeous unbeaten 89 and his sixth wicket stand of 53 runs with Washington Sundar (22) which helped the guests chase down 328 to clinch the sequence 2-1.
Perth: M 3 | IND 1 | AUS 2 | D 0
Perth turned a part of BGT within the 2007-08 sequence, and India began with a bang there. The guests gained their first BGT match in Perth by 72 runs in January 2008.
Nevertheless it turned out to be some kind of newbie’s luck as India then suffered two heavy defeats within the subsequent two encounters.
India have been hammered by an innings and 37 runs in January 2012, and by 146 runs in December 2018.
IND have what it takes to problem this AUS staff in upcoming #BGT | #beyondtheboundary
