NEW DELHI: Team India needed only a draw at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and achieve a hat-trick of series wins in Australia. However, things didn’t go as planned for Rohit Sharma’s men. Despite a valiant effort, India lost the SCG Test by six wickets, and Australia reclaimed the coveted trophy after nearly a decade.
Australia’s last Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph came in 2014, when they won the four-match home series 2-0. Since then, India and Australia have contested five series, with India winning four. The recent SCG win marked Australia’s first series victory since 2014.
India had previously won two consecutive series in Australia under Virat Kohli’s captaincy in 2018 and Ajinkya Rahane’s in 2020.
This time, however, Australia not only won the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1 but also secured a place in the World Test Championship final, where they will face South Africa at Lord’s from June 11 to June 15.
POOR BOWLING IN THE FOURTH INNINGS
Set a modest target of 162 runs, Australia capitalized on a lackluster performance by India’s bowlers. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowled erratically, conceding easy runs in critical moments.
Siraj’s first over included a delivery far down the leg side, gifting Australia five runs (a wide plus four byes). Krishna followed with a similarly wide delivery, which wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant failed to stop.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar, commentating live, expressed his frustration over the subpar bowling display.
MISSING JASPRIT BUMRAH
India sorely missed their captain and pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, who was sidelined with back spasms during Australia’s chase. Although Krishna dismissed Sam Konstas (22), Marnus Labuschagne (6), and Steve Smith (4) in quick succession, Bumrah’s absence left India without a third specialist pacer.
Bumrah’s leadership and precision could have made a difference, especially on the tricky, bouncy SCG track. Without him, Siraj and Krishna struggled, conceding 35 runs in the first three overs of the fourth innings.
Battling his injury since day two, Bumrah still finished the series as the leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps. However, India’s inability to capitalize on his absence proved costly.
DISAPPOINTING START FROM OPENERS
India’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul failed to deliver a strong foundation. The duo managed just 11 runs in the first innings and put together a brief 42-run partnership in the second before falling cheaply to Australia’s disciplined bowling.
KOHLI’S OFF-STUMP STRUGGLES
Virat Kohli’s recurring vulnerability outside the off-stump raised concerns about his form. Australian seamer Scott Boland dismissed Kohli four times in the series by targeting the off-stump channel, forcing him to edge to the slips.
This repeated dismissal marked the eighth instance in nine innings where Kohli fell to a similar delivery. His promising start in the series, which included a century in the first Test at Perth, faded as his form deteriorated. Kohli finished the series with just 190 runs from nine innings at an average of 23.75.
