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The IND vs AUS Test series is one of the most intense and captivating rivalries in cricket. Popularly known as Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), the series never disappoints the fans in terms of competitiveness and quality cricket. The ongoing BGT 2024-25 is no different as the series is leveled at 1-1 at the moment. The Indian team came to Australia after a humiliating 3-0 loss against New Zealand at home but did well in the first test in Perth under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah. Rohit Sharma came back in the side but it wasn’t a great outing for Team India under his captaincy in Adelaide.
As we are writing this article, the 3rd test of BGT 2024-24 is going on and 4 days has already been completed. Team India are behind in this game but they have done enough to avoid the follow-on in the first inning. With the weather not looking good for Day 5, it would help them to draw the Brisbane test and go into Melbourne with the series still standing at 1-1.
As far as Rohit Sharma, some of the experts and former players questioned his captaincy in the last two games. Particularly, Sanjay Bangar, Team India’s former batting coach wasn’t happy with Rohit’s decision to not give an over Jasprit Bumrah on Day 3 morning despite the latter taking the wicket in the previous over.
Captaincy of Rohit Sharma – A question mark for some experts and former cricketers
Rohit Sharma didn’t have a great time as a batter and as captain as well with Team India. He has lost a home test series 3-0 against New Zealand (NZ) recently. It was the first time in 12 years that India lost a home test series. Before this series loss, India lost its last home series in 2012 against England under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Also, it’s the first time that India has been clean-swept in a 3+ match test series at home.
After a home series loss, a lot of cricket experts and former cricketers questioned Rohit’s captaincy in the longest format. There were a lot of question marks regarding the team selection, decisions on the field, and the decisions off the field. Rohit’s batting is also a concern for the team and the fans. He hasn’t done well with the bat for a while in red-ball cricket.
When India was about to board a flight to Australia, Rohit Sharma didn’t travel with the team citing personal reasons. He missed the first BGT 2024-25 test in Perth. Jasprit Bumrah led the side in the first test and India won the match by a huge margin of 295 runs. Captain Bumrah led from the front and helped India to restrict Australia to just 104 runs in the first inning.
Rohit Sharma joined the team for the 2nd test in Adelaide. India lost the 2nd test in Adelaide. Travis Head’s outstanding 140-run inning and the Australian bowlers helped the team to level the series.
India just avoided the follow-on in Brisbane
The 4th day of the Brisbane test has been completed and India has just escaped the follow-on. Australia made 445 runs in the first inning with the help of Head and Smith’s hundred. In reply, India has to make 246+ to avoid the follow-on and at one stage, it was looking like a mountain when they were 74 for 5. But, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja’s application and the last wicket unbeaten partnership of Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah helped India to avoid the follow-on.
Right now, India are 252-9 with Day 5 coming up in a while. Fair to say that if rain didn’t affect a good amount of time in the game, Australia could have won the match easily. Even then Australia has had a good chance if they follow-on India. But now, it looks very difficult for Australia to get a win here considering the weather on day 5.
Sanjay Bangar was surprised by Rohit’s decision on Day 3
Australia started Day 3 with Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey at the crease. Jasprit Bumrah started the proceedings for India and just bowled 3 overs. In his 3rd over, he took the wicket of Starc. But, Rohit Sharma didn’t give another over to Jasprit Bumra despite the pacer taking the wicket in his previous over.
Sanjay Bangar wasn’t happy with this decision by the Indian captain. He said – “You generally give another over to a bowler, who has taken a wicket in his previous over. However, Jasprit Bumrah was not given one. He dismissed Starc to take his first wicket of the day but didn’t get another over.”
Conclusion
Rohit’s form hasn’t been up to the mark at the moment. In this BGT 2024-25 as well, Rohit hasn’t made any impact with the bat in the 3 innings he got so far. It also affects his captaincy and we can see he is not in a good head space right now.
His decision to take off Jasprit Bumrah in the early morning on Day 3 hasn’t pleased Sanjay Bangar. That’s because Bumrah is the only one who looked threatening enough to trouble the Aussie batters. Maybe Rohit thought from Bumrah’s workload management point of view. But this is what Bangar has to say about this.
FAQs:-
Which bowler has taken the most wickets in BGT 2024-25 so far?
Jasprit Bumrah is the highest wicket-taker at the moment in this BGT 2024-25. He has taken 18 wickets with an average of 11.92. From Australia, Pat Cummins and M Starc have taken 14 wickets each in this series.
