The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 began on a high note for India, with a commanding 295-run victory in the series opener in Perth. Coming off a disappointing 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand, the win boosted the team’s morale.
However, as the series reaches its final Test in Sydney, India finds itself in a must-win situation to avoid losing the prestigious trophy for the first time in nearly a decade.
Despite the pressure, head coach Gautam Gambhir remains optimistic. Speaking ahead of the New Year’s Test, Gambhir highlighted the team’s resilience and the positive aspects of their performance so far.
“Forty-five days ago, if someone had said we’d be in a position to come to Sydney and have a chance to draw the series, it would have been seen as a good situation,” Gambhir stated in the pre-match press conference. “I don’t think the situation is as dire as it’s being portrayed. If both batting and bowling were failing, we wouldn’t have won a match or even been 2-1 down. Things could have been worse, so there’s no reason to panic.”
When questioned about reports of a rift within the Indian dressing room, Gambhir dismissed the claims as baseless.
“Debates between coaches and players are natural and should stay within the dressing room,” he said. “These reports are just speculation, not the truth. Honest conversations and stern words are part of the game, but they don’t belong in the public domain.”
While the scoreline favors Australia, India has shown promising performances throughout the series. Young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Kumar Reddy have stepped up, while Jasprit Bumrah has led the bowling attack with authority.
Should India manage to secure a draw in Sydney, they would retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having won it during the 2022-23 season. With high stakes and a chance to make history, the Sydney Test promises to be a thrilling finale to the series.