Australia is currently hosting India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, which began on November 22, 2024. Despite early promise, the hosts faltered as India clinched a commanding victory in the first Test.
While Australia has a storied reputation in Test cricket, the spotlight has now shifted to a historic artifact: Sir Donald Bradman’s legendary “Baggy Green” cap, set to be auctioned ahead of the second Test in Adelaide on December 6.
The Baggy Green holds immense pride and significance in Australian cricket, with every player cherishing the honor of wearing it.
Among these caps, Sir Donald Bradman’s stands out as a symbol of cricketing greatness. The cap, worn during the 1947-48 home series against India, is now up for auction.
Despite its slightly worn condition, it’s expected to fetch an astonishing price of over INR 2 crore (USD 195,000–260,000) at Bonhams Auction House on December 3.
Bradman donned this cap during the historic 1947-48 series, where he showcased his unmatched brilliance against a spirited Indian bowling lineup. He amassed a staggering 715 runs in six innings, including a double century and three centuries. This series was particularly significant, as it marked India’s first tour of Australia as an independent nation.
In his autobiography, Farewell to Cricket, Bradman revealed his decision to postpone retirement to honor this landmark series. “Believing that the season against India in 1947-48 would be less exacting, I felt it my duty to play this one season, especially as it was India’s first tour of Australia,” Bradman wrote.
This is not the first time Bradman’s cap has been auctioned. In 2020, his debut Test cap from 1928 fetched USD 290,000. Interestingly, Shane Warne’s Baggy Green surpassed Bradman’s record, selling for an incredible USD 650,000 in a charity auction to support bushfire relief efforts.
Bradman’s Baggy Green is more than just a cap; it’s a piece of cricketing history that represents the deep bond between Australia and India.
Its auction amid the high-stakes BGT 2024-25 adds another layer of significance, celebrating Bradman’s unparalleled legacy and his respect for the game and its global spirit.