BGT 2024-25: Shaping Up to Be A Classic

It has been two matches into the BGT 2024-25 series, and both of them have been quite one-sided. India registered its biggest-ever win in Australia in Perth, and then Australia struck back with a 10-wicket victory in Adelaide.  

No team becomes that good or that bad overnight. The truth is that India and Australia are deeply flawed teams with legendary players nearing their careers' end. That makes them quite unpredictable and fun to watch.  

After the first match, we heard predictions of 4-0 or 4-1 in favour of India and are now hearing of the same result in favour of Australia. With just one Test to play, we might very well see a 2-1 or 2-2 scoreline.  

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Here is what we have seen from the two teams so far.

Fall of the Legends 

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Steve Smith are not half the batters they were at their peaks. That still makes them among the best players in the world, and we could still see them score a lot of runs, but the manner in which they are playing makes them almost ‘mortal’.  

The fear factor associated with these players has gone, and we could see the end of their playing careers very soon.  

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Fearless Youngsters  

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Reddy may have come to Australia for the first time and still be very young in their Test careers, but that has not stopped them from playing without fear. Jaiswal played aggressively in the first Test and chirped at the legend Mitchell Starc.  

His battle with Starc could very well decide the fate of India’s batting in the matches to come. Nitish Reddy has now top-scored in three out of the four innings that India has batted. No one could have seen this come before the start of the series. With shots around the ground, Reddy just needs to improve his bowling to be a genuine all-round option for India. 

Nathan McSweeney for Australia is a definite long-term prospect. He has elevated himself to the opening position and found a way to combat Jasprit Bumrah, possibly the best bowler in the world right now. He may not be the traditional swagger-filled power-batter for Australia, but he is fearless in his own right. 

A Bowling Attack that Does not Quit 

India and Australia have both had one Test match where their execution with the ball was flawless. Jasprit Bumrah has been absolutely unstoppable, while Australia’s all-time great pace attack has shown just why it is so difficult to keep out.  

Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, and Scott Boland. Pick any three out of these four on any surface in Australia and you have a match-winning bowling attack. Nathan Lyon, Ravindra Jadeja, and R Ashwin, the most successful spinners in the world have barely had any impact so far in this series.  

There is no respite for the batters, and if India’s support attack can replicate the performances it showed in the first Test, low-scoring Tests seem set to continue. 

What Lies Up Ahead? 

Classic Test Match cricket, with two of the strongest teams being pushed to their limits. Creative captaincy to find results at all costs. Brilliant bowling performances and batters who find a way to score runs despite some terrific obstacles in front of them.  

A classic and historic BGT series lies in store.