Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently shared his prediction for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia later this year. Dinesh Karthik said that it will be challenging for India, led by Rohit Sharma, to secure a third consecutive Test series win in Australia.
The India national cricket team is currently taking on Bangladesh in a two-match Test series at home. Team India secured a comfortable 280-run victory during the series opener. The Men in Blue will face Bangladesh in the second Test in Kanpur before the three-match series against New Zealand.
Team India will travel to Australia later this year to play in a five-match Test series. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence on November 22 in Perth. Adelaide will host the day-night Test match from December 6. Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney will host the remaining three Test matches.
Australia Defeated India In WTC 2023 Final
India took a 2-0 lead by winning the first two matches within three days in the most recent Test series against Australia in early 2023. Australia won the third match, and the fourth Test ended in a draw at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India secured the series victory with a 2-1.
Australia avenged their Test series loss to India by defeating Rohit Sharma’s team in the 2023 World Test Championship final. Pat Cummins’ Australia secured a commanding 210-run victory in the one-off match over India at the Oval in June last year.
Australia holds a strong record over India in Test cricket history. The Men in Yellow have won 45 out of 107 Test matches. India has secured victory in 32 Tests, with 29 matches ending in a draw. Notably, India did not win a Test series in Australia until the 2018-19 tour.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik said that Australia will have the advantage in the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. He stated that India could secure a victory and added that it would be one of their greatest achievements if they succeeded in winning again on Australian soil.
Dinesh Karthik bold prediction on the upcoming 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik feels the Australians hold the upper hand in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home against India. The two teams will battle each other over five Tests, starting in Perth on November 22.
Australia defeated India in the most recent Test meeting at the World Test Championship (WTC) final last year. However, roles have been reversed in bilateral Test series between the sides over the past decade. India has triumphed in the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophies, including two in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Speaking about the upcoming edition on his HeyCB with DK show, Karthik was quoted by News18 as saying:
“I can’t tell the exact score line, but I do think Australia have the upper hand. It’s going to be very hard for India to beat them on Australian shores for the third time on the bounce. It’s no easy task. But if India do it, it will be one of the greatest things the Indian cricket team has ever achieved, no doubt about it.”
India are currently playing Bangladesh in a two-Test series at home, winning the first Test by 280 runs. Meanwhile, Australia are involved in a white-ball tour of England and lead the ongoing five-match ODI series 2-0.
“It’s not by chance they won the World Test Championship last time” – Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik cautioned India about the Australian challenge, stating that the Aussies are in form and holders of the WTC title.
Both teams are on course to play again in the 2025 WTC finale, considering they sit at the top two positions in the standings.
In an event last week, Karthik said as quoted by Insidesport:
“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be a challenge for India. They will face an in-form Australian side. It’s not by chance they won the World Test Championship last time. They are an excellent team at home. But knowing our team, and the kind of resilience, grit, and determination that our players have, it will be a series that will be wonderful to watch.”
Australia’s last red-ball series came in New Zealand earlier this year when they dispatched the Black Caps by a 2-0 margin.
On the other hand, India defeated an in-form English side 4-1 at home before the ongoing Bangladesh series. They will play New Zealand in a three-Test home series before the Australian battle. India has won the last two Border-Gavaskar Trophy series held in Australia. They will aim to achieve a third consecutive victory under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Australia, on the other hand, has not won a Test series against India since 2014. Notably, Australia has lost two home series in a row to India.