Rohit Sharma‘s next big test as captain will be against Australia in a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under later this year. After enjoying a triumphant victory lap in World T20 2024, Rohit Sharma and his troops has set their eyes on the next goal. the coveted ICC World Test Championship Trophy which has eluded them twice and the series vs Australia later this year could be considered as a 5 match dress rehearsal for the Finals as Both India and Australia currently looking favorites as the finalists until the uncertainty occurs.
Premier Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood has massive praise for Indian skipper Rohit Sharma for his ability to score freely in tricky batting conditions. Australian quick Josh Hazlewood seems to have spiced up his team’s upcoming blockbuster home Test series against perennial arch-rivals India. While the seasoned speedster heaped a significant praise for visiting captain Rohit Sharma, he also unveiled a supposed Achilles heal for the legendary Indian opener.
Rohit Sharma’s career as test cricket skipper for India.
Rohit Sharma has led the team from the front in red-ball cricket since taking over the captaincy charge from Virat Kohli. Rohit Sharma flourished in the big role and performed well at the top of the order. Rohit Sharma scored 1101 runs as Test captain, which included four centuries. Under his captaincy, India also played in the final of the World Test Championship last year.
The swashbuckling opener’s Rohit Sharma’s next big test as captain will be against Australia in a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under later this year. The Indian captain Rohit Sharma is currently leading his team in their ongoing home Test series against Bangladesh. Even tough he accrued just 11 runs across both innings of the Chennai Test, Team India won the match by 280 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
In the recently released ICC Test batting charts, Rohit Sharma retained his spot in the top ten batters but moved five places down with his single-digit scores in the first Test of the two-match Bangladesh series.
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was all praise for Indian captain and legendary opening batter Rohit Sharma.
Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood in all praise of Rohit Sharma ahead of BGT 2024-25
Australia ace pacer Josh Hazlewood recently lauded India captain Rohit Sharma’s credentials in Test cricket ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Hazlewood further added his ploys often fail against the opening batter. The speedster also credited Rohit Sharma for his timing and shot selection.
Rohit has scored 54 runs off 171 balls against Hazlewood in Test cricket. The pacer has dismissed him once each during the 2017-18 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophies series.
Hazlewood told Star Sports:
“I remember one time India came out, he battled at 5 or 6 and then last time he opened. He’s faced the new ball a lot. I feel like he plays the quicks unbelievably well. The bounce doesn’t seem to worry him, the movement doesn’t. He’s got all the time in the world. So, I find him quite tough to bowl to.”
For the unversed, Rohit Sharma loves playing against Australia. The right-handed batter has amassed 3571 runs across formats, comprising nine centuries. In Tests, the 37-year-old has scored 708 runs in 12 Tests against the Aussies. In Australia, he has 408 runs in seven Tests.
In 2024, Rohit has scored 466 runs in seven Tests so far, including five matches against England. The senior batter, however, underwhelmed against Bangladesh in the recently concluded first Test of the two-match series, registering below-par scores of six and five in his two innings. Team India, though, won the game by a mammoth margin of 280 runs.
Nathan Lyon warns Australia of Rohit Sharma and Co. ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon recently spoke about major threats for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as they aim to secure their first series win against India in the last 10 years. The off-spinner told Star Sports (via The Times of India):
“Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant are probably going to be the three really big ones. But then you’ve still got Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and who else will come out—another five, I’m not sure.”
“But it’s a pretty amazing line-up they’ve got, so it’s going to be a massive challenge. As I said, if we, as a bowling group, are good enough for long periods, hopefully, we can challenge their defence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Australia have not won a Test series against India in the past decade, which includes two series losses Down under. Since winning the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar 2-0, Australia have lost the next four series against India — two to Virat Kohli’s side (2016-17, 2018-19), Ajinkya Rahane (2021) and Rohit Sharma (2023).
India’s blockbuster five-match tour of Australia will commence on November 22 with the opening Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The Indian team will head into the series as the current ‘Border-Gavaskar Trophy’ holders, having won the previous edition at home back in early 2023.