Australia Reclaims Border-Gavaskar Trophy After 10 Years with 3-1 Victory Over India

Australia ended India’s decade-long dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a commanding six-wicket victory in the final Test in Sydney, sealing the series 3-1. The win not only marked their first series triumph against India in a decade but also secured their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.

The Decisive Final Test

Chasing a modest target of 162, Australia cruised to victory in just 27 overs. Usman Khawaja anchored the chase with a steady 41 runs, while Travis Head (34*) and debutant Beau Webster (39*) ensured there were no hiccups.

For India, Prasidh Krishna (3/65) and Mohammed Siraj (1/69) managed to pick up wickets but failed to sustain pressure, allowing the hosts to claim a comfortable victory.

India’s Batting Collapse

Earlier in the day, India was bundled out for just 157 in their second innings. Rishabh Pant’s fighting 61 was the sole highlight of an otherwise disappointing batting performance. Australia’s Scott Boland delivered a masterclass with the ball, taking 6/45, while captain Pat Cummins chipped in with 3/44.

Reflecting on the series, Boland said:

“To win 3-1 against India hasn’t been done in a while. The last few weeks have been awesome.”

Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence Felt

India’s attack struggled in the final innings due to the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who was sidelined with back spasms. Bumrah, named Player of the Series for his remarkable 32 wickets, admitted his frustration:

“It’s disappointing, but sometimes you have to respect your body. This series was hard-fought, and the youngsters gained valuable experience.”

Australia Celebrates a Historic Triumph

Australia captain Pat Cummins hailed his team’s effort, calling the series one of his favorites:

“Unreal. Few of us didn’t have this Trophy. Beating India required us to step up, and everyone delivered. This will go down as one of my favorite Test series.”

The victory ends India’s stranglehold on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and gives Australia a significant morale boost ahead of the WTC final.

India’s Challenges and Lessons

The loss dashed India’s hopes of reaching the WTC final, as they finished third with a PCT of 50.00. The series exposed their over-reliance on Bumrah and highlighted persistent batting frailties, raising questions about the team’s future strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Historic Win: Australia claims their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 10 years with a 3-1 series victory.
• Outstanding Performances: Jasprit Bumrah bags Player of the Series, but his absence in the final innings proves costly.
• India’s Woes: Batting collapses and bowling gaps exposed in a hard-fought series.