Border-Gavaskar Trophy is going to be ‘very, very even’: Gilchrist

Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist believes the onus will be on Australia to prove that they are a ‘dominant force’, when they take on India in a blockbuster five-Test series at home later this year.

For the longest time, India’s tour of Australia proved to be a mere formality, with the Kangaroos proving too strong for the visitors, but the results across the last two tours have created a whole different dynamic heading into the five-match series later this year. 

In 2018, India won their first-ever Test series in Australia (2-1) under Virat Kohli’s leadership, and then they backed it up with another 2-1 series win in 2020/21, famously breaching the Gabba fortress with a ‘C’ team.

With India’s pace bowling stocks stronger than ever and with their batting boasting of some huge names, Gilchrist believes the forthcoming BGT will be a very tight affair.

“It is going to be another tough series for both teams. Onus is on Australia to prove they are the dominant force at home,” Gilchrist told Times of India.

“India know how to go away and win overseas. Their fast bowling line-up at the moment is up there, on a par with most around the world. They are going to enjoy the conditions here. Besides, they have a terrifically talented batting line-up. It is going to be very, very even.”

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He backed Australia to get the job done but admitted that the series is ‘too close to call’.

“Naturally, I am going to say Australia, hope they get there. But it is too close to call. It will be a close tussle,” he said, when asked who he believes will triumph.

It’s been 10 years since Australia last won a Test series against India, with the 2-0 win at home back in 2014/15 being the last instance of the Kangaroos beating the Men in Blue in whites on home soil. They’ve since lost four consecutive series defeats, with the most recent one coming away in India in 2023 when they lost a tightly contested four-match series 2-1.

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