"Since The Rise Of IPL, Australia Want To...": Australia Star On Rivalry With India

09.09.2024 - 11:37 sports.ndtv.com

India beating Australia in the last two Test series in the latter's backyard has made the rivalry between the two teams more intense, feels senior batter Usman Khawaja ahead of the five-match battle beginning November 22.

India had beaten Australia on their last two tours of Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21) with an identical 2-1 margin. In fact, India have won all the last four series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking into account their home wins in 2016-17 and 2022-23 -- both also 2-1 results in a four-match contest. "For Indians, it's always been the case to beat Australia.

And more recently, you know, since the rise of India and IPL and everything else that happened, it's the same way with Australia against India," Khawaja said. "And particularly since India's beaten Australia in Australia the last two times they've come out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

It just means a little bit more,” he told Star Sports. The 37-year-old left-handed opener said that the rivalry between the two teams is huge. "We're world number one, world number two teams really over the last two years.

cricket Australia Cricket Team India Cricket Team Pat Cummins Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Star Sports Steven Smith Usman Khawaja Australia India

All-rounder Glenn Maxwell feels that Australia's success in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy is directly linked with how their batters negate the ace Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. India are eyeing their third successive series triumph in the Antipodean nation after etching epochal victories during the 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours. In fact, India remain the only Asian nation to beat the Australia at their home in a Test series. Maxwell said Ashwin and Jadeja have often dictated the course of the game. "I think that over a long period of time, having played against guys like Ashwin and Jadeja, those two seem to have always been the ones we've faced consistently, and the battles we've had with them have often dictated the outcome of the game," Maxwell told Star Sports.

Watch: Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja Mimic Jasprit Bumrah's Bowling Action; India Coach's Reaction Is Viral

Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate couldn't control his laughter after Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja were seen imitating pacer Jasprit Bumrah's bowling action in front of him. The incident took place after India captain Rohit Sharma opted to bowl in the second Test against Bangladesh on Friday. Before the start of the play, Ten Doeschate, the former Netherlands batter, had joined the players for the pre-match warm-up routine. However, he was reduced to splits after seeing Kohli and Jadeja's antics.

"Australia Playing Mind Games": Ex-Pakistan Star Warns India Ahead Of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali believes Australia players are playing "mind games" ahead of the highly anticipated Border Gavaskar Trophy series against India. The wave of excitement has started to build around the rivalry between India and Australia as the series inches closer to its commencement in November. Recently, Australia Test captain Pat Cummins chose Rishabh Pant as the batter they will be wary of ahead of captain Rohit Sharma, stalwart Virat Kohli, and "national treasure" Jasprit Bumrah.

"Quite Tough To Bowl To": Rohit Sharma Receives Massive Praise From Australia Pacer

Australian cricket team fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was all praise for India captain Rohit Sharma ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Test series. Hazlewood praised Rohit for his ability to score runs in tricky batting conditions and also the flexibility he has provided his team with in the past few years. Since taking over the Test captaincy, Rohit has scored 1101 runs for India with four hundreds. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be the next major Test engagement for the Rohit-led India team and Hazlewood admitted that he found it quite tough to bowl to the India captain as it feels like he has "all the time in the world".

Mitchell Marsh Says "I Wish Rishabh Pant Was Australian". India Star's Reaction Is Viral

Australian cricket team all-rounder Mitchell Marsh said that he wishes India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant was 'Australian'. In an interaction ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Test series, Marsh was all praise for Pant whom he called a 'ripping bloke' and described him as someone who 'loves winning'. “He's a ripping bloke. I wish he was Australian. He's obviously been through a lot over the last few years, and it's been a hell of a comeback. He's a positive guy, still really young, and he loves winning. He's highly competitive for someone who has the persona of being relaxed and always laughing and smiling. He's got that big smile,” Marsh told Star Sports.

"Rest Bumrah, Bring...": Sanjay Manjrekar States This Star Can Enter India XI For 2nd Test

Former India cricketer and reputed pundit Sanjay Manjrekar has stated that he would like to see chinaman Kuldeep Yadav return to India's playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh at Kanpur. Despite a successful home tour against England, where Kuldeep picked up 19 wickets in four games, he was left out of India's XI in Chennai for the first Bangladesh Test, as Rohit Sharma and co. went with three seamers. But now, Manjrekar has batted for Kuldeep's place in the side.