IND vs CLOSED: Team India has won, the Border-Gavaskar trophy will go to Gavaskar’s country… It’s been almost four years since I heard these lines. Team India last toured Australia in the year 2020-21. where they defeated Australia 2–1 in the series and Team India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy title. This was the second time an Indian team traveled to Australia and defeated the Kangaroos in a Test series. This time also the fans are expecting similar charisma from Team India. Although this time Team India is looking very weak, but despite having a weak team in Australia, Team India performed brilliantly last time.
The biggest problem for Team India on the tour of Australia will be their batting. Especially the constant flops of the opening batsmen. Recently, Team India had to face a crushing defeat in the Test series played against New Zealand. The poor performance of the opening batsmen has been the main reason behind this. This time on the tour of Australia, the Indian team does not have an opening batsman who can be fully trusted. Every opening batsman definitely has some flaws. This has become the biggest tension for Team India. In fact, it is the responsibility of the opening batsmen to get off to a good start. In such a situation it is very important to do good to them.
India has 5 openers
Team India has five opening batsmen on the tour of Australia. Who can open for Team India. In which Rohit Sharma and Yashwi Jaiswal will be the main openers of the Indian team. Apart from this, Abhimanyu Iswaran has been included in the team as a backup opener. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are also included in the team. Who has opened for Team India on many occasions. There are a total of five openers that Team India can use in such a situation. However, all batsmen are facing some or the other problem. As for Rohit Sharma, he might miss the first match of this series. Apart from this, Rohit Sharma is not in any special form. Yashaswi Jaiswal is yet to play a single international match in Australia.
Talking about the other three openers, KL Rahul is playing the role of a floater in Team India. He has also opened in Australia, but he last opened for Team India in a Test match in February 2023. Shubman Gill’s stats as an opener in Australia are very impressive. He has scored 289 runs at an average of 51.80 in 6 innings of three matches in Australia. Meanwhile, his highest score has been 91 runs. Due to his brilliant batting, Team India won the Gabba Test against Australia in the year 2021. However, Gill last opened for India in a Test in June 2023. In such a situation, he can be seen playing at number three in Australia. Apart from this, Team India has also included Abhimanyu Iswaran in the team. Who hasn’t even made his debut for Team India yet. In such a situation, the entire batch of opening batsmen is in the thick of questions.
The opening batsman is visiting Australia for the Test series
Performance of current Indian players as openers in Australia
Risk of being like 1999
Team India also toured Australia in 1999-00. During this period, India played three Test matches against Australia. Where the biggest problem for the Indian team was its opening batsmen. The Indian team tried four openers during the three matches of this series and all of them failed. The list of openers included the names of MSK Prasad, VVS Laxman, Sadagoppan Ramesh and Devang Gandhi. All these four batsmen had a very disappointing opening performance. In this series, India did not have an opening batsman who could be completely trusted. Due to which Team India has lost this series 3-0. Something similar is happening this time too. Where the Indian team will enter this series without any strong opener.
11 opening batsmen played in Australia in the 21st century
India has toured Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 06 times in the 21st century. Where a total of 11 opening batsmen played from India. Apart from Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay and Shubman Gill, none of these openers have special statistics. The 11 openers include Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Rohit Sharma.
Opening batsmen who toured Australia in the 21st century and their performances
Sehwag has been India’s best opener
Team India’s former star batsman Virender Sehwag has performed brilliantly as an opening batsman in Australia. He troubled the Australian bowlers a lot while opening. Sehwag played for the Indian team from 2003 to 2012 and started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Where he scored 948 runs at an average of 47.40 in 20 innings of 10 matches. During this time his highest score was 195 runs. Sehwag has also scored 4 fifties and 2 centuries in Australia. His statistics have been quite astonishing. Apart from Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar’s statistics are also amazing. Gavaskar opened for Team India in 11 Test matches in Australia between 1977 and 1986. Where he scored 920 runs in 19 innings at an average of 51.11. His highest score was 172 runs. He has also scored 5 centuries while opening against Australia. Gavaskar’s statistics are proof of why the India vs Australia Test series is named after him.
India’s best opener in Australia
The opener failed in the last two tours as well
Team India’s opening batsman also failed against Australia last two times. Shubman Gill’s stats aside for a moment, no other opening batsman did particularly well in 2018-19 and 2020-21. However, Team India defeated Australia 2-1 both times in the Test series. This time too if the openers fail then the responsibility of winning will be on other top order batsmen and middle order batsmen. During the year 2020-21, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant performed this responsibility very well. This time Pujara is not part of Team India, but Pant is ready to rock against Australia.
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