Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 | Australia v India 3rd Test | Preview and Predictions

After a convincing win in the opening Test of the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India came crashing to the ground after being humbled in yet another pink-ball Test in Australia. 

Rohit Sharma and Co now arrive at Brisbane on the back foot and need to counter the hosts convincingly if they want to stay alive in the series and remain in contention for the 2025 World Test Championship final.

Ahead of the third Test, here are our preview and predictions. 

Also read: Cricket Australia sponsors 2024 | Indian national cricket team sponsors 2024

Australia vs India 3rd Test | Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 | 05:50 IST, December 14–18

The visitors arrive at The Gabba with their task cut out. They know they need to win, and in order to achieve that they know they have to step up with the bat.

The Men In Blue have been having a tough time with the bat, especially in the first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul have been getting some runs at the top, but the middle and lower orders have been a mess. Virat Kohli is still uncertain of his off stump, while Sharma, who moved down the order to accommodate Rahul and Jaiswal at the top, has looked woefully out of place. Rishabh Pant has always had a high-risk-high-reward game, but at a point when the senior batters are failing, his game comes across as lacking responsibility. Shubhman Gill has probably been the most well-sorted Indian batter, and although he has not gotten a big score, he has looked fluent during his time at the crease. India’s biggest positive with the bat has to be Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been bailing his side out with crucial lower-order contributions. In him, the team seem to have found a solid all-rounder. 

In the bowling department, India’s go-to man Jasprit Bumrah has been the biggest shining star of the series. Mohammed Siraj showed glimpses of excellence in Adelaide, so at The Gabba India will hope both he and Bumrah fire on all cylinders.

On the other side, Australia too have a batting problem. Barring Travis Head, most of their batters have been struggling, with their talisman Steve Smith’s form being the biggest reason for worry. Smith, one of the all-time red-ball greats, has 19 runs from the opening two Tests, and with Australia having a debutant opener in this series, Smith will need to step up and shoulder more responsibility. Marnus Labuschange, who was also struggling for a while, finally found some runs in Adelaide, and captain Pat Cummins will hope that Head continues his devastating run against the Men in Blue.

In the bowling department, Australia will be bolstered by the return of Josh Hazlewood, who will once again pair up with Cummins and Mitchell Starc to form one of the deadliest pace-bowling trios in world cricket right now.

There is supposed to be some rain around the days of the Test, which would mean favourable conditions for the seamers, and while The Gabba has been a good ground for the batters to put up some runs, count of the quicks from both sides to have a good game.

Australia had an incredible record in Brisbane before India broke the Gabba curse a couple of years ago. The hosts also lost to the West Indies earlier this year. However, even though they return to the Brisbane Cricket Ground with two consecutive defeats, count on Australia to bounce back and take the lead of the series. 

Fantasy XI: Travis Head, KL Rahul, Steve Smith, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins

Venue: Brisbane
Winners Prediction: Australia