3 key turning points in BGT 2024-25 that shaped the fate of the series
The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) came to a close on Sunday, January 5, with Australia clinching the series 3-1 after a dominant six-wicket victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
India batted first and managed only 185 runs, but their bowlers sparked a fightback by dismissing Australia for 181. However, India’s batting woes continued, and they were bowled out for 157, setting a target of 162. Australia chased down the target comfortably, winning by six wickets and reclaiming the BGT for the first time since the 2014-15 series.
This defeat marked India’s first series loss in Australia in 10 years, after having won the last two series Down Under. With this victory, Australia secured their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, alongside South Africa. On the other hand, for the first time in history, India will not feature in the final. They made it to the final in the last two cycles, only to be beaten by New Zealand and Australia.
While the series ended with Australia in control, there were crucial moments where had India displayed more resilience, the outcome could have been different. On that note, let’s look at three key turning points in the 2024-25 BGT that ultimately shaped the fate of the series.
#1 India's batting collapse in Adelaide and their underwhelming bowling performance under lights with the pink ball
The visitors started the tour on a high note under stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, securing a convincing 295-run victory in Perth. However, things took a significant turn on Day 1 of the second Test (Pink-ball) in Adelaide, where India let the game slip away on the opening day.
India won the toss and opted to bat first in conditions that favored the bowlers. Mitchell Starc made an early impact, dismissing first-game centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal for a golden duck.
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill then fought back, adding 69 runs for the second wicket. However, once they fell, the collapse began, and India were bowled out for just 180 in 44.1 overs, with Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scoring with 42.
In the first Test, India had also been bowled out for a low total, but their bowlers had made amends. Once again, there was an opportunity to replicate that, with the pitch helping the bowlers and the pink ball offering assistance under lights. While India’s bowlers created a few chances and had some close calls, they were nowhere near as effective as in the first Test.
Their lengths were off, and only a small fraction of the deliveries were hitting the stumps, allowing the Australian batters to leave the ball comfortably and build confidence. By the end of Day 1, Australia were in a commanding position, at 86-1 after 33 overs.
Day 2 belonged to Travis Head, who scored 140, helping Australia post 337. India faltered once again with the bat, getting dismissed for 175 and setting a modest target of 19. Eventually, Australia wrapped up the game by 10 wickets.
It was on the first day of play that India's poor batting and bowling performance allowed Australia to seize momentum and take control of the match.
#2 Great resistance from the Australian lower order in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test, combined with India's lack of fighting spirit, ultimately cost them the game on Day 5
India won the first game, while the hosts bounced back in the second, and rain played a decisive role in the third. India entered the Boxing Day Test with the series level at 1-1. Batting first, a superb 140-run innings from Steve Smith helped Australia post 474.
The visitors were in deep trouble, having lost seven wickets for just 221 runs. However, Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his maiden century, finishing with 114, while Washington Sundar contributed 50. India eventually ended their innings at 369, with Australia taking a crucial 105-run lead.
India’s bowlers were dominant in the second innings, reducing Australia to 91-6. However, the visitors then allowed 143 runs to slip away while taking the final four wickets, including a crucial 61-run partnership off 120 balls for the last wicket between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland.
Despite India’s bowlers trying everything, with Bumrah bowling multiple spells, it just wasn’t meant to be. This lengthy resistance meant that the victory almost slipped out of India’s reach, as they were left needing to chase 340 runs in 92 overs.
Meanwhile, India would still have hoped to chase down the target, with some of the game’s greats in their lineup. However, a slow start and the early loss of three key wickets—captain Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli—left India struggling at 33-3, forcing them to fight for a draw.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant then teamed up, and by tea on Day 5, India were 112-3 after 54 overs. With 38 overs remaining in the final session, both the players and fans likely still believed a draw was within reach.
However, just five overs after the tea break, Pant, trying to hit one out of the park, was caught at wide-long-on, failing to assess the situation properly. This opened the door for Australia, who seized the opportunity, taking the last seven Indian wickets for just 34 runs and winning the game with 12 overs still left in the day.
#3 Absence of Jasprit Bumrah in the final innings of the fifth Test
The Sydney Cricket Ground hosted the final Test of the 2024-25 BGT on a green top pitch. As in the rest of the series, India’s batters struggled to post a decent total and were dismissed for just 185 runs.
However, India’s bowlers, led by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah, fought back and reduced Australia to 96-5. But, much to the dismay of Indian fans, Bumrah had to leave the field due to an apparent injury and was taken to the hospital midway through the second session for scans. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Nitish Kumar Reddy then stepped up to bowl and dismissed Australia for 181.
In what was the visitors' final innings of the tour, their fate remained unchanged, as they ended Day 2 at 141-6, with Rishabh Pant the lone performer, scoring 61 off 33 balls.
At the post-Day 2 press conference, Prasidh Krishna gave an update on Bumrah’s condition, revealing he had suffered a back spasm. India started Day 3 poorly, losing their last four wickets for just 16 runs, setting Australia a modest target of 162.
Australia ultimately won the game by six wickets. However, the outcome could have been different had Bumrah been able to bowl. The pitch continued to support the bowlers, and early wickets from the champion bowler could have applied pressure on the Australian side, potentially leading to a collapse and altering the course of the series.