3 things to look forward to for Indian fans in the 3rd BGT 2024-25 Test ft. Rishabh Pant at the Gabba
India have been a fairly confusing Test team of late. Rohit Sharma and company hammered Bangladesh 2-0 at home before New Zealand rocked up on their shores and took all three matches away from them.
As India's World Test Championship hopes faded, they came to Perth and picked up a famous win despite being without captain Rohit and batter Shubman Gill. Then, boosted by the batting duo's returns, the visitors were rolled over in emphatic fashion in Adelaide.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Devdutt Padikkal.
Results have been on and off, but entertainment has been guaranteed when India have played Test cricket in recent times. Once again, fans of both teams are gearing up for what promises to be a gripping contest.
On that note, here are three things to look forward to in the third Test between India and Australia.
#3 Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill will return to the Gabba
Shubman Gill's sensational 91 and Rishabh Pant's terrific unbeaten 89 will still be fresh in the minds of Indian fans. The young duo, who scripted a miraculous win for India in the last edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, will return to the venue under different circumstances.
Both men have now established themselves as frontline players in India's Test XI. While Gill has taken to a role at No. 3 despite having a few early struggles, Pant has evolved to become easily the world's best wicketkeeper-batter in Tests. With India needing to turn their series around, their performances will be watched closely.
In a positive sign for the visitors, Gill and Pant have appeared assured in the few innings they have played on the tour so far, despite big scores eluding them. They have the ability to take the game away from the opposition and will hold the key to India coming out on top in Brisbane.
#2 Can Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli find form?
At the same time, however, India's two most senior batters haven't been anywhere close to their best in recent times.
Kohli did notch up an encouraging hundred in the series opener in Perth, but he hasn't delivered the goods consistently for the better part of five years now. Rohit, meanwhile, has openly struggled against seam movement and had a wholly unconvincing outing in the previous pink-ball game.
Indian fans will be keenly watching how Rohit and Kohli fare in Brisbane. If the senior duo don't come to the party, the team's chances of taking a lead in the series will be slim.
#1 Jasprit Bumrah will be expected to deliver another masterclass
Each ball Jasprit Bumrah bowls is an event in itself. The ace spearhead went down briefly with a niggle in the Adelaide Test, but signs indicate that he will be fit to lead the attack once again in Brisbane.
With Mohammed Siraj blowing hot and cold, and the third and fourth pacers being slightly confusing in terms of both combination and consistency, Bumrah is the obvious key to an Indian win. He has carried the attack on his shoulders for quite a while now, and with the turnaround between the two Tests being rather short, it'll be interesting to see if he can step up to the task.