India vs Australia Match Prediction: Who will win the 3rd BGT 2024-25 Test?
India will have fond memories of the last time they visited the Gabba in Brisbane. A famous series victory transpired at the venue, but one thing to note is that not a lot of players from that side will feature on Saturday, December 14, when the third Test between India and Australia kicks off.
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and perhaps Washington Sundar are the only four players who could feature in both outings. Nevertheless, the visitors will take heart from the fact that they've managed to pull off some memorable victories on Aussie soil in the last two series.
India will need that bit of positivity. They are on the back of a drubbing in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, which saw the Australia pull level in the series after conceding the opening game in Perth. In an unwelcome sign for Rohit and company, Australia seem to be finding their feet in both departments, with Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne papering over their batting cracks in the previous game.
The Aussies are also among the top two favorites to reach the final of the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. It seemed like India would cruise to their third consecutive final at one point, but a whitewash at the hands of New Zealand at home all but killed their chances of smooth passage to the summit clash.
India are still in with a chance, though, if they win at least two of the remaining three matches. Australia will be keen on preventing that from happening, with the last two editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under not going to plan for them.
Which team will take the lead in the five-match series?
IND vs AUS, BGT 2024-25, 3rd Test: Can the visitors pull off another Gabba heist?
India have some important questions to answer. Will Rohit Sharma return to the top of the order, or will Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul continue to man those roles? Who will partner Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the pace attack? Among the three frontline spin-bowling all-rounders, which one is best suited to the conditions in Brisbane?
All of these questions have no clear answers. For a team that has struggled in Test cricket over the last two series, barring the terrific win in Perth, this isn't an ideal situation to be in.
Australia have a couple of concerns of their own, though. Josh Hazlewood is only just returning from a side strain that kept him out of the Adelaide Test, and Mitchell Marsh hasn't been able to take on the workload of a fourth bowler with ease. Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith haven't been at their best in the series so far, and the batting wears a slightly brittle look.
Nevertheless, the Aussies' problems are easier to solve. They have a better understanding of the conditions at the Gabba, and their bowling attack is certainly more well-rounded. It's also easier to see the likes of Khawaja and Smith returning to form, when compared to Rohit and Virat Kohli.
A close contest should be on the cards, but Australia should have a slight edge.
Prediction: Australia to win the 3rd Test vs India.