"I don't feel like they're my favorite" - Travis Head on playing against India ahead of 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australia batter Travis Head recently revealed that India are not his favorite opponents despite his incredible record against them across formats. Head has been the thorn in India's side in several crucial ICC games since last year.
The 30-year-old averages 41.95 across formats against India, having scored 923 runs in 22 matches, including two centuries and three half-centuries. However, beyond the numbers, Head has stood between India and ultimate glory on multiple occasions.
After Australia went down 0-2 in the Test series in India last year, Head scored a valuable 49* to help them finish off a tricky run-chase in the third Test and 90 in the drawn final Test.
The southpaw followed it up with a match-winning 163 in the World Test Championship (WTC) final in July 2023. The ultimate dagger came in the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad in November, when he scored 137 off 120 deliveries to help Australia clinch their sixth 50-over World Cup title.
Speaking to Star Sports ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Travis Head said India were an extemely difficult opponent and that the competition gets the best out of him. However, he refrained from dubbing India his 'favorite' team to play against.
"I don't feel like they're my favorite. I just feel like we play them enough, play them lots. And, I guess the last couple of years I've been in nice form. So yeah, being able to, to play well, it's always nice. It's a, I guess it's not hard to get up for the contest. It's hugely competitive. Yeah, it's easier to get up for the game. So I wouldn't say they're my favorite," Head said.
He added:
"They're extremely difficult but it's been nice to play well in a couple of games and looking forward to preparing well and being ready to go and let's look, hope hopefully I can, I can contribute to what's a successful summer for us."
India and Australia are set to clash in a highly-anticipated five-match Test series Down Under, starting in Perth on November 22.
Travis Head's latest heroics against India went in vain
At the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, Travis Head was once again on his way to ruin India's campaign.
In a must-win Super Eight encounter for Australia, India posted a massive 205/5 in 20 overs. Despite the stiff run-chase, Head was at his relentless best, scoring a brilliant half-century off just 24 deliveries.
He was dismissed for 76 off 43 balls by star pacer Jasprit Bumrah to effectively end Australia's hopes. They eventually fell short by 24 runs and bowed out of the competition before the semi-final.