"I don't think anyone in the Australian team can even try to touch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy" - Sanjay Bangar on what India need to do in BGT 2024-25
Sanjay Bangar reckons Australia won't have a chance of even coming close to winning the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25) if India post a healthy first-innings total. He added that the Indian top order needs to fire to meet that objective.
The five-match series between India and Australia is tied at 1-1 after the first three Tests. While the fourth Test is scheduled to start in Melbourne on Thursday, December 26, the final match will be played in Sydney from January 3 onwards.
During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', Bangar was asked what India need to do to address their issues in BGT 2024-25.
"The resolution should be that we need to score big runs in the first innings. To score big runs in the first innings, your top order will have to score runs because first-innings runs have huge significance in overseas Test matches," he responded.
"I feel you are in a position where you have done a lot of hard work. Now you have to relax a little, trust your skill sets, and score big runs in the first innings. If we can do that resolution, I don't think anyone in the Australian team can even try to touch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," the former India batting coach added.
India have emerged victorious in the last four editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They will retain the trophy even if the ongoing series is drawn.
"The Indian bowling is looking slightly weak" - Cheteshwar Pujara on India's biggest concern heading into BGT 2024-25 4th Test
![India's bowling has been overreliant on Jasprit Bumrah in BGT 2024-25. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/20f40-17348454119725-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara opined that India's bowling is a bigger concern than their batting heading into the BGT 2024-25 fourth Test.
"My first biggest question and slight reason for concern is that the Indian bowling is looking slightly weak. The batting has improved a little. The top five have not batted well but the middle order and lower-middle order have done that," he said.
The veteran India batter questioned whether the visitors should alter their playing XI to address their bowling weakness.
"Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish (Kumar Reddy), and even the tailenders, (Jasprit) Bumrah and Akash Deep, contributed with the bat. There is a weakness somewhere or the other in bowling. So what team will you play, that's the biggest question," Pujara observed.
India are unlikely to include an additional bowler in the XI. While Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep will potentially continue to be the three specialist seamers, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to be persisted with as all-rounders, especially after Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement.