As the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) draws near, the cricketing world is abuzz with excitement. The rivalry between India and Australia has evolved into one of the fiercest contests in the sport, and with both teams ranked at the top of the Test cricket world, the upcoming series promises to be nothing short of thrilling. Set to commence on November 22, this battle between two cricketing giants is already being billed as one of the most exciting events of the year.
In an exclusive conversation with Star Sports, Australian cricket stars Usman Khawaja, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh shared their thoughts on the upcoming series, reflecting on the intensity of the competition and the deep respect that exists between the two teams. They also highlighted how the rivalry has grown over the years, becoming one of the most significant contests in world cricket.
Usman Khawaja emphasized the importance of the India-Australia rivalry, particularly in the context of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
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“We’re world number one and world number two teams, really over the last two years,” Khawaja noted. “We were there at the last World Test Championship together. The rivalry has always been huge. I take it as a sign of respect, and I know that Indians love beating Australia in any form of cricket. The tradition that Australia has had over so many years as one of the dominating teams in world cricket has built that reputation. For Indians, it’s always been the case to beat Australia. And more recently, since the rise of India and the IPL, it’s the same way with Australia against India. Particularly since India’s beaten Australia in Australia the last two times they’ve come out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It just means a little bit more.”
Josh Hazlewood echoed Khawaja’s sentiments, expressing his excitement for the upcoming series.
“It’s probably the toughest rivalry,” Josh Hazlewood said. “It’s always a great challenge playing against India. They’re so used to the conditions out here, and they love it. In Australia, the challenge is huge. Their batting, their top order, no matter who’s playing, is unbelievable. A lot of our players, like Travis Head and Cameron Green, haven’t beaten India in a Test series. So, yeah, it’s a huge summer for us, and hopefully, we can get that trophy back.”
Mitchell Marsh also spoke about the significance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, highlighting how the rivalry has been shaped by the intense cricket played between the two teams.
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“I think it’s just the cricket that’s been played between the two teams,” Mitchell Marsh explained. “If you look at the recent history, we’ve won some, they’ve won some. When it’s back and forth like that, it builds that rivalry within yourselves. There are great friendships in the Indian team with our team, so there’s no hatred, but it’s a great on-field rivalry. Both teams want to win. Australia versus India is another opportunity to grow the game of cricket. Not that cricket needs to grow in India, but worldwide. People tune into these big series.”
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy approaches, the excitement is palpable. Both teams are determined to assert their dominance, and cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a gripping series.
