India’s hopes of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25) were dashed as they succumbed to a 1-3 series defeat against Australia, capped by a six-wicket loss in the final Test at Sydney. With this, Australia reclaimed the historic trophy after a decade, ending India’s reign and officially knocking them out of contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final. Despite a strong start with a commanding win in Perth, India faltered in the subsequent matches, allowing Australia to dominate and seal the series.
Adding to the disappointment, reports of a rift within the Indian dressing room surfaced, implicating Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players. Allegedly, a senior team member, referred to as “Mr. Fix It,” expressed interest in assuming interim captaincy, further fueling speculation of internal discord. Former South African batting legend AB de Villiers weighed in on the situation, highlighting how strained relationships in the dressing room can derail a team.
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“I’m not surprised by the rumors—when there’s smoke, there’s fire. I’ve experienced hostile dressing rooms before, especially on tours away from home. It’s tough when you’re away from family and not performing at your best,” De Villiers shared on his ‘X’ handle.
Australia have won the #BGT to book a spot in the #WTCFinal against my Proteas. Hop on to today’s #360Live and let’s talk about what went wrong for India and what else is on in the world of cricket… https://t.co/OydSB92xZE
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) January 5, 2025
He further emphasized the importance of unity, particularly during away tours. “The dressing room atmosphere is critical when you’re on foreign soil. At home, it’s easier to manage. I suspect the Indian team may have lost some of that cohesion during this series. When trust breaks down, the team’s spirit crumbles, and winning becomes a distant dream. That said, I’ll wait for concrete facts before judging who’s at fault,” he added.
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Meanwhile, South Africa became the first team to secure a spot in the WTC 2025 final after defeating Pakistan in their series opener. Australia’s triumph over India cemented their dominance, rendering their upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka inconsequential.
