After a devastating 0-3 series defeat to New Zealand on home soil, the Indian men’s cricket team has arrived in Australia, gearing up for a challenging five-match Test series for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The series kicks off in Perth on November 22, followed by Tests in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

This Test series holds high stakes for India; they need to win at least four of the five games to secure a top-two spot in the current World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle and qualify for the 2025 final at Lord’s. Ahead of the series, head coach Gautam Gambhir’s recent interview with Jio Cinema has been making rounds on social media.

When asked which player in the Indian team could bat for 11 hours to defend a Test match, Gambhir confidently replied, “All the top seven.” India’s top order for the Test series is expected to feature captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Sarfaraz Khan.

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India’s batting unit faced criticism in their previous series against New Zealand, where only Rishabh Pant stood out, while experienced players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul struggled. Rohit managed just 91 runs across the series, while Kohli’s tally was 93 runs in six innings. Rahul, who played only the first Test, scored 0 and 12 in his two innings, sparking concerns about his form.

To prepare, Rahul travelled to Australia early and participated in the second unofficial Test for India A against Australia A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Despite his efforts, he was dismissed cheaply for 4 and 10, further fueling questions about his readiness. During the Q&A, Gambhir was also asked which Indian player could take on Morne Morkel in his prime.

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Once again, Gambhir showed faith in the team’s lineup, stating that “the top six batters” would be up for the challenge. His responses highlight his belief in India’s experienced and young talents to adapt and thrive in challenging conditions, setting the stage for a much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As the series looms, all eyes are on whether India’s star-studded lineup can bounce back and meet the high bar set by Gambhir.