The Ashes rivalry between England and Australia has long been regarded as the pinnacle of cricketing competition. However, in recent years, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia has been grabbing more attention, particularly with the Men in Blue triumphing in the last four series they’ve contested against the Baggy Greens.
The intensity of this rivalry has only grown, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently suggested that the India-Australia rivalry may now even surpass the Ashes in terms of significance. India and Australia are currently locked in a five-match Test series for the first time since 1992, with India leading 1-0 after a resounding 295-run victory in the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Speaking about the rivalry’s increasing prominence, Albanese highlighted the influence of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has become a global phenomenon and added fuel to the competitive fire between the two teams.
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“The population is massive, and if you look at the IPL, it’s such a huge part of global cricket now. I was at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad for the Test match, and the crowd was enormous,” Anthony Albanese said, emphasizing the size and passion of the Indian fanbase. He also noted that the stadium, which holds more spectators than any other ground in the world, has added to the intensity of the rivalry.
The PM’s XI and Indian cricket teams are keen to get out on the field.
The rain has delayed play for today, but it’s been great to chat with players and fans at Manuka Oval. pic.twitter.com/MADMyDArPD
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 30, 2024
Albanese believes that the five-match series has intensified the competition between the sides, with the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne’s iconic MCG set to be an electrifying spectacle. “Boxing Day will be huge on December 26. They could get 100,000 people there, and it’s great for Australian tourism,” Anthony Albanese added.
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Earlier, the Indian team was hosted by Albanese in Canberra before their warm-up game against the Prime Minister’s XI. The Australian Prime Minister engaged in light-hearted conversations with the Indian players and shared photographs of the meeting on his social media. He also congratulated Virat Kohli on his 81st century in international cricket, which the former India captain achieved during the second innings of the first Test.
The escalating rivalry between India and Australia continues to captivate fans worldwide, and with each passing series, it’s clear that this contest is now one of the most thrilling rivalries in world cricket.
