Australia's Test captain, Pat Cummins, has sent a clear message to Rohit Sharma and his team ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Test series. After failing to secure a series win against India in their last two tours Down Under, Cummins believes it's time for Australia to set things right. He also emphasised that their recent World Test Championship (WTC) victory over India will provide them with a psychological edge going into the five-match series.
"The last two series here in Australia haven’t gone our way, so it’s been a while. Hopefully, it’s time to make amends," Cummins told *Sports Star*. "We’ve had plenty of matches where India has beaten us, but we’ve also secured significant wins against them, which gives us confidence. The WTC final in neutral conditions was our most recent encounter, and we came out on top. The competition is always intense, and it feels like it could go either way. I’m extremely excited about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy."
Reflecting on the challenges ahead, Cummins acknowledged India’s strength, particularly at home, where they have been tough to beat. He added, "We haven’t beaten India in their last two tours here. They’ve played excellent cricket, especially in India. So, it’s going to be a big and exciting summer, and I’m really looking forward to it."
Meanwhile, Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc compared the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to the Ashes, noting that the rivalry between India and Australia has grown significantly over the years. "There’s a long history in the Ashes, but the Border-Gavaskar rivalry has just strengthened with each series. Now, having a five-Test match series is fantastic, not only for the rivalry but for Test cricket as well," Starc said.
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell also weighed in, calling the India-Australia series a must-watch event for cricket fans worldwide. "Over the last few years, these two teams have often traded places at the top of the rankings in various formats. The contests between them, across all formats and in both countries, have provided many highlights for the cricketing world. It’s always must-watch cricket whenever India and Australia face off," Maxwell remarked.
The five-match Test series will be the first between India and Australia since the 1991-92 series, with the opening Test set to take place in Perth on November 22.