BGT 2024-25: Indian Squad Prepares in Brisbane for 3rd Test

Brisbane, Dec 10 (NationPress) Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and captain Rohit Sharma were seen hitting the practice nets in Brisbane in preparation for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, which is set to begin on December 14.

A video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on X showcased young talents like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, and Rishabh Pant sharpening their batting techniques against bowlers Mukesh Kumar, Yash Dayal, Akash Deep, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja during practice.

As the team shifts focus back to the red ball, they aim to overcome the disappointment of their previous match in Adelaide, where they suffered a significant 10-wicket loss in the pink-ball Test.

The Indian batting lineup struggled at the Adelaide Oval, managing just 180 and 175 runs in the two innings, allowing Australia to make a strong comeback in the series after their earlier defeat by 295 runs in Perth.

Nitish Kumar Reddy was the standout performer for India, scoring 42 runs in each innings. As they head to Brisbane, the pressure will be on seasoned players like Kohli and Rohit, along with Gill and Pant, to put up substantial runs and maintain their chances for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

On the bowling front, pace leader Jasprit Bumrah did not receive adequate support from Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana in Adelaide, which hindered their ability to penetrate Australia's middle order. Travis Head's impressive 140 led Australia to a first-innings total of 337.

Conversely, the Australian bowling attack, spearheaded by captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland, was lethal with the pink ball, capturing all 20 Indian wickets. Starc took eight wickets, while Cummins and Boland claimed seven and five wickets, respectively.

With the series tied at 1-1, India will aim for a strong resurgence to seize the lead and disrupt Australia’s momentum on their home turf.