BGT 2024-25: Schedule, squads, live streaming, broadcasters & all you need to know

BGT 2024-25: Schedule, squads, live-streaming, broadcasters & all you need to know. (Source – Getty Images)

The upcoming edition of the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin on November 22 in Perth. Australia haven’t defeated India in a Test series in almost 10 years and playing at home, the Pat Cummins-led side has immense pressure on them, especially as India have the opportunity to make a hat-trick of series wins Down Under. However, their form is heavily concerning as well, as the Indians are coming on the back of a shambolic 3-0 defeat to New Zealand at home.

On top of that, there are multiple uncertainties in the Indian camp. Captain Rohit Sharma is likely to miss the opening Test, while Shubman Gill fractured his finger during practice and is out for at least two weeks. Mohammed Shami hasn’t been named in the squad due to injury concerns, but the good news is that the 34-year-old is back in action and may up being called up for the last three games of the series.

There has been plenty of hubbub on star batter Virat Kohli. His form has been criticised by former cricketer Ricky Ponting, while the Australian media hasn’t stopped talking about him since Kohli moved. The Delhi-born is the most experienced batter in the Indian camp at the moment, and he will have to come good for India to put up a fight and get the job done.

His long-term rival Steven Smith meanwhile is slated to bat at number four in the series. After David Warner retired from Test cricket, the former captain moved to opening, but it didn’t work out too well. Now, Nathan McSweeney will replace him for the first couple of Tests at the top of the order.

Australia meanwhile will miss the services of Cameron Green in the series, who is out with an injury at least till April 2025. The all-rounder has done a commendable job in the limited Test matches that he played, and Cummins earlier in the year stated that he would be counting on him against India. However, that didn’t happen and it is one of the reasons behind Smith being back at four.

The main competition will be between the bowling units of both teams. The fight between Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood versus Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and hopefully Shami after two games is very likely to decide the fate of the series. The competition between Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin will also be a key one.

Lastly, the two players that deserve to be talked about are Travis Head and Rishabh Pant. They are likely to be the trump cards and key differentiators with the bat in the entire series.

Australia vs India 2024-25 Schedule:

Australia vs India 2024-25 Squads:

Australia (Squad for First Test)

Pat Cummins (Captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (Wicketkeeper), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (Wicketkeeper), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

India

Rohit Sharma (Captain), Jasprit Bumrah (Vice-Captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.

Australia vs India 2024 Live Streaming and Broadcast Details:

The live stream of the Australia vs India Test series 2024 will be available in India on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website. Star Sports Network channels will broadcast the Australia vs India Test series 2024 in India.