Ajit Karn
The Border Gavaskar Trophy is contested by the mighty Australians and the Indian Men in Blue in a Test cricket series. These two cricketing titans engage in cricket battles with alternate editions held in India and Australia.
This year, from February 9 to March 13, four test matches will be played in Nagpur, Delhi, Dharamsala, and Ahmedabad. These matches will comprise the final cycle of WTC 2021-23.
India hosted the inaugural tournament in 1996-97. The trophy is named after cricketing legends Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Allan Border, who represent the two competing nations. After 2020-21, the most recent edition will be played beginning on February 9, 2023.
With India attempting to qualify for the WTC Final and Australia attempting to win a series in the subcontinent, let’s examine the top five players who are expected to excel in the upcoming tournament..
Usman Khawaja
Since his return to the squad, he has been one of the most consistent Australian players. Featured in the ICC Test squad as the first-choice opener with over one thousand runs, he is Australia’s greatest hope for the India tour this year, as he is a great spinner and the most conventional cricketer for slow pitches.
Khawaja is currently the eighth-ranked Test player in the world, and only Rishabh Pant (7) is ranked higher among Indian batsmen. This demonstrates how much of a comeback Khawaja has made in recent months. We anticipate that the opener will be one of Australia’s most important players in this upcoming series.
Steve Smith
This name cannot be omitted frequently from cricket testing. Smith is the most consistent performer in Test cricket, with a career batting average exceeding 60. The classic Australian batsman has been an outstanding performer for both Australia and the subcontinent. The middle-order batsman is one of the most dependable pillars of the Australian batting order.
Steve Smith has recently wreaked havoc in the ongoing Big Bash League season. Although it is unfair to compare the Australian batsman’s performances in the shortest and longest formats of the game, it is clear that he has improved, and Team India will be terrified of his enormous potential. We are all aware of Smith’s greatest abilities.
Marnus Labuschagne
Australia’s Labuschagne has been a standout in tests since his debut. Labuschagne is currently the top-ranked Test batsman in the world, having appeared in the ICC Playing 11 for tests for two consecutive years. Labuschagne is currently one of the most formidable test players in the world and a fantastic candidate for Australian cricket.
Marnus Labuschagne has been Australia’s best and most reliable batsman for quite some time, and he demonstrated this in the most recent test series against India. It is anticipated that he will repeat his stellar performances this time.
Additionally, see World Test Championship (WTC) 2023: How can India qualify for the championship?
Shubman Gill
The reliable Indian opener has maximised his opportunities in every format in which he has been given the chance to compete. Gill is currently the most in-form batsman for India, as he has dominated the ODI format like a king and demonstrated equal dominance in the shorter format with a blazing century against New Zealand in the final ODI of the year.
After consolidating his position in limited-overs cricket, it is hoped that Gill will continue his phenomenal form from the 50- and 20-over formats to improve his performance in the longer format. Gill is therefore anticipated to be India’s most promising player, especially in the absence of Rishabh Pant, India’s most consistent test performer.
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Virat Kohli Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Virat Kohli has emerged as one of India’s most versatile hitters in the longer format and as the middle order’s anchor. In recent years, Kohli’s performance has not been up to par, but there is no doubt that he has been India’s hottest performer in Tests when the big guns have been ineffective. In Pant’s absence, Virat Kohli would be entrusted with the responsibility of securing the middle order.
Due to his dominant form, Virat Kohli is currently one of India’s most dependable performers for the upcoming series.
