The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) between India and Australia is poised to be a gripping contest, with five Tests scheduled at Australia’s most iconic venues. The series, set to begin on November 22 at Perth Stadium, comes at a pivotal time for India, following a disappointing 0-3 home defeat against New Zealand. With both teams aiming for supremacy, the spotlight is firmly on key players, including India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who recently opened up about his challenges and the intriguing contests he’s had with Australian cricket star Steve Smith in Test matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin on his on-field rivalry with Steve Smith
Ravichandran Ashwin finds Smith fascinating against spin, describing him as a strategic and competitive player. Speaking to 7 Cricket he highlighted Smith’s unique practice methods and approach to battling bowlers, noting that observing a batter’s process can reveal if the bowler has the upper hand.
“Steve Smith is someone that’s fascinating as a player against spin especially. I think he is a very thinking cricketer as well. He wants to get one up on you all the time. But, he has got unique ways of practicing and unique ways of battling out with you in the middle. And sometimes as a bowler, when you are watching a batter go through his process, you do identify whether you have him or not,” Ashwin said.
Also READ: Brett Lee picks an Indian batter who will be ‘attacked’ by Australian pacers in BGT 2024-25
Ashwin also acknowledged that while Smith has often outplayed him, there have also been times when he figured out Smith’s batting approach and gained the upper hand.
“And several times in these years of having played with Steve Smith, I’ve felt that he has me. But several times much later, when I think I’ve kind of figured out what he does or how he bats is that I’ve had an edge over him, had the wood over him,” the right-arm spinner added.
India’s crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy challenge to keep WTC final hopes alive
India faces a must-win challenge in the upcoming BGT to keep their World Test Championship (WTC) final aspirations alive. To solidify their ranking and secure a spot in the championship final, India potentially need to aim for an emphatic 4-0 series win or an exceptionally rare 5-0 sweep. However, given Australia’s playing on their home soil and the strength of their bowling attack, achieving such a result will be a formidable task.
This series is not just a pathway to the WTC final but also an opportunity for India to bounce back from recent setbacks and reaffirm their position as a cricketing powerhouse. It will test their resilience and determination as they face a high-stakes battle against one of the strongest teams in the world.