New Delhi: As the anticipation builds for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, a heated exchange of words has begun between cricket legends. Recently, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting boldly predicted that Australia would defeat India 3-1 in the series. However, Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar was quick to counter Ponting’s claims with a strong response, reflecting the fierce rivalry between the two cricketing nations.
Gavaskar Predicts India’s Triumph
In his latest column, Sunil Gavaskar expressed confidence in the Indian team’s ability to make history by defeating Australia in their own backyard for the third consecutive time. Gavaskar wrote, “My prediction is that India will win by 3-1. Australia’s opening woes have worsened with David Warner’s retirement, and their middle order looks a bit shaky. In such a scenario, Australia is ready to lose once again.”
Gavaskar’s optimism is grounded in recent history, as India has emerged victorious in the last two Border-Gavaskar series held in Australia, securing 2-1 wins in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series. With these victories, India has firmly held onto the prestigious trophy, winning four consecutive series since 2016.
Ponting’s Counter Prediction
Before Gavaskar’s remarks, Ricky Ponting had already shared his thoughts on the upcoming series. During the ICC Review Show, Ponting stated, “I would obviously support Australia to win and I would never support against Australia. Somewhere there will be a draw and somewhere there will be bad weather. So I am predicting Australia to win 3-1.”
Ponting’s prediction aligns with his unwavering support for his national team, but Gavaskar’s rebuttal suggests that the battle on the field will be just as intense as the verbal exchanges off it.
A Historic Series Awaits
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to kick off in Perth on November 22, marking the first time since the 1991-92 series that Australia will host India for a five-match Test series. Historically, these two cricketing powerhouses have faced each other in four-match series, making this year’s edition even more special.
With both teams preparing for this high-stakes contest, the excitement among fans is palpable. As India seeks to extend their dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia will be eager to reclaim the trophy on home soil. The predictions and counter-predictions from cricket legends like Gavaskar and Ponting only add to the drama, setting the stage for an epic showdown between these two cricketing giants.
