India Arrives in Sydney for final BGT 2024-25 without Kohli and Bumrah

(Source X)

India Arrives in Sydney for final BGT 2024-25 without Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.

The Indian National Cricket Team landed in Sydney on Tuesday, 31st December, in preparation for the final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The match, which will be played from 3rd January at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), is set to be a series decider.

Despite the full squad’s arrival following the intense five-day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, two senior players, Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, were notably absent from the travel group, while captain Rohit Sharma and the rest of the team made the journey.

Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are expected to join the Indian squad in Sydney soon. Both players have brought their families along to Australia, and it’s likely they are traveling separately with them. Meanwhile, the rest of the team was seen together at the airport, chatting and boarding the team bus.

A viral video circulating online shows the players exiting Sydney Airport and getting onto the bus. Among those spotted in the footage were KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and captain Rohit Sharma, all of whom were seen arriving in Sydney for the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Watch the Video-

The Indian National Cricket Team will head into the SCG Test with the disappointment of their heavy loss in the previous match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Led by Rohit Sharma, the team suffered a crushing 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test, where they struggled both with the bat and ball.

With Australia leading the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series 2-1, the final match at the SCG becomes crucial for India. A lot is riding on this game for Rohit Sharma and his team, as they look to level the series and salvage a draw in the fiercely contested series.

Also Read: Navjot Singh Sidhu urges ICC to punish Travis Head of his celebration

Must win for India:

The upcoming match is not only crucial for the series but also carries significant weight in the context of the ICC World Test Championship final. A loss would mean India suffers a series defeat against Australia for the first time since 2016, and it would also effectively end their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final.

India simply cannot afford to lose or draw. A victory, however, would keep their slim chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final alive—though they would also need Sri Lanka to defeat Australia 1-0 in their upcoming two-match series for that to happen.

Moreover, the Sydney Test could have a major impact on Indian cricket, as there is a strong possibility it could be the last for both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test cricket. Both players have faced significant struggles in recent series, and another failure could lead to questions about their future in the format, making this Test even more pivotal for their careers.