In 2024–2025, Team India will tour Australia in preparation for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. On November 22, both teams will square off in Perth in the opening Test match. Australia will be looking to win after losing two straight series against the touring team. Australia has lost to India the last two times they have been down under.
Hanuma Vihari, an Indian batsman who participated in the team’s victory in Australia, spoke out before of the series over the loss of senior batsman Cheteshwar Pujara. It is noteworthy that Pujara led India in runs scored in the 2018–19 season and had a significant impact on the next Australian series. Vihari expressed his opinion that Pujara’s absence from the Indian team’s starting lineup will be felt, stressing the player’s significance for the journey to Australia.
“We will really miss Cheteshwar Pujara.
In the final two series, he was the core of Team India’s batting lineup. He took hits, batted for a while, remained there for a while, saw the new ball, and scored runs. The Times of India cited Vihari as stating, “He made the job easier for the other batters coming in.”
“I’m not sure who will play that kind of part, so to speak. We currently have an attacking batting lineup (the top six), in my opinion. Everyone enjoys taking their shots. He continued, “I feel like Virat is the only batsman in that lineup who can act as a glue to the other batsmen.
They want expertise in the sixth: Hanuma Vihari
Vihari also discussed KL Rahul’s participation in the team and the significant influence the star batsman may have in the BGT 2024–25. He believed that because of the expertise the star batter brings to the game, India would want to play Rahul before Sarfaraz Khan.
“KL Rahul’s participation will be crucial in this situation as well because he can bat for a long time and has experience playing in SENA countries. He has performed admirably in SENA nations. According to Vihari, “I think they’re also considering KL Rahul at number six.”
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“They are considering a wider picture by starting Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz in the present series (against Bangladesh). When we travel Australia, they want experience in number six,” he continued.