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The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar series is arguably the most highly anticipated red-ball affair in the calendar year. The star players across both teams, coupled with the narrative of India's successive triumphs on Australian soil in recent times all make for a memorable series.
The general expectation leans towards an evenly contested affair considering the strengths of both sides. The Indian batting unit upon transition is looking forward to the challenge while the experienced bowling unit will be expected to deliver the goods, much like they have done in the past.
As far as Australia are concerned, the void at the top of the order and workload management of the bowlers will be the main set of challenges they have to overcome.
The experts have chimed in with their early calls, with each being different in its own way. On that note, let us take a look at five expert Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 scoreline predictions so far.
#1 Ravi Shastri
The former India coach, who orchestrated the nation's recent set of triumphs against Australia, has backed the Men in Blue to work their magic again. He opined that the pacers' fitness will play a key role in India's pursuit for an unprecedented hat-trick Down Under.
"It is going to be one heck of a series and India have every chance of making it a hat-trick because they've got their bowlers fit and if they can bat well, they can tickle (beat) Australia once again," Shastri said on ICC Review.
#2 Sunil Gavaskar
The legendary batter has always been in India's corner, and this time it was no different. Gavaskar proclaimed that this is the right time to beat Australia, with their ageing squad and uncertainity regarding certain positions.
With the series win, Gavaskar also backed India to win three Tests on Australian soil in a single tour for the very first time. Each of India's recent series wins over the Men in Yellow, home and away, have come with a 2-1 margin.
“It's going to be an exciting series for sure with the talent that is there on both sides and it will also show why Test match cricket is the ultimate format of our beloved game. Oh, and my prediction is a 3-1 win for India," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
#3 Ricky Ponting
The former Australian skipper acknowledged India's prowess, and the fact they have won consecutive series Down Under. However, he feels that Australia will finally beat India in a red-ball series after a decade to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar series.
He predicted that India will get one win, while one contest will be a draw due to the weather conditions.
“I’m obviously going to tip Australia to win and I’m never going to tip against Australia. There will be a draw somewhere and there will be some bad weather somewhere, so I’m going to say 3-1 to Australia," Ponting said on ICC Review.
#4 Geoff Lawson
The former Australian bowler branded the upcoming series as a blockbuster event with potential for it to be the greatest Test series of the century so far. He expects a very close contest, but backed Australia to win by a 3-2 margin.
"The two teams are very evenly matched across all facets and India have the recent Down Under-winning experiences to mentally fall back on if they are under pressure. Picking a winner is fraught with all sorts of peril which is exactly how the fans want this series to unfold. I’m very uncertainly going for an Australian win 3-2," he told Mid-Day.
"This could be the best Test series of the 21st century so far and will remind us of how Test cricket is the premium form of the game," he added.
#5 Matthew Hayden
The former Australia opener labelled the series as too close to call, and did not have a definite clarity as to which team will win the affair.
"You look at the line-ups, and it's hard to really tell who's got the edge. I sense that it's going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference. So the best need to stand up in this series; runs are going to be at a premium. And I also feel like the structure of the tournament being from the west to the east is a bit of the unique way that the Australian landscape of cricket is going to be played out. It's usually the other way around. It's going to be a great summer," Hayden told ESPN Cricinfo.
