December 21, 2024: Ahead of the crucial Boxing Day Test against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ravindra Jadeja stressed the importance of India’s top-order batters coming together to deliver collectively. Despite a strong start in the series opener at Perth, where India’s top order had shown promise, they have since struggled to consistently perform, especially against Australia’s formidable pace attack.
Jadeja pointed out that, apart from the standout second-innings effort in Perth from KL Rahul (77) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), and Virat Kohli’s elegant century, the Indian top order has faltered in subsequent tests. In Adelaide and Brisbane, India’s batsmen have found it difficult to counter Australia’s pace bowlers, even as Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s experienced quick, has been sidelined due to injury.
Jadeja highlighted that when the top order doesn’t make significant contributions, it inevitably puts pressure on the middle and lower-order batters. “The top order needs to make runs. If the top order doesn’t make runs, then definitely there is pressure on the middle and lower order batters. The responsibility also increases. As a team, we need the top order to perform. As a batting unit, if everybody contributes, then the team will do well,” Jadeja said.
India’s batting woes have been compounded by Mitchell Starc, who has consistently troubled Jaiswal. Kohli has also struggled against deliveries outside the off-stump, and Rahul has looked more comfortable but has yet to convert starts into bigger scores. Rahul, however, has shown better composure, particularly after his stylish 84 in the third Test.
With the series tied 1-1, the Boxing Day Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground promises to be a crucial one. Australia, too, is dealing with its own changes in the squad. With Hazlewood sidelined, Sean Abbott is likely to feature in the fourth Test. Moreover, Australia has made another squad change with Sam Konstas replacing Nathan McSweeney, who was dropped after a lean run in the series.
India’s Squad for the Boxing Day Test:
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Abhimanyu Easwaran
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Devdutt Padikkal
- KL Rahul
- Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper)
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Dhruv Jurel (wicket-keeper)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Prasidh Krishna
- Harshit Rana
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Washington Sundar
Australia’s Squad for the Boxing Day Test:
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Sean Abbott
- Scott Boland
- Alex Carey
- Travis Head (vice-captain)
- Josh Inglis
- Usman Khawaja
- Sam Konstas
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Nathan Lyon
- Mitchell Marsh
- Jhye Richardson
- Steve Smith (vice-captain)
- Mitchell Starc
- Beau Webster
As the teams head into the pivotal Boxing Day Test, all eyes will be on the Indian top order to see if they can rise to the occasion, and whether Australia’s bowling attack can exploit any further cracks in India’s batting lineup. The match at the MCG could be a defining moment in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
