Ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell expressed his deep admiration for Indian all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, acknowledging their significant influence on the outcome of games between India and Australia.
Maxwell noted that Ashwin and Jadeja have often been game-changers during these matches, emphasizing their importance in Australia’s Test contests against India.
Ravichandran Ashwin, with his incredible consistency, has played 22 Tests against Australia, picking up 114 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 2.70, while also scoring 543 runs with the bat.
Ravindra Jadeja, in 17 matches, has also been a crucial figure, scoring 570 runs and taking 89 wickets against the Aussies. In a recent Test match against Bangladesh, both Ashwin and Jadeja showcased their all-around brilliance: Ashwin scored a brilliant 113 runs and took five wickets, while Jadeja added 86 runs and grabbed a five-wicket haul.
Maxwell praised Ashwin and Jadeja for their long-standing impact:
“I think that over a long period of time… Ashwin and Jadeja… have often dictated the outcome of the game. If we play well against those two, we’ll generally find ourselves in a better position,” Maxwell said.
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The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will start on November 22 in Perth. India has won the last four series against Australia, including two historic series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, giving them an edge going into this series. India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 10 times, while Australia has won it five times, with their last victory coming in the 2014-15 season.
Maxwell also praised Jasprit Bumrah, calling him the best bowler across all formats:
“I was there in his first year of the IPL in 2013… to see him evolve from a young talent to the best bowler across all formats is amazing,” Maxwell said.
The five-Test series will conclude with the final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, following iconic stops in Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test.