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Australia clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with a dominating 3-1 series victory, defeating India in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The loss not only marked the end of India’s campaign in this series but also dashed their hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final for the first time in this cycle.
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Australia March to the WTC Final
With this emphatic win, Australia secured their spot in the WTC Final, where they will face South Africa at Lord’s starting June 11, 2025. This will be Australia’s second consecutive WTC Final, having lifted the trophy in the previous cycle.
For India, however, this marks an unprecedented disappointment as they fail to make the WTC Final for the first time since the tournament’s inception.
Fans Blame Gambhir and Rohit for India’s Failure
Social media erupted with reactions, as disappointed fans criticized India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma. Hashtags like “#GambhirOut” and “#RohitSharma” trended on Twitter, with fans expressing frustration over the team’s inconsistent performances and questionable strategies.
One tweet read:
“Toota hai Gautam Gambhir ka ghamand, ab bas karo experiments aur select karo deserving players!”
Another wrote:
“Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and Gambhir’s coaching—biggest reasons behind India’s downfall. How can a team of this caliber fail to qualify?”
Twitter reacts to India’s failure to qualify for WTC Final
The Final Test: India Falter Under Pressure
The match began on an even footing, with India leading by 145 runs with four wickets in hand. However, Australia’s bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, delivered a fierce performance, skittling out India for a paltry 157 in the second innings. India managed to add only 16 runs to their overnight score, setting Australia a target of just 162 runs.
Australia’s chase began aggressively, with opener Sam Konstas taking on the Indian bowlers. Although Prasidh Krishna’s double strike gave India a glimmer of hope, dismissing Labuschagne and Smith in quick succession, the experience of Usman Khawaja and Travis Head steadied the Australian innings.
Despite Siraj dismissing Khawaja for a well-crafted 41, debutant Beau Webster joined Head to guide Australia to a comfortable six-wicket victory, sealing the series and regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Key Moments and Takeaways
- India’s Collapse: The second-innings collapse exposed India’s batting frailties under pressure.
- Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence: India missed Bumrah’s firepower in the second innings, which could have made a difference.
- Gautam Gambhir’s Strategies Under Fire: Fans and experts questioned Gambhir’s decision-making, especially in team selection and game tactics.
What’s Next for India?
With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 looming, India has significant rebuilding to do. Leadership changes, team composition, and a re-evaluation of strategies are expected in the wake of this disappointing series loss.
For now, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy belongs to Australia, leaving Indian fans with a bitter end to a challenging campaign.
