Islamabad, Jan 5: Australia claimed a thrilling six-wicket victory in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), successfully chasing down a target of 162 runs to seal a 3-1 series win and regain the trophy after nearly a decade. This victory also secured a spot for Australia in the World Test Championship Final, where they will face South Africa.
India’s Batting Struggles
India’s batting woes continued throughout the series, with their first-innings total restricted to 185 runs, where Rishabh Pant top-scored with 40 runs. In their second innings, they managed just 157 runs, with Pant again leading the charge with a gritty 61 runs. These underwhelming performances were a major factor in India’s inability to build substantial leads over Australia.
Australia’s Composure Under Pressure
Australia’s first innings of 181 runs showcased the challenging nature of the pitch. Despite early jitters in the chase, where Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Sam Konstas failed to contribute significantly, Beau Webster and Travis Head steered the team across the finish line, ensuring the win. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah was keenly felt by India, as Australia capitalized on their momentum to clinch victory.
Current Standings in the World Test Championship
The result of this series has shaped the current standings for the World Test Championship (WTC):
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Ded | Points | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa (Q) | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 66.67 |
| 2 | Australia (Q) | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 130 | 63.73 |
| 3 | India | 19 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 114 | 50.00 |
| 4 | New Zealand | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 81 | 48.21 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 45.45 |
| 6 | England | 22 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 22 | 114 | 43.18 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 31.25 |
| 8 | Pakistan | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 30.30 |
| 9 | West Indies | 11 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 24.24 |
Australia’s win over India secured them a World Test Championship Final against South Africa, who top the table with a 66.67%-win percentage.
What’s Next?
- Australia will look to maintain their form as they prepare for their WTC Final against South Africa and will also face Sri Lanka in a forthcoming series.
- India, after their loss, faces a challenging regrouping phase to address their batting issues as they prepare for future assignments.
This series has proven to be pivotal for both teams, with Australia celebrating success while India aims for a fresh start.
