: India vs Australia: Momentum Shifts Ahead of Gabba Test

:The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia has reached a crucial juncture with the series locked at 1-1. The third Test is set to commence at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday, December 14, with Australia looking to capitalize on their momentum after a dominant 10-wicket victory in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide.

Former cricketing legends Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh believe that the balance of power has shifted in Australia's favor. Gavaskar highlighted the impact of momentum on the series, stating, `The momentum that India got after the win in Perth went away in the ten-day gap before the second Test. Now the momentum is with Australia because they have won the Adelaide Test, and with just three days before the Gabba Test starts, the momentum is certainly with them.` Harbhajan echoed Gavaskar's sentiments, calling the series one of the toughest in recent years due to both teams' ability to bounce back from adversity.

The upcoming match at the Gabba rekindles memories of India's historic victory in January 2021, where a depleted Indian team, led by Rishabh Pant, chased down a daunting target of 328 runs, ending Australia's 32-year winning streak at the venue. However, this time, the circumstances are different. Australia, buoyed by their comprehensive win in Adelaide, appear to have the upper hand. India must quickly regroup and address concerns in both batting and bowling to challenge Australia in Brisbane, a venue known for its pace-friendly conditions.

The timings for the Gabba Test have been confirmed, with the toss scheduled at 5:20 AM IST and the first ball to be bowled at 5:50 AM IST. The first session will end at 7:50 AM IST, and play will continue till 12:50 PM IST or 1:20 PM IST if extra 30 minutes are required. The weather is predicted to be iffy, with rain expected on all five days, which could lead to extended sessions of play.

India's batting lineup faces significant challenges, particularly with KL Rahul's inconsistent form. Despite scoring 37 in the first innings of the Adelaide Test, Rahul has struggled to maintain his form throughout the series. The Indian team has the option of sending Rahul back at No.6, where he averages 29.25 in nine innings, or getting Rohit Sharma back at the top, but the latter has been in terrible form lately.

Ravindra Jadeja, who has been averaging more than Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill in the last three years, could be an option to strengthen India's batting lineup. Jadeja has been averaging 43.75 with the bat and 21.8 with the ball in four Tests in Australia. His inclusion could provide a much-needed boost to India's batting order, especially given the team's struggles to bat even 50 overs in three out of four occasions.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 has seen record-breaking viewership numbers for cricket, with the first Test at Perth captivating a record-breaking 70.8 million viewers and generating 8.6 billion minutes of watch-time on Indian broadcaster Star Sports. The series continues to be one of the most-watched and highly anticipated in Test cricket history.

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