3 Key player battles to watch out for in third BGT Test in Brisbane

After getting the series levelled with the scoreline of 1-1, India and Australia will take on each other in the third Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024. The game will be a must-win and an all-important clash for both teams to get an upper hand in the five-match Test series. The eyes will be on some big guns from both teams.

That said, here we’ll look at the three head-to-head player battles to watch out for in the Brisbane Test starting tomorrow, December 14. These head-to-head battles between the marquee players will play a crucial role in deciding the direction and result of the match and that of the series. 

Rishabh Pant vs Nathan Lyon

Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has one of his favourite bowling opponents in the Australian team: the modern-day great spinner Nathan Lyon. The duo has faced each other several times in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Pant has faced 361 balls against Nathan Lyon, scoring 234 runs with an average of 39.0, hitting 20 fours and seven sixes. Meanwhile, the Aussie Great has dismissed Pant six times during these face-offs. So, it will be an interesting battle to watch out for in the Gabba Test, where Rishabh Pant helped India earn a historic victory in his last appearance here three almost four years ago in January 2021.

Travis Head vs Jasprit Bumrah

Star in-form Australia batter Travis Head could be one of the prime concerns for India in the all-important third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. However, Head’s dismal run in the last three ‘Gabba’ appearances could be a bit of a relieving piece of news for the Indian camp. Meanwhile, his face-off with Bumrah will also be an interesting thing to watch out.

Head has faced 180 balls against Bumrah, scoring only 92 runs, including 3 dismissals and 133 dot balls. Bumrah will eye another attack on Head if the duo cross paths in the upcoming game at Gabba. On the other hand, the Aussie southpaw will aim to improve his numbers, both against Bumrah and at the Gabba as well.

Rohit Sharma vs Mitchell Starc

One of the fierce and new-ball battles to watch out for will be between the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and the veteran Australia pacer Mitchell Starc. Rohit has scored 134 runs against Starc so far, facing 202 balls. The Aussie veteran has failed to dismiss Rohit Sharma in their face-offs so far.

If Rohit Sharma opens the innings for India, it will be an amazing visual to see how Mitchell Starc approaches the Indian skipper to get him out for the first time in their head-to-head battles in Tests.