The 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025 will go down in history as a shock series that saw Australia outplay India in every department, culminating in a crushing 3-1 victory. While Australia’s bowling attack was expected to be dominant, it was the batting performances of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins that made headlines, as they outscored India’s most celebrated batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

In a series defined by bowler dominance, the unexpected contrast in batting performances between the Australian pacers and India’s batting stalwarts has raised eyebrows and sparked widespread discussion among cricket fans and experts alike.

The Stark Statistics: Australian Pacers Outperform Indian Batters

One of the most shocking aspects of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy was the surprising batting contributions of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Both pacers played crucial roles with the ball, but their unexpected consistency with the bat overshadowed India’s top-order batsmen.

Batting Averages and Runs Comparison

• Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma
  • Innings: 14
  • Runs: 221
  • Average: 17.00
  • Centuries: 1
  • Half-Centuries: 0
• Pat Cummins & Mitchell Starc
  • Innings: 16
  • Runs: 256
  • Average: 17.06
  • Centuries: 0
  • Half-Centuries: 0

The numbers are striking: In 14 innings, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could only muster 221 runs, with Kohli managing just 85 runs across 7 innings, despite a century in Perth. In stark contrast, the Australian pacers collectively scored 256 runs in 16 innings, maintaining an almost identical average but outscoring India’s top two batters by a considerable margin.

Interestingly, while neither Starc nor Cummins registered a half-century or century, their resilience at the crease proved far more effective than the Indian pair. Starc’s nearly 3 times higher run tally than Rohit Sharma’s further emphasized the scale of the underperformance from India’s batting leaders.

Rohit and Kohli: A Series to Forget

India’s top-order failures were one of the key reasons behind the 3-1 series defeat. Rohit Sharma, who had been India’s captain and reliable opener, had a particularly difficult time in the series. Averaging a dismal 6.20, Rohit’s return of just 31 runs in five innings was woeful by his usual standards. Even more worrying was his inability to handle the swinging deliveries from Australia’s pacers, particularly those outside the off-stump.

Virat Kohli, despite having a strong start with a century in Perth, couldn’t replicate that form and fell prey to Australia’s well-thought-out tactics. His repeated dismissals caught behind off deliveries outside the off-stump pointed to a technical flaw, which the Australian bowlers—led by Scott Boland—exploited relentlessly. Boland himself came close to outscoring Rohit Sharma, underscoring how significant the batting failure of India’s stars was in the series.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025: The Unlikely Heroes with the Bat

While Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are primarily known for their lethal pace bowling, their contributions with the bat were far more significant than anyone anticipated. Their gritty performances in key moments helped Australia build partnerships that allowed them to post competitive totals. Starc, in particular, was impressive in frustrating Indian bowlers and pushing Australia towards match-winning totals in crucial phases of the series.

Both pacers were particularly effective in supporting their middle order, making valuable runs in pressure situations. This added depth to Australia’s batting line-up and provided the much-needed cushion for their bowlers to attack with freedom.

Australia’s Strategic Advantage: Exploiting Indian Batting Flaws

Australia’s victory was built on a foundation of tactical bowling and an understanding of India’s weaknesses. The Australian pacers, particularly Cummins and Starc, bowled with great discipline and took advantage of the conditions to exploit the technical flaws in the Indian batting. India’s openers, in particular, looked vulnerable against the swinging deliveries, which was evident from the number of early wickets taken by Australia in each match.

While India’s bowling attack, led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah, remained competitive throughout the series, the Indian batting line-up was never able to recover from early collapses. Australia’s ability to turn pressure into wickets and then pile on runs during their own batting innings created a perfect storm for India to fall behind.

What Does This Mean for Indian Cricket?

The defeat to Australia raises important questions about the future of India’s star batters. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been pillars of India’s batting for over a decade, their recent struggles in challenging conditions—especially against top-tier pace bowling—are concerning. The series exposed weaknesses that may require serious reflection from both the players and the Indian team management.

For now, the conversation will inevitably shift to the future of Indian cricket, with fans and pundits questioning whether it’s time to consider a changing of the guard at the top of the order. The performances of Starc and Cummins also highlight the importance of a well-rounded team effort, where contributions come from every player, not just the established stars.

Conclusion: A Defining Series for Australia

The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be remembered as a pivotal moment for Australian cricket. It wasn’t just the bowlers who led the charge; the unexpected batting contributions from Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were crucial in tipping the scales in Australia’s favor. For India, this series marks a significant challenge for its batting line-up, particularly Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as they look to bounce back in the future.