The Indian cricket team had an unforgettable meeting with the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese in Sydney ahead of his fifth and final Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. The match will begin on Friday, January 3 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.
Team India’s second interaction with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
The event at Kirribilli House brought together players, officials and other distinguished guests, celebrating the spirit of cricket as a unifying force. Albanese shared several photos from the interaction, highlighting moments with players from both teams, including special snaps with the Indian stalwart Virat Kohli and Australian legend Glenn McGrath.
This meeting was not the first between the Albanese and the Indian cricket team during this series. THE The team had previously interacted with the Australian Prime Minister during a warm-up match with the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra. These engagements highlight the importance of cricket as a vehicle for strengthening cross-cultural ties and mutual respect between the two nations.
Team India players meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before the final Test match 🙌#Cricket #AUSWIN #ViratKohli📃 #AnthonyAlbanese pic.twitter.com/Xg1JLHeGjh
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 1, 2025
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PM Albanese unveils plans for a Jasprit Bumrah law
Amid the camaraderie at Kirribilli House, Prime Minister Albanese added a humorous touch to the proceedings by mentioning India’s ace. jasprit bumrah. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Albanese remarked, “We could pass a law here that says he has to bowl left-handed or walk off a pitch. Every time he bowled it was very exciting.” This light-hearted comment reflects the Prime Minister’s admiration for Bumrah’s utter dominance in the ongoing series. Known for his deadly accuracy, deceptive variations and relentless aggression, Bumrah has constantly troubled the Australian batting line-up.
Bumrah has been the backbone of India’s bowling attack throughout the BGT. His incredible performance yielded 30 wickets in four Tests at a stellar average of 12.83, including three five-wicket hauls. Bumrah’s ability to adapt to different conditions and dismantle even the most formidable batting line-ups has made him an indispensable asset. However, the Indian bowling unit has struggled to provide adequate support, with Bumrah carrying a disproportionate share of the workload.
India’s uphill battle to save the series
India face a monumental task heading into the final Test. A win in Sydney would not only level the series at 2-2 but keep alive their hopes of securing a place in World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final. The team’s legacy of not losing a Test series to Australia since 2014-15 is at stake. However, the Indian bowling line-up was inconsistent, with only a few players managing to withstand Australia’s relentless bowling attack. While Bumrah was outstanding, the lack of contributions from other bowlers and the failure of the batting unit left India behind at 1-2. To turn things around, the team will need collective brilliance in Sydney, particularly from the batting line-up.
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