For any cricket enthusiast in India, following India’s tour of Australia is nothing short of a thrilling rollercoaster ride. From waking up as early as five in the morning to going through the emotional, topsy turvy challenges of taking on the Aussies throughout the day, it has always been a treat to follow the Blues in the chilly Indian winters. As a fan growing up, going to bed early, setting the alarm clock just to watch two top teams locking horns in a fiercely competitive environment became a norm. It wasn’t every day we witnessed India playing Test cricket Down Under.
As Team RevSportz and I gear up to fly to Australia to cover the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it’s like reliving those early mornings of my childhood when the sun was just a thought, and the only light was from the TV screen where Australia met India in their cricketing battles.
As a cricket reporter, for close to a decade, I have had the privilege of covering the Indian team in many different parts of the world, more so since joining RevSportz, with the complete backing of our Founder and Editor in Chief Dr Boria Majumdar. I have covered World Cups, and other important sporting events but the excitement of traveling to Australia to cover the action from the best seat in the house feels different. Yes, there will be pressure to deliver the best coverage but it’ll also be about soaking in the experience, learning and enjoying it.
I remember the 2008 Sydney Test, a match so controversial it was talked about in hushed tones in school corridors. Harbhajan Singh, accused of racial slur, the umpires under fire for numerous errors – it was drama like never before. But I would be sitting in Australia in a few days, in flesh and blood. I can’t help but marvel at how different it would feel to watch the game live. The atmosphere would be electric, not just with the game’s spirit but with the history that these grounds have witnessed.
The Adelaide Test of 2003, where India clinched a victory by just four wickets, is etched in my memory. Ricky Ponting’s mammoth 275 painted a daunting picture, yet Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman’s resilience brought us back from the brink. Imagining those legends walking out, their bat’s echo ringing through the stands, would hit differently. Are we going to see any youngsters taking up responsibility like Dravid and Laxman this time around?
Who can forget about the 2014 Melbourne Test, where Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane stood tall against a formidable Australian side. In a few weeks, we would be in the iconic MCG, for the Boxing Day Test, reporting on the team, feeling the pressure to capture this essence in words, knowing well the highs and lows this series could bring.
And then there was Perth, 2008 – a match that seemed to turn the tide. Sachin’s elegance, Dravid’s grit, and India’s first win at WACA; it felt like a dream. At the Optus Stadium, near the WACA, a connection with that history is bound to be felt, a continuity of the rivalry that has shaped so much of what cricket means to me.
But the most magical memory was the Gabba win – India breaching the fortress. Rishabh Pant’s fearless innings, Shubman Gill’s composure, and the unexpected heroics of Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. History was being rewritten. Can the Indian team show the same resilience?
Now, as I prepare to cover this new chapter in the Border-Gavaskar saga, I’m filled with a mix of nerves and exhilaration. The Indian team, after a tough series at home, stands on the edge of something potentially transformative. Will they defend the trophy or will the narrative take another dramatic turn?
When the stadium buzzes with fans, each will have their own story of loyalty to the game. When the players step out to warm up, I would not be able to help but feel privileged. From watching these battles unfold on TV, to now being there, the journey feels surreal. Here’s to the next 60 days of cricketing drama, history, and the sheer joy of being part of this magnificent rivalry.