The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India is set to begin on November 22, with the first Test match scheduled at Perth’s Optus Stadium. Even before the series opener, the excitement has taken hold in both countries, especially as Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has already become a focus in Australian media coverage.
Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph featured Kohli on its front page with the Hindi headline “Yugon Ki Ladai” (Fight for the Ages), underscoring the marquee nature of the series. Opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal was also prominently highlighted on the back page under the headline “The New King” and a Punjabi subhead reading “Navam Raja.” Adelaide’s The Advertiser, another News Corp Australia publication, similarly showcased Kohli and Jaiswal, signaling high anticipation for their performances.
A lot of @imVkohli in the Australian papers this morning as is the norm whenever India are in town but never expected to see Hindi and Punjabi appearing in the Adelaide Advertiser. Tells you about the magnitude of the #AusvInd series for Australia & cricket in this country pic.twitter.com/I5B2ogPvEJ
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 12, 2024
Notably, the Australian press has focused on Kohli and Jaiswal over Indian captain Rohit Sharma, portraying Jaiswal as a potential successor to the legendary Kohli.
Kohli, India’s senior batter and former captain, was the first player from his team to arrive in Australia, landing in Perth on Sunday evening. This will be India’s first five-match series in Australia in over 30 years, adding historical weight to the competition. Kohli, who previously led India to a historic Test series win in Australia during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was spotted at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Saturday night with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, and their two children.
The first group of Indian players, including Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, Jaiswal, and Mohammad Siraj, departed from Mumbai on Sunday, accompanied by assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. A second batch followed on Monday, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, who faced press queries at a pre-departure briefing. Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah was also seen at the airport, while captain Rohit Sharma is expected to miss the Perth Test due to the anticipated birth of his second child.